Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de cultivares de alface sob diferentes temperaturas na germinação

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiology and biochemistry of lettuce seed through germination and expression of the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), catalase (CAT), Esterase (EST), pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and glutamate oxalacetate transferase (GOT) at different temperatures. Seeds of four lettuce cultivares were submitted to germination and the first germination was tested under the temperatures of 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 42°C. The germination speed index (IVG), the percentage of germination were estimated, and the expression of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), catalase (CAT), esterase (EST), pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and glutamate oxalacetate transferase (GOT) evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 4x6 factorial scheme, with four cultivars and six different temperatures, with four replications. The highest values of germination and vigor were observed for cv. Everglades at 35ºC, proving the thermotolerance. The catalase may be considered a marker for identification of thermotolerant lettuce cultivars. Cultivar Everglades has potential for use in lettuce breeding programs aiming at temperature tolerance during germination.