Method to overcome the dormancy coats in <i>Apeiba tibourbou</i> Aubl. seeds

Abstract

This work aimed to determine the most practical and efficient methodology to overcome dormancy in Apeiba tibourbou seeds. The following pre-germinative treatments were applied: T₁ - control (no treatment); T₂ - mechanical scarification with sandpaper; T₃ - heat shock without soaking seeds; T₄ - heat shock with soaking seeds; T₅ - immersion in water at 80ºC; T₆ , T₇ and T₈ - chemical scarification (sulfuric acid) for 1, 5 and 10 minutes, respectively. Germination, germination speed index, and length of the hipocotyl and primary root were the analyzed parameters. The treatments of immersion of the seeds in hot water 80ºC, the thermal shock (with or without soaking) and chemical scarification for 1 minute are efficient methods to overcome dormancy in Apeiba tibourbou seeds.