Dormancy Breaking in Senna Pendula (Willd.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby

• Published in: Floresta e ambiente Vol. 26; no. 1
• Main Authors: Rodrigues Filho, Josinei, Corte, Viviana Borges, Perin, Idalina Tereza de Almeida Leite
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto de Florestas da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro 01-01-2019; Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro
• Subjects: germination; PLANT SCIENCES; tegument; vigor; germination; tegument; vigor
• ISSN: 1415-0980; 2179-8087; 2179-8087
• DOI: 10.1590/2179-8087.000217

ABSTRACT Senna pendula seeds dormancy is caused by impermeability of the seed coat to water. In order to determine the best methodology to overcome dormancy and to perform a morphological characterization, two batches of seeds were submitted to the following treatments: a) mechanical scarification of the seed coat; b) immersion in hot water at 70 °C for 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes; c) immersion in hot water at 90 °C for 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes; d) sulfuric acid concentrate for 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes; e) no treatment. The experiment was conducted in laboratory using a completely randomized design, with four replications of 25 seeds each, with daily verification for 7 days. The results showed that the use of water does not overcome the dormancy, however mechanical and chemical scarifications were the most effective treatments, with germination percentage of up to 94%.