Physiological quality of Physalis ixocarpa Brot. ex Hornem seeds in relation to maturation stage and growing season

ABSTRACT Physalis ixocarpa is an edible fruit with great economic importance in many countries. The use of high-quality seeds is essential for the success of the crop, so their harvest should be carried out at their maximum point of physiological maturity. This study aimed to verify the influence of the growing season and fruit maturation stage on the seed physiological maturity of two P. ixocarpa varieties (‘green’ and ‘purple’) grown in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The water content, dry weight, germination percentage and seedling emergence were evaluated. The growing season influenced the seed maturation process of the two evaluated varieties, with a more pronounced effect for the ‘purple’ one. To obtain higher-quality seeds, the cultivation in the Brazilian semi-arid region can be carried out from May to August and the collection of fruits to obtain seeds from the stage 4 of maturation.