TRATAMIENTO PREGERMINATIVO Y PREPARACIÓN DE SEMILLA PARA SIEMBRA DE Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq.

Abstract

"Chapulíxtle" (Dodonea viscosa) is an evergreen shrub that can be used for plantations to recover degraded lands; as seeds have a water-proof cover, it is necessary to apply pre-germinatory treatments. In order to count on one practial and effic1ent option for nursery workers, an expernment was carried out where the following conditions were tested: a) seeds soaked in water an room temperature during 20 h with non-dry sowing; b) seeds immersed into a 98 per cent concentration of sulphuric acid industrial level ·of 1 per cent during 95 min followed by a water-wash as well as by soaking into water at room temperature for 20 h and non-dry sowing, c) the same as b) but with a humidity content reduction up to 20 per cent; d) the same as c) but with a humidity content reduction up to 10 per cent befare the seeds were soaked during 20 h and the following elimination of 80 per cent of their humidity content. Four repetitions of each treatment were made and all the material was incubated under laboratory conditions at a 20°C constan! temperature With the soaking of seeds at room temperature, germination surpassed 10 per cent; the use of acid followed by soaking In water, improved in such an importan! way as to reach 55 per cent, eventhough the sowing had been with or without wet or dry material. With the additional application of two soaking and dry cycles, germinat,on raised to 80 per cent.