Abstract
Abstract The State of Parana is one of the Brazilian regions with the highest incidence of extraction of bromeliads, among the factors for the occurrence of this situation, they highlight a great demand for this species as ornamental flowers and the easy access to forests, few cultivation ponds and difficulties for farmers in cultivation processes, especially in the early stages of cultivation. The species Aechmea gamosepala Wittmack stands out among the species of this group of ornamental plants (Bromeliaceae) with strong commercial appeal and consequently of extraction. Given this context, a study was carried out to evaluate the germination and survival of seeds of the species. Five alternative types of substrates easily accessible to farmers were tested: coconut husk fiber, Plantmax®, earthworm humus, humidified Pinnus husk and sieved agricultural land. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 4 replications and 25 seeds per experimental unit at room temperature in a greenhouse, with sprinkler irrigation for a period of 90 days. The mean time for the onset of germination was 6.95 days, averaging 74.8% at the peak of germination, but there were no significant statistical differences between the treatments. For the seedling survival, humidified Pinnus husk substrates (70.8%) and coconut fiber house (80.4%) proved to be the best substrates for Aechmea gamosepala Wittmack.
Highlights
The prospect of new ornamental plants from native species expands the product offering to the market of flowers (Tognon et al, 2016), in this context stands out the bromeliads, which annually have dozens of new species inserted in the ornamental plant trade (Pulido et al, 2018; Negrelle and Anacleto, 2019)
The interviewed producers (n=3) reported that the species A. gamosepala has relevant capacity as an ornamental plant, and the main characteristic that brings this condition is the color of the flowers, which can vary from shades of pink or lilac to purple, the durability of the inflorescences, which can exceed two months in ornamental conditions, the ability to adapt the diffuse light, which is traditionally found in the domestic environment, and undemanding plant in cultural and nutritional treatment
Still according to all respondents in cultivation processes of this kind of species, the greatest difficulties were attributed to two factors: the low germination rates, as well as the difficulty of obtaining seeds, as when the physiological ripeness of the berries starts, it is attacked by a large number of insects, ants, small frugivorous animals and birds that feed from the fruit due to the sweet mucilage concentration existing in the berries
Summary
The use of bromeliads as ornamental plants was intensified in Brazil after the seventies with the introduction of this group of plants in landscaping projects, finding great acceptance among the population and among architects and landscapers (Negrelle and Anacleto, 2019). In this period, there were few existing production nurseries, and the habit of extraction of the species in their own habitat for marketing was created due to the high demand and easy access to these plants in the forest environment (Anacleto et al, 2008). The prospect of new ornamental plants from native species expands the product offering to the market of flowers (Tognon et al, 2016), in this context stands out the bromeliads, which annually have dozens of new species inserted in the ornamental plant trade (Pulido et al, 2018; Negrelle and Anacleto, 2019).
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