GERMINATION OF SEEDS OF SENNA-MACRANTHERA , SENNA-MULTIJUGA AND STRYPHNODENDRON-POLYPHYLLUM

With the aim of contributing to the knowledge about the wood legume Se nna macranthera and Senna multijuga (Caesalpinaceae), and Stryphnodend ron polyphyllum (Mimosaceae) seed germination, the seed imbibition cur ves were determined to identify the coat-imposed dormancy, and the pro cedures to overcome it with mechanical or chemical scarification. The coat impermeability was present in these three species and, the mechan ical scarification was the most effective treatment to break the dorma ncy (germination percent up 80%). In S. macranthera, the chemical scar ification with sulfuric acid by 12 minutes showed similar efficiency t o the mechanical scarification. A variation in coat permeability betwe en non-scarified seeds of S. polyphyllum was observed.