Influence of Mechanical Scarification and Open-Field Sowing Procedure over <i>Cassia ferruginea</i> Germination Process

Abstract

Seed dormancy implicates on delay and hampers seedling production. The increasing demand for greater seedlings production favors techniques that overcome seed dormancy. Cassia ferruginea is an economically relevant species that seeds present tegumentar dormancy, and there is no registry of the best sowing approach. In order to evaluate the influence of the mechanical scarification procedure, and open-field production method in the germination process of Cassia ferruginea, about five thousand seeds were evenly distributed between control and mechanical scarification with emery. The control group presented a low germination rate during the period of analysis. However, mean germination time and mean time to stabilize germination were remarkably lower to scarified seeds, also presenting higher germination rates and synchronization. The sporadic and low germination pattern observed in the control group is associated with ecological implications. The open-field production process presented significant differences to important indexes when compared to the greenhouse production process. Thus, mechanical scarification with emery is an appropriate method to overcome Cassia ferruginea seed dormancy, providing a faster, synchronized, and better seed lot exploitation. Favorable aspects of commercial seedling production. While the open-field production process was not adequate for seedling production.

Assessment of Different Seedling Production Techniques of Euterpe edulis

“…Providing a set of environmental conditions that not favor seedlings establishment. Reduced performance of germination on open-field technique has also been reported to other species from Fabaceae [23]. Besides that, some authors affirm that even when p = 4.01.10 -5 p = 0.0015 p = 0.00293 p = 0.0015 ISSN: 2456-7108 Available online at Journals.aijr.in this species is more exposed to environmental conditions, E. edulis plays the role of pioneer species, being the first mesophytic species to conquer disturbed environments [8].…”

“…In order to promote the germination, on the commercial seedling production context, there are two main processes, open-field germination, where seeds are directly exposed to environmental conditions as sunlight and temperature; or germination at greenhouse, where seeds are exposed to greater temperature and moisture but less sunlight than the production area [21], [22]. Those different techniques could also impact seed germination and seedlings persistence [23], aspects that have not been explored regarding E. edulis yet. Thereby, due to the high ecologic and economic importance associated with the great demand for reproductive techniques of this species.…”

“…Thus, the lesser water provision in open-field treatment could be the main factor to reduce germination performance. In an ecological approach, the open-field treatment also provides environmental conditions relatively closer to natural or anthropic disturbed areas [23]. Providing a set of environmental conditions that not favor seedlings establishment.…”

“…Even though the open-field production method does not provide the best environment for germination, this method is adopted to some crops because it requires less electricity and labor when compared to the greenhouse method [39], and facilities maintenance is cheaper than greenhouses, reducing the production cost [23]. Sometimes this practice is also used to recover degraded areas [38].…”

Germination of<em> Hymenaea courbaril</em>: Storage Behavior, Origin, and Substrate

“…Previous variations in the uncertainty index were also observed for H. courbaril according to the harvesting method [31]. Several environmental conditions could influence the process of seed soaking [32]. Oliveira & Aloufa [33] mention that the number and distribution of pores, water availability, temperature, hydrostatic pressure, and surface area are some of the conditions that influence the time required to start the germination process.…”