Abstract
This study aimed to test a possible correlation between germination and the variables weight and density of seeds of Lecythis pisonis (sapucaia), as well as raise issues which may contribute to know germination in this species. For this, we followed up the soaking and germination process of intact and scarified seeds of L. pisonis under controlled conditions (26°C, with average irradiance of 34.6 mmol.m-2.s-1 and in the dark). In another trial, seeds of sapucaia were individually characterized with regard to weight and density, and, then, sown in plastic boxes filled with soil and kept in a natural environment (average irradiance ±12.5 mmol.m-2.s-1 at 12:00 p.m.), with temperatures ranging from 15 to 32°C. The germination (shoot emergence) of each seed was followed up within the period from September 2009 to January 2010. The results suggest that the coat does not represent a restrictive factor for soaking and germination of sapucaia. Germination increased proportionally to the increase in seed density. Based on these results, we recommend the use of seeds with densities > 0.9 g.mL-1, in order to ensure a high percentage of seedlings.
Highlights
Materials and MethodsTree regeneration in lowland tropical forests is mainly done by seeds (RAICH; KHOON, 1990), studies on germination may help us understand the ecophysiology and the distribution of species within a community, and they provide important clues concerning seed technology and species management
Seeds of Lecythis pisonis were soaked relatively fast in the irst 24 h, in accordance to Pagotto (1982), who reported that hydration of the seeds of sapucaia stabilises at around 3% after this time, probably due to the “extremely hard” seed coat
Scariication caused a slight increase in the soaking time course, but it had no effect on the inal seed hydration percentage, showing that, contrary to Pagotto (1982), but in accordance to Carvalho (2006), the seed coat was not the main limiting factor for soaking the seeds of sapucaia, and no pretreatment for germination is required for the species
Summary
Materials and MethodsTree regeneration in lowland tropical forests is mainly done by seeds (RAICH; KHOON, 1990), studies on germination may help us understand the ecophysiology and the distribution of species within a community, and they provide important clues concerning seed technology and species management. The species is either classiied as early secondary (CARVALHO, 2006) or shade-tolerant climax and it occurs naturally in the Atlantic Forest and in the Amazon, being endemic to Brazil (CARVALHO et al, 2006). The seed of sapucaia (1.7-2.6 cm wide and 3.6-4.3 cm long) is angular, grooved, and it has a white pulpy aril at the end opposite to the micropyle (PAGOTTO, 1982; CARVALHO, 2006; BRAGA et al, 2007). According to Floriano (2004), the aril must be removed to overcome seed dormancy, while Carvalho (2006) reports that seeds of sapucaia require no pre-treatment for germination. The seeds are classiied as orthodox (desiccation-tolerant) and they can be stored at 5oC or -18oC without viability loss (CARVALHO, 2006; CARVALHO et al, 2006). The emergence of seedlings of sapucaia has been reported to take place between 30 and 90 days after sowing (CARVALHO, 2006)
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