Methods for overcoming seed dormancy in flamboyant

Abstract

The flamboyant tree (Delonix regia) is known for its exuberant flowering. It shows great variation in seeds viability, depending on the cutaneous water proofing, requiring processes to break dormancy. The objective of this study was to evaluate methods of breaking the physical barrier of seeds. In the greenhouse, seeds were subjected to different treatments to overcome the cutaneous restriction: mechanical scarification on the ventral part; thermal shock with soaking seeds in water at 80 °C for 10 min; soaking the seeds in sulfuric acid, and control, without intervention. It was observed that the mechanical scarification provided the best results for dormancy breaking of the seeds.