Seed anatomy and water uptake and their relation to seed dormancy of Ormosia paraensis Ducke

Breno Marques Da Silva E Silva,Camila De Oliveira E Silva,Fabiola Vitti Môro,Roberval Daiton Vieira

doi:10.1590/2317-1545v40n3177599

Breno Marques Da Silva E Silva, Camila De Oliveira E Silva + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v40n3177599

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Abstract

Abstract: Ormosia paraensis Ducke has ornamental seeds widely used in the manufacture of bio-jewels and wood used in the furniture industry. For seedling production, the information on its seed physiology is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess methods for breaking dormancy and relate them to integument structure and water uptake by O. paraensis seeds. Seed dormancy-breaking was performed by mechanical scarification and soaking in sulfuric acid for 0, 15, 30, 60, 120, and 240 minutes. Dormancy‐broken seeds were compared with intact seeds. Seed integument is formed by a cuticle (hydrophobic substances), epidermis (macroesclereids of the palisade layer,), hypodermis (osteosclereids), and parenchyma cells. Intact seeds did not absorb water after 72 hours of soaking. The highest percentages and rates of seed germination were observed in treatments with mechanical scarification and soaking in sulfuric acid for 60 or 120 minutes. Seed soaking in sulfuric acid (H2SO4 p.a. 98.08%) for 60 or 120 minutes or mechanical scarification are adequate to overcome physical dormancy associated with O. paraensis seed integument impermeability to water or gases.

Highlights

Timber use is a very small fraction of the multiple nontimber forest uses, such as handicrafts, production of oils, resins, and dyes, folk medicine and holotherapy, food, and afforestation and landscaping, among others, of Fabaceae species (Ferreira et al, 2005; Chevreuil et al, 2011)
Seed integument is formed by four distinct layers: cuticle, epidermis, hypodermis, and parenchyma cells (Silva et al, 2015)
Considering the diversity of indications of Ormosia Jacks seeds aiming at seed analysis and seedling production, the aim of this study was to assess methods for breaking seed dormancy and relate them to integument structure and water uptake by O. paraensis seeds

Summary

Introduction

Timber use is a very small fraction of the multiple nontimber forest uses, such as handicrafts, production of oils, resins, and dyes, folk medicine and holotherapy, food, and afforestation and landscaping, among others, of Fabaceae species (Ferreira et al, 2005; Chevreuil et al, 2011). Among the Fabaceae forest species, Ormosia paraensis Ducke is a characteristic tree species of the dense ombrophilous and secondary forests of the Amazon used for timber purposes in the civil construction and furniture production, recovery of degraded areas, and production of handicrafts with seeds (Barros et al, 2009; Castro et al, 2012; Ribeiro et al, 2013). Most of the Ormosia Jacks seeds are ornamental, hard, and red-colored, commonly with a black spot and rarely yellow. Because of their hardness and resistance, seeds of several Ormosia species are used for making handicrafts. This hardness hinders seed analysis and seedling production (Lopes et al, 2006; Gonçalves et al, 2011; Baigts, 2009; Teixeira et al, 2009; Basqueira et al, 2011; Curiel and Morais, 2011; Gurski et al, 2012; Silva and Moraes, 2012; Silva et al, 2014; Silva et al, 2015; Vargas-Simón et al, 2017)

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