This work was carried out with the objective to verify the effect of temperature and substrate on germinative capacity of annatto seeds. This study was developed in the Laboratories of Seed Analysis of Agrarian Science Center that belongs to the Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo (CCA-UFES), located in Alegre ES, Brazil. The experimental design was 2x6x4 factorial involving: (i) two treatments in the seeds, (ii) six substrates, and (iii) four temperatures. Four replications were realized using 50 seeds at each experimental unit. Treatments refer to intact and scarified seeds. Substrates utilized were sand, vermiculite, coconut fiber, wood fiber, Plantmax and paper roll. Temperatures employed were 20, 25, 30 and 20-30ºC. Average contrasts were verified using Tukey test at 5% of significance. It can be concluded: (i) that better percentages of germination occurred by using sand substrate, vermiculite and paper roll; and (ii) temperatures of 25, 30 and 20-30ºC can be utilized in germination tests of annatto seeds.
Bixa orellana L.; germination capacity; vigor
