The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of storage in moist sand and treatment with gibberellic acid on Brazil nut seed germination. Two experiments were carried out in a randomized block design, with five replicates. The first one was done in the nursery, in a factorial 4x2 arrangement, with four storage periods in moist sand (0, 90, 120 and 180 days) and two concentrations of gibberellic acid (0 and 600 mg L-1). The second one was done in a BOD chamber, with a factorial 3x2x2 arrangement, with three seed origins, two substrata (vermiculite and rolled towel paper), and two concentrations of gibberellic acid (0/ and 600 mg L-1). In the nursery experiment, storage in moist sand maintained seed viability, and germination varied between 55 to 64%, while gibberellic acid caused germination decrease from 82 to 36%. In the BOD chamber, germination was 98% in the control and 62.5% with gibberellic acid, and there were no significant differences between origins and substrata. Seed treatment with gibberellic acid decreased germination and caused losses by deterioration. Storage in moist sand maintains the viability of Brazil nut seeds, and embryo maturation may take place.
Bertholletia excelsa; gibberellic acid; conservation; dormancy
