Scarification treatments in chepil (Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. & Arn.) seeds to improve their germination

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to evaluate different treatments of scarification to improve the germination, in seeds of chepil (Crotalaria longirostrata Hook. & Arn.).

Design / Methodology / Approach:  The research was established at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry No. 2 of the Autonomous University of Guerrero. The chepil seeds were weighed and counted; Using a DCA, 2 experiments were established with 4 treatments of 4 repetitions each. Imbibition and germination were evaluated. The data was analyzed using a SAS® 9.0 statistical package.

Results: The use of water at different temperatures and times presented positive results in imbibition and increased germination percentages; because when using water at 100 °C until cooling, the germination was 80 % and the control it barely reached 12.3 %.

Study limitations / implications: Chepil is a wild species that has seeds with physical dormancy, which requires further research to accelerate and increase germination rates.

Findings / conclusions:  The imbibition and germination was affected by the applied treatments. The seeds are chepil present physical or superficial dormancy that can be eliminated with the use of heat treatments; however, evaluations are needed to accelerate and find a higher percentage of germination.