Effect of light and temperature on seed germination in Tibouchina mutabilis (Vell.) Cogn. (Melastomataceae)

The effect of light and temperature on Tibouchina mutabilis seed germination was analyzed by isothermic incubations in the range of 10 to 40 °C, with 5 °C intervals under both continuous white light (32.85 molms) and darkness and alternating temperatures (15-20; 15-25; 15-30; 15-35; 20-25; 20-30; 20-35; 25-30; 25-35 and 30-35 °C) under both photoperiod of 12 hours and continuous darkness. The seeds of T. mutabilis need light to trigger the germination and no germination was observed in darkness. The range of optimum temperatures for germination was between 25 to 30 °C and the 20-25 °C alternating temperatures. These results indicate that T. mutabilis behaves as a pioneer species and daily alternating temperatures did not change the light sensitivity of seeds.