GERMINATION OF MACAMBIRA (Bromelia laciniosa Mart. ex Schult) SEEDS

Macambira is a bromelia used in the alimentation of man and domestic animals on Northeast of Brazilian, especially in times of drought. The study was conducted to evaluate at identifying breaking dormancy methods and verifying how temperature and light can affect germination of its seeds. In the first experiment, the seeds were treated the following treatments: immersion in acetone, in alcohol, to eter, hot water, wash in running water, dry cold and dry heat, aiming at breaking dormancy and control. Were determinate the percentage of germination, first count of germination, index of velocity of germination and the mean time of germination. In the second experiment, after treatment of immersion in acetone during 60 minutes, the seeds were germinated under the following conditions: continued light and 25 degrees C constant; continued light and 30 degrees C constant; continued light and 35 degrees C constant; continued light and temperatures (35 degrees C/8 h and 20 degrees C/16 h); continued dark and 25 degrees C constant; continued dark and 30 degrees C constant; continued dark and 35 degrees C constant; continued dark and temperatures (35 degrees C/8 h and 20 degrees C/16 h); alternation of light (dark/16 h and light/8 h) and temperature of 25 C constant; alternation of light (dark/16 h and light/8 h) and temperature of 30 degrees C constant; alternation of light (dark/16 h and light/8 h) and temperature of 35 degrees C constant; alternation of light and temperature (dark/20 degrees C/16 h and light/35 degrees C/8 h) and alternation of light and temperature (dark/25 degrees C/16 h and light/35 degrees C/8 h). It follows that the immersion in acetone during 60 minutes was the treatment more efficient to promote the of vigor and germination of seeds. The seeds do not germinate in the light absence, behaving as fotoblasticas positive.