Physical and chemical treatments to overcome the dormancy in <i>Enterolobium contortisiliquum</i> (Vell.) Morong. seeds

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate physical and chemical treatments to overcome the dormancy in Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong seeds. The following treatments were applied: T₁ – control (seeds without scarification); T₂ – chemical scarification; T₃ – mechanical scarification with sandpaper; T₄
– mechanical scarification with sandpaper, followed by immersion in water; T₅ – crunched seeds; T₆ – crunched seeds, followed by immersion in water; T₇ – mechanical scarification in blender; T₈ – mechanical scarification in blender, followed by immersion in water. Emergency, index of emergency speed, average time of emergency and hypocotyl length were the analyzed parameters. The mechanical scarification with sandpaper, without or with immersion in water, is an efficient method to overcome dormancy coats in Enterolobium contortisiliquum seeds.