. Germination Improvement of Atriplex nummularia seeds by pericarp elimination.

PELUC, S AND C. A. PARERA

SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Año: 2000 vol. 28 p. 559 - 566

0251-0952

Atriplex nummularia is a potential species for restoration of areas affected by desertification processes and highly appraised for its value as forage. Its seeds present dormancy at the pericarp level. Scarification treatments were evaluated to eliminate pericarp. The fruits were soaked in concentrated sulfuric acid for 20, 30 or 45 minutes, or the pericarp was eliminated by thrashing or manually. The last two treatments eliminated completely the pericarp, but none of the chemical treatments removed it entirely. Seeds that after each of the chemical treatments were still completely covered by pericarp were additionally trashed as a new treatment. There was no germination in seeds with pericarp (control). Chemical treatments showed low germination percentages (5,0 to 7,5%) and rates due to their inefficacy in eliminating the pericarp. The highest germination percentages and rates were obtained in thrashed seeds without previous acid treatment (48%) and in seeds soaked in H2SO4 for 30 minutes plus thrashing (45%). Eliminating pericarp manually or soaking in acid for 20 or 45 minutes plus thrashing resulted in lower germination rates and percentages.