Abstract

VILLARREAL GARZA, JA et al. Morphometric characteristics, viability and germination of mesquite and sweet acacia seeds in northeastern Mexico. Phyton (B. Aires) [online]. 2013, vol.82, n.2, pp.169-174. ISSN 1851-5657.

Species native to arid and semiarid regions of Mexico, including honeycreeper mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) and sweet acacia (Vachellia farnesiana Wright), constitute a plant resource of great economic importance to the rural population. They collect and store the dry pods to feed livestock, and stems are used to obtain fence posts and make charcoal. The indiscriminate use and lack of a management plan have determined a much lower availability of these resources. As a result, it is necessary to conduct studies to produce seedlings for reforestation of degraded ecosystems. A morphometric analysis and studies of seed viability and germination in vivo and in vitro were conducted to know some characteristics related to the physiological quality of the seeds of these two species. Seeds of mesquite were flattened lozenge, brown-yellow in color, with an average size of 4.21 mm wide by 6.97 mm long and an average weight of 0.34 g. The seeds of sweet acacia were oval-globose, green olive in color, 4.36 mm wide by 5.32 mm long, and an average weight of 0.44 g. Viability percentages (tetrazolium test) were 62% for mesquite and 7% for sweet acacia. In vivo germination percentages were 51% for mesquite and 6% for sweet acacia. When seeds were treated with H₂SO₄ for 20 minutes, germination percentages increased to 96% and 80% for mesquite and sweet acacia, respectively.

Keywords : Nuevo Leon; Seeds; IAA; BAP.

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