ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of salt stress on the viability and the vigor of Cedrela odorata L. seeds. The experiment was conducted at conditions of laboratory (temperature medium from 28 ºC and humidity medium of 84 %), under continuous light where four replicates of 25 seeds were put to germinate on blotting paper and moistened with solutions of NaCl, KCl and CaCl2 at different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM). The parameters analysed were: germination, first germination count, germination speed index, primary root and hypocotyl length and dry weight matter of the seedling. The adverse effects of salt stress on germination and seedling vigor of 'cedro' are indeed evident from the concentration of 25 mM NaCl, KCl and CaCl2, indicating that their use in saline environments may be limited. The 'cedro' seeds are more sensitive to CaCl2 and KCl compared to NaCl, the effect of salinity was more aggressive on the germination and vigor than in seedling vigor.
Keywords:
salinity; germination; forest seeds; vigor