Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of the germination vs. the X-ray test in determining the initial viability of seeds of five wild species (
Moringa peregrina
,
Abrus precatorius
,
Arthrocnemum macrostachyum
,
Acacia ehrenbergiana
and
Acacia tortilis
) from Saudi Arabia. Usually several days were required to determine the viability of all five species via germination tests. However, X-ray test will give immediate results on filled/viable seeds. Seeds of all species, except
Acacia ehrenbergiana
and
Acacia tortilis
showed high viability in both germination (96–72% at 25/15 °C, 94–70% at 35/25 °C) and X-ray (100–80%) test. Furthermore, there was a general agreement between the germination (19%, 14% at 25/15 °C and 17% and 12% at 35/25 °C) and X-ray (8%, 4%) tests in which seed viability of
Acacia ehrenbergiana
and
Acacia tortilis
was very low due to insect damaged embryo as shown in X-ray analysis. Seeds of
Abruspreca torius
have physical dormancy, which was broken by scarification in concentrated sulfuric acid (10 min), and they exhibited high viability in both the germination (83% at 25/15 °C and 81% at 35/25 °C) and X-ray (96%) tests. Most of the nongerminated seeds of the five species except those of
Acacia ehrenbergiana
and
Acacia tortilis
, were alive as judged by the tetrazolium test (TZ). Thus, for the five species examined, the X-ray test was proved to be a good and rapid predictor of seed viability.