Fruit, seed and seedling morphology and aspects of germination of Adenanthera pavonina L. (Leguminosae)

Abstract

This work aims to describe the morphological aspects of the fruits, seeds and seedlings of Adenanthera pavonina L., besides verifying alternative methods for overcoming seed dormancy. These aspects will help in methods of propagation of this species, and also in its identification, still in juvenile stage. External and internal aspects of fruits and seeds and external seedlings, besides biometric measurements were performed. Pre-germination treatments were applied to verify the most efficient method. With the results it is concluded that the fruit, a legume type, presents on average nine to ten seeds of the globose and double seed coat type, with endosperm remnant. The embryo is a crypto-radicular type, with germination of the epigeal type, occurring three days after sowing, with complete formation of the seedling at twenty-two days. The mechanical scarification with sandpaper method was the most efficient to overcome the A. pavonina seed dormancy. The described and illustrated aspects were reliable for identification of the species and contribute with useful information for the productive mean. The alternative tests to the mechanical scarification of the seeds were not efficient to overcome the dormancy of A. pavonina.