This study was carried out to evaluate methods of breaking Stylosanthes scabra seed and fruit hardness, separately. The methods evaluated were: control dry heat at 85ºC for 10, 12, and 14 hours, immersion in concentrated sulphuric acid for five and 10 minutes, and immersion in boiling water for one minute. The germination test consisted of evaluating normal seedlings (germination percentage), abnormal seedlings, hard seeds and dead seeds. It was concluded that the best treatment was seed scarification with concentrated sulfuric acid for five and 10 minutes. In relation to fruit scarification, an immersion time longer than 10 minutes deserves further study. The dry heat treatment did not overcome the impermeabily of the seed covering layers. Boiling water led to the death of more than 90% of the seeds.
Stylosanthes scabra; seeds; scarification; dormancy
