DORMANCY OVERCOMING OF Parkia gigantocarpa (FABACEAE - MIMOSIDAE) SEEDS

This paper aimed to determine the best dormancy overcoming methods for Parkia gigantocarpa Ducke seeds and their influence on seedlings quality. The seeds were submitted to the following methods: immersion in boiling water for 10 minutes; acid scarification, in which the seeds were immersed in sulfuric acid (H2SO4) 98% for 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 minutes; mechanical scarification, with sandpaper for 15 seconds, and control (no treatment). The seedling quality was evaluated through primary root dry matter. Experiment was entirely random designed, with eight methods. Evaluating all the parameters, the acid scarification, for 30 and 40 minutes, showed the best dormancy overcoming results to the species, providing better vigor into germination and greater biomass allocation mean values to primary root.