Overcoming Dormancy and Influence of Light on the Physiological Quality of Senna cana (Fabaceae) Seeds

Environmental factors affect the germination process, like the presence of seed coat and the quality of light; these informations are still scarce for many native species from Brazil, especially for Senna cana, which there are no adequate standards and methodologies to be used in germination tests. The aim of this research was to recommend adequate pre-germinative treatment(s) to overcome seed dormancy, and determine the degree of influence of different light regimes in seed germination of S. cana. Two experiments were carried out: T1-evaluation of different methods of dormancy overcoming (intact seeds (control), T2-imbibition of the intact seeds for 24 hours (in distilled water), T3-scarified seeds with sandpaper n° 100 in the hilum opposite region, T4-scarified seeds with sandpaper n° 100 in the region the hilo opposite region and imbibition in water (in distilled water) for 24 hours; T5-imbibition in water at 80°C); 2-Influence of light quality on seed germination and vigor (white light, red light, far red light and absence of light). The evaluated parameters were: first germination count, percentage of germination, IVG (Germination speed index), MGT (Mean germination time). Treatments were compared by Tukey at 5% probability. The best method for overcoming seed dormancy was mechanical scarification with sandpaper nº 100. The germination of the seeds of S. cana can be classified as indifferent to the luminosity, despite germinative response be greater under white and red light.