INFLUÊNCIA DO SUBSTRATO E DO NÍVEL DE UMIDADE SOBRE A GERMINAÇÃO DE SEMENTES DE PAU-DE-BALSA

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the influence of the substrate and the level of moisture on the germination of 'pau-de-balsa'. Before installation of the germination test, seeds were immersed in hot water at 80 °C until cooling to overcome dormancy. We evaluated the substrate sand and vermiculite, moistened with water volumes equivalent to 60%, 70%, 80% and 90% of the capacity to retain water. The experimental design used was completely randomized in a 2 x 4 factorial with four replicates of 20 seeds. The effects of treatments were compared for germination percentage, speed index and average time of germination. The seeds had higher germination in sand substrate, and the moisture level of the substrate does not affect the variables analyzed.