Seed Germination of Native Species of Atlantic Forest (Bahia, Brazil)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the seed germination of native species of the Atlantic Forest biome. We evaluated sucupira Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth, jatobá Hymenaea courbaril L., monkfish Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Fabaceae), guava Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae) and jequitibá-rosa Cariniana legalis Kuntze (Lecythidaceae), through germination rate (GR), germination speed index (GSI), and mortality rate (MR), after pre-germination treatment stoovercome dormancy and subsequent production of seedlings to be used in Degraded Area Recovery Plans. Sets of 100 seeds were divided into four groups of 25 for the treatments, one physical by scarification (wall sandpaper number 120) and two chemicals by immersion in water at room temperature for 48 hours and acetic acid for 15 minutes. These treatments were compared with the control of untreated seeds, subsequently grown in washed sand at room temperature in the shade. The indexes GR, GSI, and MR were calculated and analyzed. In general, scarification was more efficient for H. courbaril (GR=48%) and E. contortisiliquum (GSI=0.75) but increased the MR of this in other species. Immersion in water favored new seeds of sucupira B. virgilioides (GR=52%, GSI=0.69), and immersion in acetic acid showed a varied and less effective performance overall. Scarification with sandpaper and immersion in water at room temperature for 48 hours were the most effective methods to increase the seedling production of the studied species.