The objective of this study was to perform morpho-anatomical, biochemical and physiological studies on seeds of Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish during germination. The results showed that the best condition to germinate the seeds was a 14h photoperiod associated with alternating temperature 20-30ºC. Under this condition the seeds started germination at 48h of imbibition and reached the maximum germination (96%) on the eighth day of imbibition. The imbibition curve showed a three-phase pattern where the first phase had a fast increase in the fresh weight of 95%. The seeds have a light brown-colored tegument and saliencies. The endosperm is extremely reduced presenting two to three cell layers surrounding the embryo. The embryo makes up most of the seed. The first morphological modifications in the tegument occurred on the first day of imbibition. The beginning of ruptures in the tegument and visible primary root growth coincided with the increase in the fresh weight of the seeds, the start of phase III of imbibition and advance in the germination progress. The activity of the enzyme endo-β-mannanase was present at 12h imbibition, but increase in activity was observed from the fourth day of imbibition onwards, coinciding with 50% of germination of the seeds. Thus, morpho-anatomical, physiological and biochemist changes occurred during imbibition and increased with the germination process of the seeds.
scanning electronic microscopy; endo-β-mannanase; candeia; imbibition curve
