Potential use of vermiculite in coffee seed germination test

Venicius Urbano Vilela Reis; Giulyana Isabele Silva Tavares; Rafaela Rezende Mizael; Gabriela Ribeiro  Gontijo; Everson Reis Carvalho; Sttela Dellyzete Veiga Franco da Rosa; Heloisa Oliveira dos Santos

doi:10.14393/BJ-v42n0a2026-79543

Authors

Venicius Urbano Vilela Reis Universidade Federal de Lavras https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0162-8524
Giulyana Isabele Silva Tavares Universidade Federal de Lavras https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3709-4413
Rafaela Rezende Mizael Universidade Federal de Lavras https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0051-7837
Gabriela Ribeiro Gontijo Universidade Federal de Lavras https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7413-2025
Everson Reis Carvalho Universidade Federal de Lavras
Sttela Dellyzete Veiga Franco da Rosa Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9959-6606
Heloisa Oliveira dos Santos Universidade Federal de Lavras

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14393/BJ-v42n0a2026-79543

Keywords:

Coffea arabica L., Quality control, Seed quality, Seedling development, Substrate.

Abstract

The quality of the seeds and the subsequent germination process are critical for the successful cultivation of coffee seedlings that meet the desired standards. However, coffee seed germination is notoriously slow, which can hinder the efficiency of coffee seedling producers and seed testing laboratories. In this context, the substrate utilized in the germination test exerts a direct influence on the germination process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of rolled paper with vermiculite (RP+V) as an alternative substrate for coffee seed germination testing. Five germination substrates were evaluated: rolled paper (RP) and rolled paper with vermiculite (RP+V) at four water-to-vermiculite ratios (1×, 2×, 3×, and 4× the vermiculite weight). The results indicated that the RP+V substrate significantly enhanced germination and seedling length compared to RP, particularly the RP+V 1× treatment, attributable to the enhanced water retention and aeration properties of vermiculite. Conversely, increasing water levels, particularly the RP+V 4× treatment, was observed to reduce radicle protrusion. This phenomenon can be attributed to excess water limiting oxygen availability. In general, the application of RP+V has been shown to have a positive influence on the development of coffee seedlings, particularly the root system. This suggests that the RP+V 1× substrate may be a promising alternative for assessing the germination potential of seed lots.

References

AREA, M.C. and CHERADAME, H. Paper aging and degradation: recent findings and research methods. BioResources. 2011, 6(4), 5307–5337. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.6.4.5307-5337

BEWLEY, J.D. and BLACK, M. Seeds: physiology of development and germination. Boston: Springer, 1994. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1002-8

BRASIL. Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária. Instrução Normativa n° 35, de 29 de novembro de 2012. Brasília: MAPA, 2012. Available from: https://www.gov.br/agricultura/pt-br/assuntos/lfda/legislacao-metodos-da-rede-lfda/sementes-mudas/in352012.pdf

BRASIL. Regras para análise de sementes (RAS). Brasília: Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária, 2025. Available from: https://wikisda.agricultura.gov.br/pt-br/Laborat%C3%B3rios/Metodologia/Sementes/cap_4_Germinacao_rev_1

CARVALHO, E.R. et al. Validation of the germination test using rolled paper plus vermiculite for treated soybean seeds. Journal of Seed Science. 2024, 46, e202446020. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v46282001

COELHO, S.V.B. et al. Alterações fisiológicas e bioquímicas em sementes de café secas em sílica gel e soluções salinas saturadas. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira. 2015, 50(6), 483–491. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2015000600007

CONAB – COMPANHIA NACIONAL DE ABASTECIMENTO. Acompanhamento da safra brasileira de café. Brasília: CONAB. Primeiro levantamento. 2026, 13(1) Available from: https://www.gov.br/conab/pt-br/atuacao/informacoes-agropecuarias/safras/safra-de-cafe

FERREIRA, E.B., CAVALCANTI, P.P. and NOGUEIRA, D.A. ExpDes: an R package for ANOVA and experimental designs. Applied Mathematics. 2021, 5(19), 2952–2958. https://doi.org/10.4236/am.2014.519280

GUIMARÃES, G.C. et al. Minimum period to assess the potential of germination of coffee seeds. Journal of Seed Science. 2013, 35(3), 347–352. Available from: http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1039771

HUSSAIN, S. et al., eds. Citrus production: technological advancements and adaptation to changing. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003119852

ICO – INTERNATIONAL COFFEE ORGANIZATION. Coffee Market Report February 2026. London: ICO, 2026. Available from: https://www.ico.org/documents/cy2025-26/cmr-0226-e.pdf

LEÓN-BURGOS, A.F., UNIGARRO, C.A. and BALAGUERA-LÓPEZ, H.E. Soil waterlogging conditions affect growth, water status, and chlorophyll "a" fluorescence in coffee plants (Coffea arabica L.). Agronomy. 2022, 12(6), 1270. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12061270

MARTINS, C.C., MACHADO, C.G. and CAVASINI, R. Temperature and substrate for the germination test of physic nut seeds. Ciência e Agrotecnologia. 2008, 32(3), 863–868. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1413-70542008000300024

NUNES, F.C. et al., 2023. Clay composites: physicochemical characterization. In: VITHANAGE, M., LAZZARA, G. and RAJAPAKSHA, A.U., (eds.). Clay composites. Singapore: Springer Nature, pp. 29–54. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2544-5_2

PEREIRA, C.E. et al. Determinação de inibidores da germinação no espermoderma de sementes de café (Coffea arabica L.). Revista Brasileira de Sementes. 2002, 24(1), 306–311. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-31222002000100042

PARK, M.R. and HASENSTEIN, K.H. Oxygen dependency of germinating Brassica seeds. Life Sciences in Space Research. 2016, 8, 30–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lssr.2016.01.002

R CORE TEAM. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing, 2026. Available from: https://www.R-project.org/

REIS, V.U.V. et al. Benefits of using vermiculite in the soybean seed germination testing. Discover Plants. 2025, 2(1), 165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44372-025-00248-7

REIS, V.U.V. et al. Vigor of maize seeds and its effects on plant stand establishment, crop development and grain yield. Journal of Seed Science. 2022, 44, e202244020. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v44257527

ROCHA, D.K. et al. Does the substrate affect the germination of soybean seeds treated with phytosanitary products? Ciência e Agrotecnologia. 2020, 44, e020119. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-7054202044020119

ROCHA, D.K. et al. Validation of the paper roll plus vermiculite germination test methodology for treated corn seeds. Journal of Seed Science. 2023, 45, e202345026. https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v45274506

ROSA, S.D.V.F. et al. Staging coffee seedling growth: a rationale for shortening the coffee seed germination test. Seed Science and Technology. 2010, 38(2), 421–431. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.2.15

ROSA, S.D.V.F. et al. The effect of storage conditions on coffee seed and seedling quality. Seed Science and Technology. 2011, 39(1), 151–164. https://doi.org/10.15258/sst.2011.39.1.13

ROSSETTI, C. et al. Germination test in carioca bean seeds chemically treated with the use of alternative substrates. Colloquium Agrariae. 2022, 18(1), 29–34. Available from: https://journal.unoeste.br/index.php/ca/article/view/4122

SILVA, J.D.S. et al. Vermiculite in the initial development of coffee seedlings in different containers. Scientific Electronic Archives. 2023, 16(12). https://doi.org/10.36560/161220231836

XAVIER, F.D.M. et al. Adequacy of the germination test for rice seeds treated with different fungicides and insecticides. Brazilian Journal of Development. 2021, 7(2), 19193–19212. https://doi.org/10.34117/bjdv7n2-526