ATMOSPHERIC PLASMA TECHNOLOGY AS A MODIFIER OF THE GERMINATIVE DYNAMICS OF SEEDS OF Pityrocarpa moniliformis (Benth.) Luckow & R. W. Jobson
forest seeds, dormancy, cold plasma.
Plasma technology as an economical and sustainable alternative for the pre-germinative treatment of seeds with dormancy, as is the case of Pityrocarpa moniliformis (Benth.) Luckow & R. W. Jobson. Arboreal species of great importance for the Brazilian semiarid, due to its potential for varied use. Thus, to evaluate the effect of plasma application on overcoming dormancy of P. moniliforme seeds. As seeds were subjected to cold plasma for 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240 and 30 seconds (s), using as a control, intact seeds, without any type of treatment. As seeds they were submitted to the germination test and the results were used to determine the accumulation or Richards curve, moisture, soaking curve and electrical conductivity of the seeds. The design used was randomized, with four replicates per treatment. The wettability results were subjected to descriptive analysis, obtaining the mean and standard deviation for each treatment. For the data obtained in the germination, proceed to an analysis of variation by the F test (5%) and, when significant, as the media of the procedures compared by the Tukey test. The plasma provides an increase in germination in all tests tested, when compared to the control.