Germination behavior of <I>Sophora tomentosa</I> L. (Fabaceae: Faboideae) from three populations

Abstract

abaceae is an important botanical family with a large number of species with dormant seeds. The aim of this study was to determine the presence or absence of dormancy in seeds of Sophora tomentosa. Seeds were collected in Florianópolis, SC, on the beachs of Daniela, Campeche and Ingleses, and germinated in boxes transparent, with 200ml of washed and autoclaved sand, in germination chambers at temperatures of 20°C, 30°C and alternating of 30/20°C (photoperiod of 12 hours). The alternating temperature not improve germination (13%) compared to constant temperatures of 20ºC (9%) and 30ºC (13%). Seeds from Ingleses and Campeche showed a high germination, above 70% for alternating temperatures and constant temperatures of 30°C and 20°C (79%). For seeds from Ingleses it was found significant difference between germination at 30°C and alternating temperature related to germination at 20°C. It was concluded that there was dormancy only for seeds from Daniela. The presence of dormancy in seeds form Daniela can be related to the time of seeds were picked up, in the winter in the case of seeds from Daniela, and in the summer in the case of seeds from Campeche and Ingleses. The storage of for 6 months for seeds from Daniela could also provoke dormancy.