The objective of this work was to verify the effects of temperature, substrate and dormancy
in Ocotea corymbosa (Meissn.) Mez (Lauraceae) seeds, a species of utility in programs of recovery of
degraded areas and urban arborization. Two experiments were conducted, the first one to evaluate the
effects of temperature and substrate on germination, and the second one to evaluate releasing dormancy
methods. The fruits were obtained from cerrado area, in Reserva Biológica de Moji-Guaçu, SP. These
fruits were submerged in water for 30 minutes and washed in running water to remove epicarp and
mesocarp. The diaspores obtained (seed + endocarp) were divided in two lots. The first lot was used to
verify the effects of three different temperature conditions (20 and 30°C continuous and 20-30°C) and
three substrates (over paper, over vermiculite and paper roll). The second lot was used to verify the
effects of different methods of releasing seed dormancy (intact diaspores, manual remove of endocarp,
perforation of endocarp, cut of part of the endocarp and scarification of endocarp). Results showed that
30°C was the best temperature for the conduction of germination test, as well as the over paper substrate;
endocarp diminished the period of plant stablishment and the final percentage of germination of O.
corymbosa seeds; the manual remove of endocarp is an efficient method to antecipate the begining of
germination.