Overcome dormancy and in vitro germination of seeds of Mimosa scabrella Bentham

Abstract

Mimosa scabrella Bentham is a tree native to Brazil of ecological and economic importance, whose production of quality seedlings can be performed via tissue culture. This work aimed to select a method to overcome dormancy and to establish the concentration of salts in the MS nutritive medium best suited for in vitro germination of seeds of M. scabrella. Were evaluated four treatments to overcome dormancy: mechanical scarification; immersion in water at room temperature for 24 hours; immersion in hot water (80°C) for 5 minutes, and control, arranged in a randomized design with four replicates of 50 seeds. After seven days, we evaluated the germination and at 14 days, abnormal seedlings, dead and firm seeds. In one the second assay, after disinfestation and mechanical scarification, seeds were cultivated in MS nutritive medium in four concentrations of salts, according to treatment: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or full (100%), arranged in completely randomized design with 25 replicates, each with three seeds. At 25 days of culture, we evaluated the in vitro germination of seeds. Among the tested methods to overcome dormancy, mechanical scarification was the most efficient. The maximum in vitro germination was observed in the medium 1/4 MS. The maximum in vitro germination was observed in the medium 1/4 MS. The mechanical scarification with sandpaper provides the highest germination rate, while the maximum in vitro germination is observed using ¼ MS medium.