Dormancy Breaking and the Influence of Temperature, Substrate and Light on Germination of Colubrina glandulosa Seeds

Abstract This study aimed to define a methodology that, when combined with temperature, can overcome the dormancy and also to determine the adequate substrate and light conditions for germination of Colubrina glandulosa Perkins, contributing to seed analysis and restoration projects. In the experiment of dormancy and temperature, seeds were immersed in sulfuric acid for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 minutes and set to germinate at temperatures of 20-30 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C. The used substrates were sand, vermiculite, Tropstrato® substrate, coconut powder, blotting paper and paper towel. As for the light supplied, the seeds were subjected to four luminosity regimes: white light, far-red light, red light and light absence. Temperatures of 20-30 °C and 30 °C achieved better results, with exposure in sulfuric acid for 120 and 150 minutes. The substrates sand and vermiculite were the most suitable. The species germinated in all light regimes treatments used.