Seeds of Peltophorum dubium submitted to osmotic conditioning increases germination and vigor.

Peltophorum dubium (Spreng.) Taub. is a Brazilian native forest species that is used in programs of environmental restoration, landscaping and civil construction. It is a seed-propagated plant, but the low physiological quality of the seeds associated with biotic and abiotic stresses can reduce the percentages of germination and emergence. Techniques that allow the expression of the physiological potential of the seeds can improve germination and vigor in short-term. One of these techniques is seeds osmoconditioning, especially under stressful conditions. This work aimed to study if the osmopriming increases germination and vigor of P. dubium seeds. The study consisted of three stages: I - choice of the ideal osmotic potential for imbibition; II - germination and vigor of the osmoprimed seeds under different water contents; III - osmopriming of four seed lots with different vigor. PEG 6000 solution with -0.6 MPa is recommended for osmoconditioning of P. dubium seeds aiming to improve germination and vigor. Seeds with water content close to 10% for osmoconditioning influences the vigor positively. Osmoconditioning can improve physiological aspects of P dubium seeds with good physiological quality. It can reduce germination-emergence time span, favoring stands with greater uniformity and lower probability of biotic and abiotic factors influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]