Effect of seed coat rupture on the germination of Mimosa flocculosa Burkart (Leguminosae) seeds

Abstract

Mimosa flocculosa Burkart is a native species used for the recovery of degraded areas. Large scale seedling production in nurseries is hindered due to seed physical dormancy. This study evaluated the germination and seed coat anatomy of M. flocculosa seeds subjected to dormancy overcome treatments. Seeds of M. flocculosa were subjected to: control with distilled water, heated water at 50, 80 and 100 °C, and H2SO4 for 1, 3 and 5 minutes. Germination tests were conducted with four replicates of 25 seeds in an entirely casualized delineation, analyzing germination percentage, mean germination time and germination speed index. Moreover, anatomical analysis of the seed coat was conducted. The treatments with heated water at 80 ºC, and sulfuric acid for 3 and 5 minutes promoted benefic anatomical alterations in the seed integument, reflecting in higher and faster in germination rates. Heated water at 80 ºC is recommended because of its efficiency and safety.

Methods of breaking physical dormancy in seeds of the invasive weed Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae) and a comparison with 36 other species in the genus

“…Of the various laboratory treatments used to break PY in seeds of the 36 species of Mimosa , mechanical scarification, wet heat and chemical scarification (immersion in sulphuric acid) were the most frequently used treatments, but mechanical scarification was the most effective treatment in breaking PY of Mimosa seeds ( Table 2 ). High temperatures can break PY in many species of Mimosa , but wet heat was more efficient for dormancy-break than dry heat for seeds of M. tenuiflora ( Araujo & Andrade, 1983 ), M. bimucronata ( Geisler et al, 2017 ), M. diplotricha ( Nawa, 2014 ; Aigbokhan, Osazuwa-Peters & Ilubon, 2010 ), M. regnellii ( Fowler & Carpanezzi, 1997 ), M. dolens ( Leal & Biondi, 2007 ), M. caesalpiniifolia ( Leal et al, 2008 ), M. strobiliflora ( Biondi & Leal, 2008 ), M. pudica ( Chauhan & Johnson, 2009 ), M. setosa ( Sperandio, Lopes & Matheus, 2013 ) and M. flocculosa ( Ribeiro et al, 2020 ).…”