The objective of this study was to define appropriate treatments to overcome dormancy in papaya seeds. Seeds with and without sarcotesta extracted from papaya fruits of the Formosa group, hybrid Tainung 01, were used. The following treatments to overcome dormancy were applied on seeds without sarcotesta: leaching for 2 and 4h, drying at 40ºC/96h, pre-chilling at 10ºC/14 days, accerelated aging at 41ºC for 36, 48 e 72h, soaking in NaOCl 0,5% for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5h, soaking in KNO3 1M for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min., soaking in GA3 400, 600 and 800 ppm for 24h, substratum moistened with GA3 400, 600 and 800 ppm, storage for 3, 6 and 9 months and heat-shock at 15-35º C. After each treatment, germination at 15 and 30 days was evaluated. Seeds with sarcotesta had lower germination speed and percentage. The best treatments to overcome dormancy in papaya seeds were the use of substratum moistened with GA3 600 ppm or the immersion of the seeds GA3 600 ppm for 24 hours and immersion of the seeds in KNO3 1M for 30, 60 and 90 minutes. Seed dormancy was broken after storage for 3 and 6 months.
Carica papaya; germination; overcome dormancy
