Abstract

HERNANDEZ FLORES, Edgar et al. Scarification and germination methods on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Insurgent. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.1, pp.173-184. ISSN 2007-0934.

Seven scarification methods were evaluated in order to improve the germination of the Brachiaria brizantha cv. Insurgent seed in two lots of seeds harvested by hand in fall (September; lot 1) and winter (December; lot 2) of the same year in plots at the Universidad del Papaloapan, Loma Bonita, Oaxaca. The treatments included: T1= control (full spikelet); T2= removal of the glume, lemma and palea from the caryopsis; T3= immersion of the caryopsis in gibberellic acid (AG3), 300 ppm, for 5 minutes; T4= immersion of the caryopsis in AG3, 400 ppm, for 5 minutes; T5= immersion of spikelet in concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for 10 minutes; T6= immersion of spikelet in concentrated H2SO4 for 5 minutes + immersion in AG3 at 300 ppm, 5 minutes; T7= immersion of spikelet in concentrated H2SO4 for 5 minutes + immersion in AG3, 400 ppm, for 5 minutes. A completely random design was utilized with four repetitions of 100 seeds per treatment. The response variables included germination (%) at four, five, and six months after harvest (lot 1) and at two, three, four, five, and six months after harvest (lot 2). Differences between treatments (p< 0.01) were found for both lots of seeds. The greatest germination was obtained with T4, T3, and T2. All the scarification treatments increased the germination percentage of the Insurgent grass seed with regard to the control, and the best treatments included immersion of the caryopsis in AG3 solution at 300 and 400 ppm, for 5 minutes, as well as the removal of structures from the caryopsis. As long as caryopsis liberation equipment is not developed, the application of AG3 at concentrations of 300 and 400 ppm represents the best alternative to the use of sulfuric acid.

Keywords : Brachiaria brizantha; dormancy; germination; insurgent grass; scarification treatments.

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