Parental environmental effects on seed quality and germination response to temperature of Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. & Arn.

The interest in the agriculture and consumption products of Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. & Arn. ("Chipilin") plants is increasing; therefore, seeds with good commercial quality are necessary for their cultivation. Still, the main germplasm sources are wild populations. This research assesses the physical and physiological quality of Chipilin seeds regarding the climate and soil characteristics of the sampling sites. These sites included one surrounded by agricultural and livestock-managed areas, one with urban activity, and one without anthropogenic activity in Guerrero state, Mexico. The assessed parameters showed that the evaluated seeds significantly differed (p <= 0.05) in their dimensions, biomass, viability, total germination, average daily germination, and seedling emergence among collection sites. The sampled Chipilin seeds from the locations had up to 90% dormancy, from which 30 to 100% was broken by exposing them to increasing temperature of germination, accelerated aging with a pre-germinative treatment effect, and mechanical scarification. The seeds' physical characteristics, particularly those related to size, suggest three biotypes; nevertheless, the intact seeds' capacity to germinate at 25 degree celsius, which depends on seed viability, is also relevant to determine the effect of parental environmental conditions on seed quality. Chipilin cultivation is possible with seeds from wild populations due to their physiological quality.