Abstract
Queen of the night (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), an ornamental cactus, is widespread in many countries. The demand for this species is increasing because esthetic quality of its flowers is appreciated. This study aimed to analyze the influence of temperature, substrate and luminosity on the germination of E. oxypetalum seeds. A completely randomized design with four replications was used in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to three temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C), two substrates (blotting paper and sand of average particle size) and two luminosity conditions (light and dark). The percentage germination, germination speed index (GSI) and mean germination time (MGT) were evaluated. The 20°C treatment combined with the sand substrate and the presence of light provided favorable conditions for the germination of the seeds of E. oxypetalum, yielding a higher GSI and a shorter MGT; however, the species may be considered as preferentially photoblastic because of its ability to germinate in darkness. Key words: Cactaceae, luminosity, ornamental plant, substrate, temperature, vigor.
Highlights
The family Cactaceae comprises between 120 and 200 genera and between 1,500 and2,000 species, of which approximately 40 genera and 200 species occur in Brazil; many of these species are used as ornamental plants (Souza and Lorenzi, 2012).Queen of the night [Epiphyllum oxypetalum (A.P. de Candolle) Haworth] is an ornamental plant that is native to Mexico, widely cultivated in the tropics and distributed in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, ElSalvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Brazil (Anderson, 2001).The genus Epiphyllum comprises epiphytic cacti that thrive in shaded environments and acid substrates (Mace and Mace, 2009)
55.0b the sand, G was greater in the light than in the dark for seeds held at 30°C, but there were no luminosity effects at the lower temperatures
19.14a substrate and the presence of light provided optimal conditions for the germination of E. oxypetalum seeds measured by a higher germination speed index (GSI) and a shorter mean germination time (MGT)
Summary
The family Cactaceae (eudicotyledon) comprises between 120 and 200 genera and between 1,500 and2,000 species, of which approximately 40 genera and 200 species occur in Brazil; many of these species are used as ornamental plants (Souza and Lorenzi, 2012).Queen of the night [Epiphyllum oxypetalum (A.P. de Candolle) Haworth] is an ornamental plant that is native to Mexico, widely cultivated in the tropics and distributed in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, ElSalvador, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Brazil (Anderson, 2001).The genus Epiphyllum comprises epiphytic cacti that thrive in shaded environments and acid substrates (Mace and Mace, 2009). As the seeds present variable physiological responses upon exposure to different temperatures, substrates and luminosities, it is recommended that the influence of these components on the germination of each species of interest be studied, providing support for the analysis of these influences (Guedes et al, 2009). Three temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C), two substrates (blotting paper and sand of average grain size) and two luminosity conditions (light and dark) were used in a completely randomized 3 x 2 x 2 factorial design with four replications.
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