Germination of two varieties of Ochroma pyramidale (Cay. ex Lam.) Urb. from the Lacandon Jungle, Chiapas

Introduction: Ochroma pyramidale (Cay. ex Lam.) Urb. is a fast-growing native species of economic and ecological importance. It is currently the only species in the genus Ochroma. Objective: To determine the effect of seven pre-germination treatments applied on seeds of O. pyramidale in its typical variety and O. pyramidale var. bicolor (Rowlee) Brizicky in the Lacandon Jungle. Materials and methods: Seven germination treatments were evaluated: control, soaking in water at room temperature (Soaking(12h) and Soalcing(24h)), immersion in boiling water at 100 degrees C (Boiling(3s) and Boiling(10s)) and immersion in boiling water and soaking in coconut water (Boiling(3s) + Soaking(24h), and Boiling(10s) + Soaking(24h)). Coconut water was used as a natural source of cytokinins. Results and discussion: Germination of O. pyramidale in its typical variety (62 to 69 %) was statistically higher (P = 0.05) with treatments that included immersing the seeds in boiling water. In the case of O. pyramidale var. bicolor, the highest germination values were obtained by the Boiling(3s), (64 %) and Boiling(3s) + Soaking(24h) (59 %) treatments. The O. pyramidale var. bicolor seeds were susceptible to the boiling water immersion time, since germination was statistically greater (P = 0.05) at 3 s than at 10 s. Conclusions: Treatments that included immersion in boiling water had a greater effect on germination. Coconut water had no significant effect on the variable; therefore, the use of synthetic cytokinins is suggested in order to control the phytohormone dosage and thus verify its effect on germination.