Overcome dormancy in seeds of Delonix regia (Fabaceae)

Abstract

The study objective was to evaluate methods to overcome coat dormancy in flamboyant seeds. Conducted in a completely randomized design with twelve treatments and four replicates of 25 seeds, being: Witness (T1); Immersion in water for five minutes at 100 °C (T2), 80 °C (T3) and 65 °C (T4); Immersion in concentrated sulfuric acid (97%) for five (T5) and ten minutes (T6); Mechanical scarification (T7); Stand in the opposite region of the embryo (T8); Cut of the integument (T9); Immersion for fifteen minutes in alcohol vinegars (T10), red wine (T11) and white wine (T12). The percentages of germination and hard and dead seeds, germination speed index, root length, seedling height, number of leaves and dry mass of the seedlings were evaluated. The highest rates of germination were provided, respectively, by tegument cutting, immersion in water at 100 °C, mechanical scarification and peeling. None of the methods of breaking dormancy employed had any effect on seedling height, number of leaves and root length. The most efficient treatments in the dormancy breaking of flamboyant seeds were immersion in water at 100 °C, mechanical scarification, peeling and tegument cutting.