Neutralization of acid scarification on the germination of <i>Brachiaria brizantha</i> cv. ‘Marandu’ seeds

Abstract

The genus Brachiaria is native from the African tropical savannas and has significant economic importance in Brazilian seed industry. Its main form of propagation is by seed and these are often dormant. The objective of this work was to evaluate the neutralization of the seed chemical scarification and its effects on the germination of Brachiaria brizantha cv. ‘Marandu’ stored seeds. Different sulfuric acid immersion times (5, 10 and 15 minutes) were used for seeds chemical scarification, followed or not, by neutralization of acid in water or water followed by calcium hydroxide. The evaluated parameters were the first germination counting (%), germination (%) and dormant seeds (%). At the end of the experiment, the seeds that did not germinate were tested using tetrazolium. The process of scarification with concentrated sulfuric acid for 10 minutes, after six months of storage, with acid neutralization only in distilled water, promotes dormancy alleviation in Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu.