Germination of seeds of Senna macranthera, Senna multijuga and Stryphnodendron polyphyllum

Abstract

With the aim of contributing to the knowledge about the wood legume Senna macranthera and Senna multijuga (Caesalpinaceae), and Stryphnodendron polyphyllum (Mimosaceae) seed germination, the seed imbibition curves were determined to identify the coat-imposed dormancy, and the procedures to overcome it with mechanical or chemical scarification. The coat impermeability was present in these three species and, the mechanical scarification was the most effective treatment to break the dormancy (germination percent up 80%). In S. macranthera, the chemical scarification with sulfuric acid by 12 minutes showed similar efficiency to the mechanical scarification. A variation in coat permeability between non-scarified seeds of S. polyphyllum was observed.