Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the germination and vigor of Bixa orellana seeds that were pre-soaked in different concentrations of Stimulate® plant biostimulant. For the standard germination test, Bixa orellana seeds from the Embrapa 37 Cultivar were pre-soaked (for periods of four and eight hours) in the following concentrations of Stimulate® aqueous solution: 3.0; 6.0; 9.0; and 12.0 mL L-1. Seeds that were pre-soaked in distilled water were used as control. The following parameters were tested: germination; first germination count; abnormal seedlings; length; and seedling dry mass. The experimental design was completely randomized and a 2 x 5 + 1 factorial design was used (with two pre-soaking periods, five Stimulate® concentrations, and one additional control without pre-soaking). Four replicates of 50 seeds were performed for each treatment. Water immersion treatments for four and eight hours were efficient for breaking dormancy in Bixa orellana seeds, since they promoted better germination in relation to the intact seeds that were not pre-soaked. The pre-soaking of Bixa orellana seeds for eight hours in a 12.0 mL L-1 Stimulate® concentration presented the best results in terms of germinative performance and seedling growth, with greater accumulation of dry mass. Therefore, this practice is recommended for the production of seedlings of this species.
Highlights
Bixa orellana L. (Family Bixaceae) is a tropical American woody plant, native to the Amazon and Atlantic forests
The sexual propagation of this species is made difficult by the low percentage of germination of its seeds, which occurs due to the dormancy imposed by integument impermeability (AMARAL et al, 1995; CORLETT et al, 2007; LOPES et al, 2008)
The reduced germination capacity observed in seeds that were not pre-soaked (Table 2) was similar to that observed by Lopes et al (2008) in mature and intact B. orellana seeds from the Casca Verde Cultivar
Summary
Bixa orellana L. (Family Bixaceae) is a tropical American woody plant, native to the Amazon and Atlantic forests. In Brazil, it is known as annatto, urucu, and safflower (Carthamus), among other names. It is commonly used as an ornamental plant – because of its beauty and colorful flowers – and as a medicinal plant. It is often used in the recovery of degraded areas, due to its rapid growth (LORENZI; MATOS, 2008). Its seeds are valuable for the production of pigments that are used as a natural dye in food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and poultry industries (HARDER et al, 2008). Treatments that cause the acceleration and improvement of germination are essential, since it is important that seeds germinate rapidly and uniformly in seedling production, FLORESTA, Curitiba, PR, v. Treatments that cause the acceleration and improvement of germination are essential, since it is important that seeds germinate rapidly and uniformly in seedling production, FLORESTA, Curitiba, PR, v. 48, n. 3, p. 293-302, jul/set. 2018
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