Effect of substrate, color and size on germination and vigor of Melanoxylon brauna seeds

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of substrate, color and size on the germination and vigor of <em>Melanoxylon</em> <em>brauna</em> seeds. It was performed two essays. In the first, the seeds were classified by color (light and dark) and size (small and large). In the second essay, it was investigated the influence of substrates on sand, between sand, above paper, between paper and in paper rolls, type germitest. In both essays, the seeds were maintained in controlled conditions (light and temperature) during 10 days. The percentage of germination and germination speed index (GSI) were calculated. Furthermore, it was determined the weight of 1,000 seeds and the germination of the species was characterized by observation until the seedling formation. The weight of 1,000 seeds of <em>M. brauna</em> was 133.43 g, in average. The root protrusion occurred around 72 hours after the beginning of imbibition, and the germination was as epigel phanerocotyledonar. Small and light color seeds presented percentage of germination and GSI lower than others. The large seeds, independent of color, and small dark seeds presented the higher GSI and percentage of germination. Paper roll is the substrate indicated to conduct germination tests of <em>Melanoxylon</em> <em>brauna