Teste de tolerância a dessecação e reindução da tolerância a dessecação em plantulas de feijão Caupi (Vigna unguiculata L. (WALP.))

Abstract

Over the years cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. (WALP.)) Has become an extremely important crop for the world, serving as a food base and as a source of energy both for animals through feed and for food. Planted as a crop in the Northeast or safrinha in the Midwest, what affects production most is the water deficit because it is mostly planted in the rainy season and in tropical climates. It is an orthodox plant, so the cowpea has the capacity to tolerate desiccation (loss of 90% water from the seed), this tolerance is acquired in the reserve accumulation phase. This work aimed to evaluate the desiccation tolerance capacity of cowpea seedlings with root protrusion and their resistance to desiccation, which were prepared for artificial drying with silica gel.