Homeopathic preparations and growth regulators in the development of Brachiaria seedlings

Abstract

Seed physiological characteristics determine the establishment of crops in the open field. The seed dormancy is a main factor affecting the introduction of Brachiaria pastures into field grasses in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of homeopathic preparations and growth regulators on physiological quality of seeds and growth of seedlings of Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG-5. The study was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory and Greenhouse of UUC/UEMS, Mato Grosso. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial arrangement of 5 x 4 with four repetitions. Treatments consisted of nosode preparation of N- (phosphonomethyl) glycine applied at 20 or 40 CH-centesimal hahnemann dilution either by immersing the seeds or on the germitest paper combined with growth regulators of gibberellin, cytokinin and gibberellin + cytokinin. The initial growth of seedlings, germination and seed vigor were evaluated. The application of homeopathic preparation at 20 CH, via seed immersion associated with gibberellin at 0.5 ppm promoted the initial growth of seedlings, vigor and germination of B. brizantha seeds cv. MG-5.