Early Germination of Pequi Seeds and Post-Planting Seedling Performance in the Northwestern of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract With the aim of using rustic species such as pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb) for the rational management of degraded areas of Northwestern state of Rio de Janeiro, two experiments were sequentially conducted. In the first, seed dormancy breaking was evaluated in an experiment conducted in a completely randomized design, with six treatments, three replicates and 10 seeds per plot. Treatments were combinations of seeds with or without scarification + gibberellic acid (GA) or water. Forty-five days after sowing, 73% germination was observed in treatment mechanical scarification + GA (MS+GA). In the second experiment seedlings obtained from treatment MS + GA were evaluated in the field, concurrently with a control. At 20 and 44 months, both treatments presented the same biometric characteristics and sixty-one months after planting, flowering began. Scarification following by treatment with GA anticipates seedlings production and did not compromise the performance of these seedlings in the post-planting period.