EVALUATION OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF THE SEEDS OF Encholirium spectabile Mart. ex Schult. & Schult. f.

The use of the bromeliacea Encholirium spectabile Mart. ex Schult. & Schult. f. for commercial exploitation in the pharmaceutical industry requires study and propagation via seeds to establish commercial plantations. The rapid test stands out in providing fast and accurate results that complement germination to provide a better assessment of the physiological potential of seeds. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological potential of the seeds of Encholirium spectabile, originating from Graca-CE and Serra Talhada-PE, by testing potassium leaching and the pH of exudate with phenolphthalein. The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design, in a factorial manner (two geographic regions and periods of immersion). To evaluate the test of the pH of exudate with phenolphthalein, the seeds were imbibed for 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes, and analyses were conducted on potassium leaching for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes, with immersion in 25, 50, and 75 mL of distilled water. Simultaneously, the physiological characterization of the seeds was performed using the water content, a germination test, the speed index and mean germination time, shoot length and the root system, and seedling dry weight. Encholirium spectabile seeds with similar germinative power were classified at different levels of vigor by testing potassium leaching and the pH of exudate with phenolphthalein. In the potassium leaching test, the 30-minute imbibition period was efficient in classifying the vigor of Encholirium spectabile seeds according to the geographical region of collection, regardless the volume of water used.