This work evaluated the effect of different scarification process on the germinative behavior
of Leucaena diversifolia (Schlecht.) Bentham K156 seeds, either newly collected or after three years of
storage. Scarification techniques used were: mechanical scarification, hot water soak (initial temperature,
96°C.) during 0.5; 1.0; 1.5 and 2.0 minutes and concentrated sulphuric acid soak for 5, 10, 15 and 20
minutes. The control was represented by intact seeds. The germination test were carried out with 200
seeds, for each treatment with four replications, in gerbox, germinated on filter paper wetted with
distilled water (2,5 times its own weight) under temperature of 25°C. In relation to newly collected seeds,
highest germination was obtained with the treatment using sulphuric acid for 20 minutes (89%). The
biggest abnormal seedlings and hard seeds rates were observed with the mechanical scarification and
control treatments, respectively. Hot water soak treatment for 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 minutes caused a high
percentage of imbibed seeds, 74, 75 and 80%, respectively. In the stored seeds, higher germination
occurred with mechanical scarification (88.5%) and with sulphuric acid for 15 minutes (84.5%), while the
bigger abnormal seedlings rate was obtained with the sulphuric acid treatment for five minutes. Hot
water soak for 0.5; 1,0 and 1.5 minutes and sulphuric acid soak for five minutes caused high dead seeds
percentage, 71, 73 and 75%, respectively. Higher germination rates were obtained with mechanical
scarification treatment and sulphuric acid soak treatments with immersion time among 10 and 20
minutes for both, recently collected and stored seeds.