A experimental study was conduced in order to overcome dormancy of muirajuba seeds (Apuleia leiocarpa (Vog.) Macbride var. molaris Spr. ex Bcnth), using 12 pre-germination treatments: the control treatment (without scarify); immersion in sulphuric acid concentrate (96%) in different periods (5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 minutes); immersion in hot water at 80"C (2 and 10 minutes); cutting-off the point on the opposite side of the hilar area, manual scarification for 2 minutes and manual scarification followed by immersion in water (6 and 12 hours). The germination was carried out in a Jacobsen germinator room at constant temperature (30"C), and observed for 30 days. The treatments effects were evaluated through germination percentage and index ofgermination speed (I.V.G.). Every treatments applied provided a germination increase in comparation with the control treatment, whose germination was any 13%. Increased in seed germination was obtained with immersion in sulphuric acid, cuttin-off in oposite side of hilar area, and manual scarification for 2 minutes (with or without immersion in water for 12 hours), have no different statistical. Among the treatments tested higher I.V.G. was obtained with manual scarification for 2 minutes followed by immersion in water for 12 hours. The treatments using hot water did not show any efficiency on germination of muirajuba seeds.
Seeds; Dormancy; Leguminosae; Apuleia