Resumen

GONZALEZ, Yolanda et al. Combined effects of scarification and partial hydration on the germination of fresh legume seeds. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2008, vol.31, n.4, pp. 1-1. ISSN 0864-0394.

A simple classification design with factorial arrangement and five replications (25 seeds each) was used in order to know the germination of fresh legume seeds subject to different pregerminative hydration-dehydration treatments and controlled conditions of caloric stress of the substratum. The germinative performance before scarification treatments was previously studied: water at 80ºC for 2' (in Crotalaria sp. seeds) and H₂SO₄ at 96% during 10' (in seeds from Indigofera sp., Desmanthus virgatus and Centrosema pubescens), which were combined with a treatment of partial hydration in water at alternate temperature of 25/30ºC (optimum germination thermoperiod). The partial hydration was carried out until two hours before the beginning of visible germination; in the scarified seeds of Indigofera sp., D. virgatus, Crotalaria sp. and C. pubescens, this moment was reached at 15, 16, 16 and 19 hours, respectively. Air-dehydration took place for 48 hours, until reaching approximately the initial moisture content of the seeds (7-12% on fresh matter base). In all the species, except in D. virgatus, the partial hydration treatments increased the germination percentage, although they caused a higher germination rate. The partial hydration treatments in water are concluded to be adequate for increasing germination of the studied species, except in D. virgatus, under controlled conditions of caloric stress.

Palabras clave : Centrosema pubescens; Crotalaria sp; Desmanthus virgatus; germination; Indigofera sp; seeds.