The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different methods of the aryl removal, on seeds germination and seedlings emergence of sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata Curtis). Seeds from ripe fruits were subjected to methods of removing the aryls: manual with friction on wire mesh; manual friction of coarse sand on the wire mesh; mechanical blender; biological fermentation at 24ºC, for 5 days; chemical immersion in a solution of 10% lime, and chemical immersion in hydrochloric acid solution at 37% (1:2), both chemical methods under stirring for 30 minutes and seeds without aryls. The seeds were evaluated for germination, seedling emergence and emergence speed index. Statistical design was a completely randomized, with four replications, using 50 seeds. The removal of the aryl with friction on wire mesh showed the highest germination efficiency in the laboratory. Methods with rubbing sand on wire mesh, soaking in a lime solution, immersion in hydrochloric acid, fermentation and without removing the aryl, provided better performance in the nursery conditions. The aryl removal by a blender impaired the physiological quality of seeds. The nursery conditions provided percentages of seedling emergence, which exceeded the results obtained in laboratory conditions.
Passiflora alata; aryl; germination; emergence
