Effect of storage in overcoming seed dormancy of Annona coriacea Mart. seeds.

Daiane M Dresch,Tathiana E Masetto,Silvana P.Q Scalon

doi:10.1590/0001-3765201420130276

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-treatments on overcoming dormancy of A. coriacea seeds. Seeds were processed and stored in polyethylene bags at temperatures of at -18°C (42% RH), 5°C (34% RH), 15°C (60% RH) and 25°C (34% RH), during 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days. After storage, seeds were immersed in 350 mg.L-1 gibberellic acid for 144 hours. Sowing was carried out in plastic bags containing Red Latosol + Bioplant®. Moisture content, emergence percentage, emergence speed index, length and dry mass of seedlings, were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial with four replications of 50 seeds each. The seed storage at 5°C and subsequent immersion in gibberellic acid was efficient to reach high percentage, emergence speed and plant growth. A. coriacea seeds showed non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy wherein the physiological component can be overcome after the seeds are storage at 5°C for a maximum period of 53 days and subsequent immersed in exogenous GA (350 mg.L-1 for 144 hours).

Highlights

The genus Annona (Annonaceae) comprises ap proximately 250 species in Brazil
A. coriacea seeds showed non-deep simple morphophysiological dormancy wherein the physiological component can be overcome after the seeds are storage at 5°C for a maximum period of 53 days and subsequent immersed in exogenous GA (350 mg.L-1 for 144 hours)
The increases in the moisture content of Annona coriacea seeds observed after storage at -18°C may have been associated with the formation of ice crystals

Summary

Introduction

The genus Annona (Annonaceae) comprises ap proximately 250 species in Brazil. Annona coriacea Mart., commonly known as “araticum”, “marôlo”, “araticum-liso”, “araticum-dos-grandes” and “araticum-do-campo” is found in areas of Cerrado (Brazilian savannah) vegetation in the states of Bahia, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul (Lorenzi 2000, Lorenzi and Souza 2008). Seeds required between 240 and 260 days, while Silva (1998) reported a germination time of 230 - 300 days for the same species, and De Melo et al (1998) observed a time between 240 - 300 days. A number of authors have reported long germination times for seeds of the genus Annona, including Rizzini (1973), who noted that Annona crassiflora Mart. These long germination periods can be reduced by applying GA3, as was demonstrated by Pereira et al (2004) and Cavalcante et al (2007, 2008)

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Conclusion