Revestimento em filme e armazenamento de sementes de Enterolobium schomburgkii (Benth.) Benth.

Abstract

The growing demand for native seeds in forest restoration projects highlights the importance of technical and technological knowledge in the propagation and maintenance of forest species. Seed coating can facilitate direct seeding of these species. However, although the polymer polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and the plasticizer glycerol have been studied for coating agricultural seeds, there is a lack of information about their behavior in forest species. Therefore, the objective of this research is to evaluate the applicability of film coating using polyvinyl alcohol and glycerol on forest seeds, specifically Enterolobium schomburgkii, and evaluate its influence on germination and storage. The first experiment determined a suitable formulation for coating, for which three concentrations of PVA (1%, 3% and 5%) and glycerol (10%, 20% and 30%) were evaluated. To evaluate the effect of coatings on germination, a control was included, totaling 40 plots. Thickness, water vapor permeability, solubility and germination tests were carried out. The experiment was a 3x3 factorial in a completely randomized design comprising 36 plots. In the second experiment, the uncoated seeds and those coated with the formulation selected in the first experiment were stored for six months. Tests were applied to evaluate physical properties such as seed size and shape, apparent and unit specific mass and porosity. To evaluate the physiological quality of stored seeds, germination, electrical conductivity and accelerated aging tests were used. The experiment was in a 2x6 factorial, in a completely randomized design, totaling 36 plots. The seed coating did not cause changes in physical properties, except apparent specific mass and porosity. The coating did not reduce seed quality for up to four months. The presence of coating affected the accelerated aging test, however, it did not compromise the evaluation by electrical conductivity test.