The objective of this study was to develop methodologies for assessing the quality of Quixabeira seeds, which is a species threatened with extinction, due to the use of the tree bark in folk medicine. Drying tests were conducted in the laboratory and in a green-house for 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168 and 196 hours of overcoming seed dormancy (scarification; immersion in sulfuric acid for one, three, five and seven minutes; scarification followed by soaking in distilled water for 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours, soaking in distilled water for 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours and control) and with substrates (on and between-sand, vermiculite, paper, BioPlant ®, plantmax, and roll paper germitest) at different temperatures (20-30, 30 and 35 °C). Drying in greenhouse damaged the seeds quality. The scarification is the most effective treatment to overcome dormancy. Temperatures of 30 °C with the substrate between the paper, and 35 °C with the substrate in vermiculite are suitable for germination tests of Quixabeira seeds.
Drying; Dormancy; Temperature
