Dormancy breaking in macaw palm [Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Loddiges ex Mart.] seeds

This study was performed to improve the speed of and standardize the process for the germination of macaw palm seeds. The effect of mechanical scarification (removal of the tegument in the hilum region), thermal scarification (imbibition of seeds in water at approximately 100ºC for two or four minutes) and chemical scarification (98% sulfuric acid treatment for two or four minutes) were compared to a control (no scarification) in both a germination chamber and a greenhouse, representing trials one and two, respectively. The effect of imbibition speed (fast or slow) and different concentrations of gibberellic acid (0, 100 or 200 mg L-1) on the germination percentage and index of germination velocity were evaluated during a third trial. Mechanical scarification to remove the seed tegument in the hilum region enhanced the germination of the seeds in the germination chamber and seedling emergence in the greenhouse, and this type of scarification should be recommended for breaking dormancy in this species. Not obtained increase in seed germination with gibberellic acid, regardless of the application form in the seeds.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Rubio Neto,Aurélio, Silva,Fabiano Guimarães, Sales,Juliana de Fátima, Reis,Edésio Fialho dos, Silva,Lailla Queiroz, Campos,Rafael Cândido
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - EDUEM 2014
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1807-86212014000100007
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