Effect of light and temperature on seed germination of Cochlospermum vitifolium (Will.) Sprengel

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the influence of light and temperature on the germination of Cochlospermum vitifolium seeds. To this end, ripe fruits were picked from twelve mother plants and the treatments were kept in a germination chamber equipped with white fluorescent lamps in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement consisting of two light conditions, with a photoperiod of 8 h of light and 16 h of darkness and total darkness, divided in four temperature regimes: three constant temperatures (20, 25 and 30 ºC) and an alternating temperature (20-30 ºC), using a completely randomized design with four replications of 50 seeds. Daily counts were performed until the 14th day after planting to evaluate the percentage of germination, speed rate, and average time of germination. We concluded that the seeds of Cochlospermum vitifolium are neutral photoblastic and the constant temperature of 20 ºC is the best condition for the germination of this species.

Cochlospermaceae; ecophysiology; vigor