The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of priming, salt and thermal stress on viability and vigor of folk silk tree seeds (Chorisia speciosa St.-Hil) after storage in hermetic containers at 5ºC. Intact and with coat punction seeds were primed in distilled water and KNO3 solutions (0.1 M and 0.2 M) during 24 hours at 27ºC. Salt stress was simulated with NaCl solutions at different osmotic potential, ranging from 0.0 MPa until -1.2 MPa, at 27ºC. Different intensities of thermal stress were applied on dried seeds; germination tests were carried out at 27ºC. As the intensity of salt and thermal stress increased, a reduction on seed vigor and viability was recorded in intact or punctured seeds. The salt tolerance limit showed before the storage was not reduced in intact seeds but there was an increase at thermal sensibility on intact or punctured seeds. The highest rates and germination percentage are recorded in seeds primed in water, submitted to salt and thermal stress. The conductivity test indicated the seeds primed in water or KNO3 0.1 M as the most vigorous. It is desirable to use priming to substitute the coat punction, after seed storage.
Bombacaceae; Chorisia speciosa; osmotic conditioning; salinity; temperature; wood tropical species
