Aiming at contributing to the knowledge of the biology and propagation of Cariniana
pyriformis Miers, a native species with high timber and ecological attributes, ripe fruits
were harvested. Initially, in 400 seeds and 320 fruits, the size, fresh mass, seed water
content, number of seeds per fruit, number of seeds per kilogram and fruit color were
assessed. Then, a homogenous seed sample was immersed for 24 hours in five doses (0,
250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg.L-1) of gibberellins (GA3) and cultivated in a greenhouse. For
this, a completely randomized design was adopted with six replications of 25 seeds each.
Fruits and seeds showed values, on average ± standard deviation, of 76.1 ± 11 mm and
48.1 ± 8.2 mm in length, and 49.6 ± 5 mm and 7.2 ± 0.7 mm of width, respectively,
with 62.3 ± 22.3 g of fresh mass per fruit and 13 ± 3.1 seeds per fruit. One kilogram
corresponded on average to 6715 seeds with 11% water content. In the greenhouse,
emergence speed index and emergency percentage of seedlings increased as the GA3 dose
increased, allowing a more concentrated emergency process in a shorter period. Highest
variation was found for fresh mass per fruit (CV= 35%) and number of seeds per fruit
(CV= 24%). Immersion in 1000 mg.L-1 in GA3 for 24 hours triggers seedling emergency
in C. pyriformis (approx. 71%), and then it is recommended for plant propagation, since
the treatment accelerated and synchronized seedling emergency.