Pre-germinative treatments to overcome dormancy of Momordica balsamina L. seeds under different temperatures

Abstract

The Cucurbitaceae Family has some dormant species, including Momordica balsamina L. (Cacana). Therefore, methods have been used to overcome dormancy, as these help to accelerate the germination process. In this way, the objective was to evaluate, by means of pre-germinative treatments under the effect of different temperatures, the germinative behavior of Momordica balsamina L. seeds. Temperatures with four repetitions of 25 seeds. The seeds were submitted to the following treatments: T1-removal of the integument; T2-wetting the substrate with 0,1% KNO3 solution; T3-pre-cooling to 10oC for 3 days and T4-control. Subsequently, the germination and seedling emergence tests were set up and then placed in B.O.D. at temperatures of 25, 30 and 35oC, the tests were evaluated: first germination count, germination, seedling emergence speed and seedling emergence. The results showed physical seed dormancy. The removal of the tegument and the temperatures of 25 or 30oC, with 97 and 96% of germinated seeds respectively, provided ideal conditions for germination.