Seed germination of Aloysia gratissima, Bauhinia forficata; Casearia sylvestris, Dodonea viscosa, Psychotria leiocarpa e Sida rhombifolia was verified using agar at 1% in petri dishes or sand, as substrate. The germination was tested under constant temperatures of 20°C, 25°C, 30°C and 35°C in light or darkness, and also at 10°C and 15°C in the dark. Morever, diary alternating temperatures of 10-20°C; 15-25°C; 20-30°C and 25-35°C were used, the higher temperature being in light at a radiating intensity of 40 to 60 µmol.m-2.s-1. Only A. gratissima showed positive photoblastic behavior, but higher germination was found at alternating temperatures. Both, C. sylvestris and P. leiocarpa at constant temperatures germinated only at 20 or 25°C. B. forficata seeds germinated more than 80% from 15°C to 30°C constant or when one of the shift temperatures was on that range. Scarified seeds of D. viscosa germinated at the same level from 10°C to 35°C. S. rhombifolia seeds germinated in higher rates at the constant temperature of 35°C or the alternating ones that included 35°C in the treatment. The higher percentage of germination achieved was from 44% in A. gratissima to 97% in B. forficata seeds. Since those are native species about which there are no reports on genetic improvement or landrace selection, the percentages of germination obtained were considered acceptable.
Aloysia; Bauhinia; Casearia; Dodonea; Psychotria; Sida
