Introduction:

Ochroma pyramidale (Cav. 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 (Soaking12h and Soaking24h), immersion in boiling water at 100 °C (Boiling3s and Boiling10s) and immersion in boiling water and soaking in coconut water (Boiling3s + Soaking24h, and Boiling10s + Soaking24h). 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 Boiling3s (64 %) and Boiling3s + Soaking24h (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.