Viabilidad y germinación de semillas de tres especies arbóreas nativas de la selva tropical, Chiapas, México

Percentage of viable seeds, loss of viability due to storage periods, and seed treatment to promote germination were determined in seeds of Cordia alliodora, Terminalia amazonia and Bursera bipinnata, native trees of the rainforest from Chiapas, Mexico. Results showed that recently collected seeds presented more than 90% of viability and it was reduced to 15% in B. bipinnata, 34% in C. alliodora and 18% in T. amazonia after 12 months of storage. Significant differences among treatments (p<0.0001) were observed for accumulated germination. Seeds of the three species showed accelerated germination rate after gibberelic acid and scarification treatments. Up to 90% of final germination were obtained when pregerminative treatments were applied and these treatments favors germination. Without treatment the germination percentage diminished (B. bipinnata 63%, C. alliodora 62% and T. amazonia 54%). In conclusion, for obtaining a higher germination percentage in less time, it is necessary to treat the seeds of these species previous to planting. Aging of seeds caused a decline in viability.Se determinó la proporción de semillas viables y la pérdida de viabilidad debido al periodo de almacenamiento, así como el efecto de tratamientos pregerminativos que favorecen la germinación en semillas de Cordia alliodora, Terminalia amazonia y Bursera bipinnata, árboles nativos de la selva tropical, Chiapas, México. Se encontró que las semillas recién colectadas presentaron más del 90% de viabilidad, la cual fue disminuyendo hasta mostrar un 15% en B. bipinnata, 34% en C. alliodora y 18% en T. amazonia después de 12 meses de almacenamiento. De acuerdo con la germinación acumulada se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos (p