ULTRASOUND AND WATER IMMERSION TO PROMOTING VIGOR IN SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS OF Cnidoscolus quercifolius

Abstract

Cnidoscolus quercifolius is a common plant species with multiple uses from Brazilian semiarid area (BSA). Their seeds have dormancy. Fact that needs to be resolved in favor of the growing demand to produce seedlings of this species, mainly for the recovery of degraded areas in BSA. Non-acidic technologies such as water immersion and ultrasound are testing to promote uniform emergence and vigor for seeds and seedlings for many species. The objective of this paper was to test ultrasound and immersion in water as technique to promoter vigor and emergence in seeds and seedlings of C. quercifolius. Seeds of C. quercifolius were submitted to treatments using a 2 x 4 factorial scheme [F1 - Immersion in water for 24 h (without and with immersion) and F2 - time of exposure to ultrasound (0, 90, 180 and 270 s)], after they were sown in a bed and analyzed for 21 days with emergence and vigor measurements. Immersion in water for 24 hours is an efficient treatment to improve the vigor and emergence of C. quercifolius seeds and seedlings.