Quality of Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) Seeds Obtained From Different Cropping Systems and Farming Environments

Abstract

Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is one of the main hibernal forage species in Southern Brazil. In recent years, the demand for high-quality seeds has increased to ensure the productivity of herds. Given this, the present study evaluated the quality of ryegrass seeds obtained from different cropping systems and farming environments. 2,156 samples were evaluated; 900 were evaluated with seed production process, S1 and S2, not certified seed from first and second generations, respectively, 305 were evaluated with seed analysis of own use and 961 were evaluated with tetrazolium analysis. The samples obtained through seed production process were analyzed in terms of their physical and physiological aspects, while the own seed and tetrazolium test used were evaluated only in terms of their physiological attributes, following the methodology described in the Seed Analysis Rules. The data were subjected to the analysis of descriptive statistics. The percentages of the samples that were out of the standards were calculated and compared to the meteorological occurrences in the crop cycles. Seeds in S1 and S2 samples presented lower standard deviations when compared to seeds for own use and tetrazolium. Among S1 and S2 seed samples, 35.3% were rejected for physical and physiological variables, 58% for their own use and 48.1% for tetrazolium were rejected for physiological quality, respectively. High rates of Ryegrass seed samples with lower than recommended quality standards were observed, which requires investments in research and production to improve the seed standards used.