Sarcotesta removal methods and GA3 treatment on germination of Punica granatum L. seeds

• Autor(a) principal: Osipi, Elisete Aparecida Fernandes
• Data de Publicação: 2018
• Outros Autores: de Carvalho, Deived Uilian, da Cruz, Maria Aparecida, Barros Osipe, Jethro, Cossa, Conceição Aparecida, Sorace, Maria Aparecida
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Biotemas (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/2175-7925.2018v31n2p1

Propagating Punica granatum is predominantly conducted using seeds, however, the germination rate is low due to seed dormancy associated with rapid loss in germination potential. Investigations related to sarcotesta extraction of pomegranate seeds are scarce, as well as pre-germination treatments with gibberellic acid (GA3). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three sarcotesta extraction methods and a gibberelic acid (GA3) treatment on the germination of P. granatum seeds. The seeds were removed from ripe fruits and submitted to the following sarcotesta extraction methods: 1) manual friction on sieve under running water; 2) immersion in quicklime solution for 24 h; and 3) sucrose fermentation for 72 h. The seeds were divided into two equal parts; the first portion was immersed in 200 mg L-1 of GA3 solution and the second portion was not immersed in GA3. The quicklime method was efficient and easily and quickly removed the sarcotesta from all seeds. This method resulted in a greater germination speed index (4.26) and germination percentage (60%). The quicklime method associated to the GA3 treatment promoted an increase in germination percentage (70%) and contributed to dormancy breaking.