SEED-GERMINATION OF CAPICOVA

Erechtites valerianaefolia DC. (Asteraceae) is a Brazilian wild herbac eous species with economic and nutritive potential due to its high con tent of vitamin A. The seeds were submitted to 22 treatments with 5 re plications of 50 seeds each one, including stratification, scarificati on, different substrates, KNO3, sodium hypochlorite, seeds with differ ent ages, light and darkness, as well as combinations of these treatme nts, with the objective of evaluating its germination pattern under la boratory conditions. The seeds of capicova are positively photoblastic and present higher germinability when collected during the winter sea son (April to September). The substrates, agar or filter paper, did no t modify the germinability of the seeds. The use of KNO3 stimulated se ed germination and decreased the average germination time. Sodium hypo chlorite inhibited germination of seeds in 24% and retarded the proces s almost three days in relation to the control treatment.