Abstract

GOMEZ-MERINO, FC; VIDAL-MORALES, B; TREJO-TELLEZ, LI  and  SILVA, C Molinos da. Scarification and in vitro germination of heliconia seeds. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2010, vol.26, n.3, pp.293-297. ISSN 0186-2979.

Seeds of Heliconia bihai L., H. collinsiana Griggs, H. latispatha Bentham and H. psittacorum L. f. were scarified using three methods: seed coat removal, operculum removal, and extraction of the embryo to be germinated in vitro afterwards. The three scarification methods increased the germination percentage in H. collinsiana and H. latispatha seeds. The greatest germination percentage (90%) was observed in H. collinsiana after the embryos were extracted.

Keywords : Heliconiaceae; in vitro germination; scarification; operculum.