Overcoming of dormancy coats of <i>Caesalpinia ferrea</i> Mart ex Tul. seeds

Abstract

Caesalpinia ferrea is a tree species native to Brazil coming from Caatinga (dryland) biome. It has great medicinal and ornamental potential; its wood is used in construction and carpentry. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of methods to overcoming of dormancy Caesalpinia ferrea Mart. ex Tul.  seed. The following pre-germinative treatments had been applied: T1 – mechanical scarification on the opposing extremity to hilum with sandpaper; T2 - mechanical scarification on the extremity next to hilum with sandpaper; T3 - mechanical scarification on the lateral region with sandpaper; T4 – immersion in water at 80ºC; T5 - immersion in water at 100ºC; T6 – control (no treatment). The emergency, emergency speed index, length of the aerial part and primary root, dry weight matter of the aerial part and root system were evaluated. The C. ferrea seeds they present tegument dormancy. Mechanical scarification and immersion in water at 80ºC are efficient methods to overcome dormancy in Caesalpinia ferrea.