The intense dormancy seen in seeds of Schizolobium amazonicum, known locally as paricá, makes the formation process of seedlings difficult. The aim of this work was to test procedures to accelerate and standardise the emergence of seedlings in the paricá. The seeds used were collected from various matrices in the Antimary State Forest, in the Brazilian state of Acre. Treatments consisted of intact seeds (control), scarification with concentrated sulphuric acid (immersion for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 min), immersion in heated water (60 ºC, 80 ºC and 100 ºC ), scarification of the basal part of the seed with sandpaper, scarification with a punch by means of perforations in the largest lateral portion of the husk, and scarification with an electric emery grinder on the side of the husk. The effects of the treatments were evaluated using seedling emergence (EP) and the emergence speed index (EVI) at six observation times, as well as the relative frequency and average time of emergence for the best results. The statistical design was completely randomised with four replications in a factorial scheme for EP, and a single array for the IVE. Maximum EP can be achieved in less time by using the punch, immersion in boiling water (100ºC) and the electric grinder.
Paricá; Dormancy; Forest seeds
