The kiwifruit is an exotic fruit tree of temperate climate whose main characteristic is the high content of vitamin C. Seed propagation of this species is very important to produce new varieties and rootstocks. Research results have demonstrated that this species shows a low porcentage of seed germination. The objective of this study was to evaluate different procedures to overcome seed dormancy: stratification (4°C) for 2 and 4 weeks; (gibberelic acid) GA3 with 0, 100, 500, 1,000 and 2,500 ppm). The seed germination of the check was 2,49%. Seeds not submitted to the stratification treatment showed a significative response to GA3 doses until 500 ppm. Seeds submitted to the stratification treatment (2 and 4 weeks) did not show response to GA3. The highest level of germination was 36.85% at the level of 2,500 ppm. There was a significant effect of stratification on seed germination (70,23%), however not between the two treatments. Seeds stratified for 2 weeks showed a significantly higher germination than the seeds submitted to the 500 ppm GA3 treatment. In conclusion, stratification for two weeks was the best procedure to overcome satisfactorly kiwi seed dormancy, cv. Bruno.
Actinidia deliciosa; kiwi; germination; stratification; gibberellic acid