Evaluation of the physiological quality of Parkia platycephala seeds

portugais. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of scarification, temperature and substrate on the germination of Parkia platycephala seeds, and check the efficiency of the electrical conductivity and accelerated aging in physiological quality. The evaluation of dormancy breaking was conducted using five treatments (control, acid scarification, mechanical scarification, scarification with sodium hydroxide and immersion in hot water), temperature 30 ° C and photoperiod of 12 hours. Germination at different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45C) and substrate (paper, vermiculite, soil and sand) was performed with 4 replications of 25 seeds in gerboxes12 photoperiod H. The conductivity test was carried out at 25 ° C, with five replications of 50 seeds soaked in 75 ml distilled water for 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h.For the accelerated aging test seeds were placed in transparent containers containing 50 ml of water, and subjected to 42 ° C for 48 h in chamber for seed germination.Germination tests were conducted at 25 ° C with four replications of 25 seeds used four replicates of 25 seeds in germination chamber temperature of 30 ° C and photoperiod of 12 hours light.According to the results, it is concluded that: the mechanical and acid scarification were the most efficient methods to overcome the cutaneous seed dormancy; temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 ° C in paper substrates and sand provided the best rates of seed germination.The EC and accelerated aging tests showed excellent results in the evaluation of the physiological quality corroborating those obtained by germination test, IVG and average speed of germination and efficient evaluation of seed vigor and can be used routinely for evaluation of species of seed quality.