Dormancy is a phenomenon in which seeds of a species do not germinate, even when they are viable and environmental conditions are suitable. The objective of this study was to assess the effects on seeds of different periods of immersion in boiling water, with or without posterior immersion in sodium hypochlorite, on the alleviation of paricarana (Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth.) seed dormancy. Seeds were previously homogenized and separated according to size and color, with red-colored seeds being used. The treatments applied were: T1 = immersion in water at 100 °C for one second; T2 = immersion in water at 100 °C for 10 seconds; T3 = T2 + posterior immersion in 2.5% sodium hypochlorite for 1 minute; T4 = immersion in water at 100 °C for 20 seconds; T5 = T4 + immersion in 2.5% sodium hypochlorite for 1 minute. Each treatment consisted of four replicates of 50 seeds. The highest emergence scores were obtained with seed immersion in water at 100 °C for 10 seconds, with or without the posterior use of sodium hypochlorite. This is the recommended procedure for breaking the seed tegument dormancy of paricarana (B. virgilioides). Immersion of paricarana seeds in sodium hypochlorite for one minute, after seed immersion in water, facilitates imbibition and reduces seed deterioration.
scarification; emergence; imbibitions
