Germination and vigor of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw. seeds under different light and temperature conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Caesalpinia pulcherrima is a Fabaceae family species from Central America, which has a small size and is widely used as a living fence in the urban afforestation for streets, parks, and gardens. Based on this importance, the aim of this research was to study the influence of light and temperature on the germination of C. pulcherrima seeds. The study was carried out at the Laboratory of Seed Analysis of the Center of Agricultural Sciences of the Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, PB, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized, comprising a 3x5 (three temperatures and five light regimes) factorial scheme with four replicates containing 25 seeds each. Germination and vigor of seeds were evaluated under temperatures of 25°C and 30ºC constant and 20-30ºC alternated in different light regimes: white, green, red-distant, red, and absence of light. Variables analyzed were: germination, first germination count, germination speed index, root length, shoot length, and the ratio of dry mass of root/shoot of the seedlings. Seeds of C. pulcherrima germinate in the presence and absence of light, being a neutral photoblastic. Recommendation to test the vigor of these seeds is the temperature of 30°C in the white light regime.