Trinexapac-ethyl and topdressing nitrogen levels on the productivity and physiological quality of graniferous white oat seeds.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of white oat seeds cultivated under different topdressing N levels combined with the plant growth retardant trinexapac-ethyl in two growing environments. The experiments were carried out in Londrina and Mauá da Serra Municipalities (PR, Brazil) with the cultivar 'IPR Afrodite'. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 4x2 factorial arrangement, with four replications. Treatments consisted of four N levels (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg.ha-1) combined or not with the plant growth retardant. Seed yield, 1000-seed weight, germination, first germination count, seedling length, seedling dry matter, accelerated aging, electrical conductivity, emergence speed index, and seedling emergence in sand were evaluated. Data were submitted to the analysis of variance and then to the F test and regression analysis up to the second degree (p=0.05). The application of the plant growth retardant and N topdressing led to an increase in seed productivity in Mauá da Serra. N fertilization reduced seed quality, but this effect can be minimized, not observed or overlapped by the positive effect of the plant growth retardant. Such an effect depends on environmental characteristics and it was not observed in Londrina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]