Germination of spineless Bromelia laciniosa Mart. ex Schult (Bromeliaceae) seeds subjected to chemical scarification

ABSTRACT Bromelia laciniosa, popularly known as ‘macambira’, is a plant found mainly in dry areas of northeast Brazil. This species belongs to the Family Bromeliaceae, whose propagation has been hindered by seed dormancy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical scarification in the germination of B. laciniosa seeds at two maturation stages, by immersing them in acetone or alcohol for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Immersing B. laciniosa seeds in acetone (58%) for 90 minutes proved to be an effective method to overcome dormancy. Seeds from mature fruits showed higher germination values.