Handroanthus impetiginosus biometry of seed and seedling production after different periods of immersion in water

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the biometric characteristics of Handroanthus impetiginosus seed, and to evaluate the effect of different periods of seed immersion in water on the initial growth of seedlings. Seed and embryo characteristics were analyzed for length, width, and thickness. Moisture content, one thousand seed weight, and the number of seed per kilogram were determined. Seed were subjected to 10 immersion treatments in water and to one control without water. The treatments in water consisted of immersion for 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, and 60 hours. Lengths of seedling aerial parts and roots were analyzed 30 days after sowing. Water-use efficiency was assessed. The moisture content was 60.03%. The thousand seed weight was 29.860 g, corresponding to about 33,490 seed kg^-1. Seed with lateral wings showed 4.486, 0.890, and 0.101 cm for length, width, thickness, respectively. Embryo showed 0.981, 0.655, and 0.076 cm, for length, width, and thickness, respectively. Seed immersion in water for six hours expresses the best results for growth and water-use efficiency, leading to vigorous seedlings of H. impetiginosus