Culture media studies that facilitate recalcitrant seed germination are very important to the fruit crops. Mangabeira (Hancornia speciosa Gomez) is a native specie from Brazilian Northeast. Its propagation by traditional methods is difficult because its seeds are recalcitrant and the fruit pulp has an inhibitory effect on seed germination. Trying to maximize its in vitro germination percentage, it was tested the influence of sucrose (0; 10; 30; 60 e 90 g/L), giberelic acid (0; 0.1; 0.3 e 0.5 mg/L), and different culture media (distilled water, coconut water, solid MS and liquid MS). It was also tested the scarification effects (seeds with or without tegument). The seeds obtained from mature fruits were scarified or not and inoculated in media containing different treatments. The germination rate was calculated 30 days after the seed inoculation. Seeds without tegument obtained higher germination percentage in all studied culture media being the highest one obtained from MS liquid treatment. The exclusion of sucrose favored the germination in MS solid medium as well in MS liquid. The highest seed germination percentage in MS supplemented with giberelic acid, in both MS solid and MS liquid media, occurred at 0.1 mg/L concentration. The highest in vitro germination rates were obtained upon removal of the seed tegument and posterior inoculation in MS liquid medium supplemented by 0.1 mg/L of giberelic acid.
Hancornia speciosa Gomez; propagation; seeds
