Moist heat treatment on Acacia mangium seeds

Abstract

Acacia mangium Willd. is an arboreal and exotic species, which has potential for exploitation of timber products in Brazil. As it spreads mainly through sexual reproduction, it becomes relevant the phytosanitary treatment of seeds for the production of seedlings. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of thermal treatment humid heat on health and physiological quality of A. mangium seeds. Thus, the seeds were thermal treated in water heated to 70° C during 0, 10, 15 and 20 minutes of exposure. Then, the seeds were subjected to germination test and seed health. The seed health analysis revealed that fungi of the genre Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Pestalotia sp., Cladosporium sp., Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp. and Botrytis sp., were associated with seeds. The thermal treatment with humid heat at a temperature of 70°C for 10 to 15 minutes of exposure overcame the physical dormancy of seeds of A. mangium and reduced occurrence of fungal species.