Accelerated aging to assess parsley seed vigor

There are many gaps for the assessment of seed vigor in vegetable crops, among these the parsley. In this context, the accelerated aging test is recognized as one of the most widely used to evaluate seed physiological potential of various crop species, being able to provide information with a high degree of consistency. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the methodology of accelerated aging test to check parsley seed vigor, as well as verify the possibility of using NaCl solutions as an alternative to control seed water uptake during the aging period without reducing test sensitivity. Four lots of parsley seeds were tested for germination, seedling emergence, and accelerated aging for 48, 72 and 96 h (traditional and NaCl solutions). The use of NaCl solutions reduces water uptake by parsley seeds during the accelerated aging test, resulting in less pronounced and drastic deterioration rates and more uniform results. The exposure of the P. sativum seeds for a period of 48 h is a promising option for the evaluation of parsley seed vigor by the accelerated aging test.