The effect of two aril extraction methods on Passiflora giberti N.E. Brown and
seeds treated with five ethephon concentrations was evaluated through germination and tetrazolium
test. This study was carried out at Seed Laboratory, UNIOESTE, Marechal Cândido Rondon, in
the State of Paraná, from 01/06 to 03/07/01. The experimental design was entirely casualized
with five repetitions of 25 seeds each. The fruits were collected in Marechal Cândido Rondon and
treated with the combination of two extraction types and five ethephon concentrations. The ethephon
soaking period was five hours. Seeds were germinated on paper rolls at alternated temperature of
25-30ºC. The tetrazolium test was performed at the begin and at the end of 30 day germination
test. There were significant interactions between aril extraction methods and ethephon
concentrations for the percentage of viable seeds. It was observed a significant decrease in the
percentage of vitalily on seeds extracted with fermentation and treated with ethephon at
600mg.l-1. In the aril cloth friction extraction method all ethephon concentrations had similar
effect on seed vitality. The seeds of Passiflora giberti were dormant and the aril extraction methods
didn?t effect seed vitalily, except when it was used 600mg.l-1 of ethephon. The treatments with
ethephon did not promote seed germination.