SUPERAÇÃO DA DORMÊNCIA EM SEMENTES DE MANIÇOBA ARMAZENADAS

Abstract

Maniçoba is a native forage species of the semi-arid region of NE Brazil that is widely used in animal rations. The seeds of this plant demonstrate dormancy, with slow and irregular germination, making propagation problematic. The present work examined methods to overcome seed dormancy in three species of maniçoba (Manihot glaziovii, M. pseudoglaziovii, and M. piauhyensis) that were stored in paper and plastic sacks. Seeds derived from different localities (Areia and Barra de Santa Rosa - PB; Araripina and Petrolina - PE) were mixed together, packed into paper or plastic sacks and stored for five months. Each month during the five-month experiment, samples of the seeds were either submitted to stratification, or not, followed by scarification, and then examined for emergence and vigor. Statistical analyses were made of a 2x2x5 factorial scheme (seeds that were and were not treated to overcome dormancy; packing material used; and storage periods) making all of the possible combinations, with four replicates of 25 seeds each. Of the seeds analyzed, those from Barra de Santa Rosa that had been treated to overcome dormancy exhibited the best physiological quality, independent of the packing material used during storage.