The effects of light, alternating temperatures and storage on seed germination of native
grasses from ?Cerrado region?, were evaluated during two years. The treatments comprised four replicates
of 100 seeds arranged in completely randomized design. Light stimulated seed germination inAndropogon bicornis L., Andropogon
selloanus (Hackel) Hackel, Aristida gibbosa (Nees) Kunth, Aristida recurvata Kunth, Aristida setifolia
Kunth, Aristida torta (Nees) Kunth, Axonopus barbigerus (Kunth) Hitchc., Axonopus canescens (Nees)
Pilger, Ctenium cirrhosum (Nees) Kunth, Diectiomis fastigiata (Sw.) Beauv., Hypogynium virgatum
(Desv.) Dandy, Paspalum gardnerianum Nees, Paspalum pectinatum Nees, Paspalum pilosum Lam.,
Paspalum polyphyllum Nees, Paspalum reduncum Nees, Paspalum splendens Hackel, Paspalum
stellatum (Hunb & Bonpl. ex Flügge), Schizachyrium microstachyum (Desv.) Roseng., Arr & Isag e
Thrasya glaziovii A.G.Burman. Light did not affect germination in Setaria geniculata and
Paspalum trichostomum. Alternating temperatures (20-35°C) promoted germination in the following
species: Aristida gibbosa, Aristida recurvata, Aristida torta, Axonopus barbigerus, Axonopus
canescens, Ctenium cirrhosum, Hypogynium virgatum, Paspalum pectinatum, Paspalum reduncum,
Paspalum splendens and Schizachyrium microstachyum. No effect of alternating temperatures was
evident in Aristida setifolia, Paspalum gardnerianum, Paspalum polyphyllum, Paspalum stellatum
and Paspalum trichostomum. Positive interactions of light and temperature occurred in Aristida gibbosa,
Aristida setifolia, Aristida torta, Axonopus barbigerus, Paspalum pectinatum and Schizachyrium
microstachyum. The germination period at 25°C in the presence of light varied from five to 53 days in the
studied gennus. There was an inverse relationship between the duration of germination and the uniformity
of the process. The storage of seeds for 17 months increased germination (at 25°C) in Aristida torta,
Diectiomis fastigiata, Paspalum stellatum and Schizachyrium microstachyum, suggesting that seed
dormancy was overcome during the storage period.