This work was conducted to study the germination test and the germination speed rate of guava seeds (Psidium guajava L.). Guava seeds were coilected from ripe fruits of a commercial orchard in Pelotas, RS. The experiment was carried out at the Seed Analysis Laboratory/ Plant Science Department - FAEM/UFPel. The seed treatments used were: a) refrigerated stratification around 5°C during 0, 10, 20, and 30 days; b) concentrated sulfuric acid scarification through 15 minutes immersion and medium washed sand seeds attrition during 15 minutes. The experimental design was a completely randomized with 4 replications of 50 seeds. After each seed treatment, seeds were placed in the paper and sand substratos: germinator chamber at constant 25°C and at room temperature. The germination occurred between 8 and 11 days in the germinator chamber. The substrate showed significativo effect only for germination and sand showed higher germination average values. Sands was the best scarification treatment for both situations. The stratification treatment decreased the germination and increased the germination speed rate of guava seeds.
Psidium guajava L.; germination; stratification; scarification; dormancy
