This experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of acid scarification and different temperatures on the physiological quality of Strelitzia reginae seeds. The seeds were scarified with concentrated sulfuric acid for 0, 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes. In the laboratory, the seeds were placed in paper towel rolls and taken to the germinator set at 25ºC, 20º-30ºC, and 30ºC. In the germination test at 30 days, normal seedlings (germination), abnormal seedlings, dead seeds, and hard seeds were evaluated. To determine vigor, first germination counting, root length, and germination speed were evaluated. In the greenhouse at room temperature, seeds were sown on a sand bed sterilized with methilbromide, at the depth of 2 cm. Emergence percentage and mean number of days to seedling emergence were assessed. Higher percentage of germination and better expression of seed vigor was obtained at 25 0C. Scarification with concentrated sulfuric acid favored seedling emergence in the greenhouse. In the laboratory, the best results for germination and vigor were obtained for the seeds scarified in sulfuric acid for nine minutes. However, the number of hard seeds obtained at the end of the test justifies the search for other treatments for overcoming the dormancy.
Overcome of dormancy; temperature of germination
