Overcoming seed dormancy in Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu

Abstract

Mechanized of harvesting of Brachiaria brízantha cv. Marandu seeds has resulted in high % of dormant seeds. This work aimed at identifying laboratory procedures to overcome such dormancy. Two hand harvested seed lots of different origin were used in a completely randomized design, with four replications of each treatment. The treatments consisted of all possible combinations among sulfuric acid-treated (for 15 minutes) and non treated seeds with the wetting of the germination substratum with water, potassium. nitrate, chloroethylphosphonic acid at 10, 100 and 1000 ppm, or gibberelic acid at 10, 100 and 1000 ppm. The highest germination percentages, as determined by the standard germination test, were obtained from sulfuric acid-treated seeds on top of potassium nitratewetted substratum.