PHYSICAL CARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF PRE-IMBIBITION TREATMENT IN THE GERMINATION OF SUCUPIRA (Bowdichia virgilioides KUNTH) SEEDS

Abstract

This work aimed to perform a physical characterization and to evaluate different methods of pre-imbibition in seeds of sucupira (Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth). The effect of the pre-imbibition in water (0, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours) was evaluated, after chemical scarification of the seeds with sulfuric acid for five minutes. The experimental design was completely randomized, with six treatments and four repetitions. Seeds that did not germinate were classified as hard, intumesced and died. The weight of thousands seeds were obtained during the physical characterization studies in 21.3g (47.175 seeds/kg) and 9.09% of water contend. The biometrics data of black sucupira seeds for length, width and thickness presented average value of 4,90 mm, 3,47 mm and 3,47 mm, respectively. The pre-imbibition treatment increased the percentage and germination speed, where pre-imbibition for 48 and 36 hours were more efficient. In relation to the seeds that did not germinate, it was observed that the treatments with longer period of pre-imbibition presented smaller amount of hard seeds.