Emergence of Mouriri guianensis Aubl as a function of different pre-germination treatments

Mouriri guianensis Aubl, of the Melastomataceae family, occurs in a wide variety of vegetation types in Brazil. In the Pantanal, it is known as Roncador and has medicinal and food importance. We aim is to evaluate different types of treatments for breaking dormancy. The seeds were divided into six treatments for the germination tests: removal of the seed coat (T1), scarification of the seeds (T2), immersion in water for 12 hours (T3), immersion in water for 48 hours (T4), immersion in water for 288 hours (T5), and control (T6). The percentage of emergency (%E) and mean emergency time (MET) were evaluated. Of the treatments that obtained the highest percentage of emergency was T1 with 63%, T5 with 44% followed by T6, T3, T4, and T2 with (35%, 29%, 27% and 24%), respectively. The treatment that achieved the highest percentage of emergency was the one in which the seeds had their tegument removed, thus allowing for greater water soaking and gas exchange, thus enabling the highest rate of seedling emergence in a shorter period of time. In recent decades, the Pantanal biome has suffered different types of pressure, both natural and anthropogenic. Conservation measures such as increasing forest areas are therefore necessary, with the planting of seedlings using species from the region. The use of treatments that induce the germination of dormant plants is a viable way of producing seedlings that can propagate quickly and reforest strategic locations in this biome.