Marcetia taxifolia (A. St.-Hil.) DC. (Melastomataceae) is a shrub widely distributed in the rupestrian fields of Serra do Cipó, Brazil. In spite of M. taxifolia being a potential species to be used in land rehabilitation, no complete study has been conducted regarding its seed germination. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effect of light and temperature on seed germination of M. taxifolia. Seeds were collected in May/2001 and were submitted to germination tests at constant temperatures of 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35ºC under a photoperiod of 12 hours, and in the absence of light for 30 days. There were statistically significant differences between seed germination and mean time of germination for seeds submitted to the light and dark treatments at 15, 20, 25 and 30ºC (p < 0,05; all). Seed germination under 35ºC was totally inhibited. The higher germination percentages were obtained at 15 and 20ºC, which differed significantly from the temperatures of 25 and 30ºC (ANOVA = 13,65; p < 0,001). The data contribute to further studies focusing the propagation of M. taxifolia for land rehabilitation purposes.
rupestrian fields; photoblastism; seed germination; Serra do Cipó
