This study aimed verifying the effect of the storage and the influence of physical and chemical treatments on emergency and growth of sweetsop plantlets. Sweetsop fruits were collected in a commercial orchard in Nova Porteirinha District, Minas Gerais. Fruits were picked when ripe, the pulp was extracted and the seeds washed. The design was in blocks at random, in a factorial system with five treatments (control, immersion in vinegar, sandpaper scarification, scarification in blender and cutting with pliers) and four periods of storage at 4 ºC (0, 2, 4 e 6 months). Percentage of surfaced plantlets, average time to emergency, number of leaves, diameter, plant height, shoot root fresh and dry matter were evaluated thirty days after the planting of each period. Among the main results we could pointout that no significative effects of the treatments on breaking sweetsop seeds dormancy were observed and also the storage at low temperatures up to six months did not damage emergency and growth of sweetsop plantlets.
Annona squamosa; dormancy; seeds
