Effect of Fertilizer on Palisadegrass Seeds Pathogens

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the contact of Brachiaria seeds with the fertilizer 05-25-15 on the sanitary quality of the seeds. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a (2x5) factorial design, with four replications. The treatments consisted of five contact times (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours) of the fertilizer with seeds of ruziziensis grass and marandu grass. After the contact times of the Brachiaria seeds with the fertilizer, the seeds from each species were separated and the following analyses were performed: water content, germination, seed health ("Blotter Test"), and accelerated aging, with later germination test and sanitary analysis of seeds. Data were analysed for variance and regression analysis at the significance level of 5% and descriptive analysis was used for the results of the sanitary analysis. The contact time reduces the incidence of pathogens in the seeds of ruziziensis grass and marandu grass treated with the fertilizer due to the salinity and acid pH of the fertilizer. The fungi related to the reduction in germination were Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. The disinfestation process increased the incidence of Fusarium sp., under high internal infestation of this fungus in palisadegrass seeds.