Adequation of the electrical conductivity test for arugula seeds and correlation with seedling emergence

Currently, due to the growth of vegetable crops seeds market there is a demand for tests to evaluate the physiological potential quickly and efficiently for selecting vigorous commercial lots. The study aimed to adapt the electrical conductivity test methodology to stratify lots of arugula seeds into vigor levels according to seedling emergence. Five lots of arugula seeds were used. The initial quality of seeds were evaluated by the water content of the seeds, germination, first count, seedling emergence. After that, were analyzed the following methodologies for the electrical conductivity test: six periods of soaking (1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 hours), combined with three volumes of deionized water (25, 50 and 75 mL), and repeat number of seeds (25 and 50) at soaking temperature of 20 ⁰C. When using fewer seeds and an amount of water that promotes the reading of the leachate without over- or underestimation values in shorter periods of time, the use of this test becomes compatible routinely seed analysis laboratories. The conductivity test using 25 seeds and 50 mL of water at 20 ⁰C, whether for 6 or 8 hours were effective to stratify lots of arugula seeds into vigor levels according to the seedling emergence test.