Section 1 Dormancy Process

**3**

**Chapter 1**

Germination

*and Daliannis Oliva*

**Abstract**

of 60 g l<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>

cal compounds to scarify.

the high prices that reaches in the market [1].

**1. Introduction**

*Sergio Rodríguez, Iramis Vargas,* 

*Asterio Hijuelo, Frederique Loumeto,* 

*Juan J. Silva, Jorge Pérez, Quirino Arias,* 

Analysis of the Effect of

(*Carica papaya* Lin.) Seeds

*Yanexis Fonseca, Yarisbel Gómez, Michel Baldoquín* 

The presence of the aril (sarcotesta) in the papaya causes a slow and low germination, being necessary to break the state of dormancy. Calcium hydroxide that was applied in order to evaluate its scarifying effect was the objective. The sample consisted of 60 randomly selected fruits of hermaphrodite plants in a commercial production batch of approximately 1 ha (2222 plants) showing commercial maturity, of homogeneous size (±2 kg). The treatments were calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)2 at three doses, dipping the seed for a period of 24 h; the standardized sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 25% with a 15 min immersion time. The highest germination and vigor seeds were obtained applied Ca(OH)2 with highly significant differences respect to the rest treatment, especially for the dose

of water for reasons of diminishing expenses. Significant correlations

were found, with direct relations (aril and mechanical damage) and inverse relations (abnormal seeds) between the variables evaluated related to the vigor and germination of the seeds. It can be an ecological and not expensive methodology to improve the germination and vigor of papaya seeds in relation to other chemi-

Fruit trees play an important role in human nutrition; and among these highlights, the papaya, this is a crop of tropical climate, widely appreciated for being one of the few fruit that provide continuous production throughout the year after the start of fruiting, to possess fruits with a high nutritional value, and to achieve high yields; generating good income to the families dedicated to their cultivation, due to

**Keywords:** papaya, dormancy, seed germination, scarification, vigor, aril

Scarification Process on Papaya

#### **Chapter 1**
