Pre-germination treatments on palm tree seeds

Abstract

Palm tree seeds present slow and uneven germination. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of pre-germination treatments in promoting germination and early seedling growth of palm tree (Euterpe edulis Martius). Treatments were: control, immersion in GA₃ solution, exposure to ethylene, water immersion, H₂SO₄ immersion, mechanical scarification, stratification for 30 days at 10 °C, and scarification followed by stratification. Soaking seeds in gibberellic acid (GA₃; 2000 µL L^-1 for 24 h) or their exposure to ethylene (1000 µL L^-1 for 24 h) are effective for promoting emergence, which started 30 days after seed treatment, and for early seedling growth of palm tree.