MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION AND OVERCOMING OF DORMANCY BY CHEMICAL AGENT IN SEEDS OF Senna multijuga (Rich.)DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5892/ruvrd.v14i1.2916

Resumo

Senna multijuga (Rich) is a species of the Leguminosae family. Its importance resides in its wide used in reforestation of degraded areas. However, its seeds has a long dormancy period. The objective of this study was to characterize the morphology of the seeds of S. multijuga and evaluate the influence of sulfuric acid as a chemical agent in overcoming its dormancy. The seeds were characterized by nine morphometric measurements. The effectiveness of sulfuric acid in breaking dormancy was evaluated at two concentrations (80% and 90%) and in four times of immersion (10, 15, 20, 25 min.). Response variables observed were germination percentage, germination speed index (GSI), initial seedling growth (root and shoot length). S. multijuga presented small, elongated, little spherical seeds with a low moisture content. Seeds exposed to treatment with 90% sulfuric acid and immersed for 10 minutes showed better results for percentage of germination and GSI without negative effects such as the integrity of the initial growth of seedlings. Thus, sulfuric acid is effective in breaking dormancy S. multijuga and optimization proposal reduces by about 10% in the consumption of acid, keeping a short time by immersion pretreatment and high germination viability.