Germination, development of seedlings and tetrazolium test in <em>Poecilanthe parviflora </em>Bentham (Fabaceae - Faboideae) seeds

Abstract

Poecilanthe parviflora is a tree with a good potential for revegetation and ornamental purposes. The objectives of this research were to evaluate biometrical characteristics of the seed, to describe and illustrate morphological aspects of the seeds and seedlings, and to determine the best conditions for the tetrazolium test. For biometric evaluations 100 seeds were used to determine their width, length, thickness and weight. For the description of the germination process and seedlings morphology four replicates of six seeds were sowed in plastic boxes, containing sand. For the tetrazolium test, the seeds were submitted to a pre-imbibition period of 42 hours at 25ºC and then had their tegument removed before immersing two replicates of 10 seeds each in the tetrazolium solution. The tetrazolium solution concentrations were of 0.05, 0.075, and 0.1%. At a temperature of 35ºC, the seeds remained in the tetrazolium solution for 1, 2, and 3 hours. The efficiency of the tetrazolium test was evaluated comparing the results with those of the germination test. Seed length was of 15.8 mm, width of 14.13mm, and thickness of 3.19 mm. It was verified an average number of 2,399 seeds/kg. The seed is an exalbuminous and its germination of the hypogeal type. The best tetrazolium results were found when the seeds were immersed in a 0.1% tetrazolium solution for 2 hours.

Additional keywords: forest seeds; germination; seed viability.