Abstract
Abstract Allamanda puberula is a native species of the Caatinga biome with ornamental and landscaping potential. However, its potential is little explored due to the lack of information about the biology of its seeds and propagation. In this context, a study was carried out in order to characterize the seeds and their potential to produce seedlings in different containers. The experiments were divided into two phases. The first consisted in the characterization of fruits and seeds by evaluating the number of seeds per fruit, their dimensions (length and width), the weight of a thousand seeds, the number of seeds kg-¹, the degree of moisture, germination and emergence. The second phase consisted in the production of seedlings in a nursery, evaluating the growth over the days after sowing (DAS) (15, 30, 45 and 60 DAS) and the effect of the type of container (trays and tubes) for the formation of the seedlings. The species A. puberula has small seeds and a significant number of seeds per fruit. Apparently, there is no physical impediment or type of dormancy that impairs the germination process of the seeds. Seedlings grown in tubes were better in terms of growth and allocation of biomass. However, the indication of the best cultivation container for A. puberula propagated via seeds will depend on the implantation project and the specific characteristics of the field. The characterization of A. puberula seeds showed satisfactory physiological potential for germination and complete seedling formation in the nursery, enabling success in obtaining seedlings through seminiferous propagation.
Highlights
Native plants that constitute the diversity of the Brazilian flora have gained ground in the landscaping industry, becoming a contemporary trend
Commonly known in Brazil as quatro-patacas, is a plant species of the Caatinga biome highlighted for its ornamental potential, presenting aesthetical elements that potentialize its use in landscaping
Fruit and seed characterization The fruits of A. puberula develop from flowers with a syncarpous, bicarpellary, unilocular gynoecium, ovary superior, and parietal placentation (Figure 1)
Summary
Native plants that constitute the diversity of the Brazilian flora have gained ground in the landscaping industry, becoming a contemporary trend. The insertion of native species with ornamental potential in the production chain of ornamental flowers and plants is of extreme importance, representing a significant asset in an already competitive market that is aware of sustainable ecological trends. The versatility of uses of this species allows it to be employed in the composition of gardens, either isolated or in the formation of hedges (Beckmann-Cavalcante et al, 2017) This species is typical of dry climates and its distribution is restricted to certain geographic regions, with occurrence records in the Caatinga regions of the states of Piauí, Pernambuco, Ceará, Bahia, Minas Gerais, and Tocantins. The genus Allamanda L. currently comprises 15 species, of which 13 occur in Brazil, and most are endemic to the territory (Sakane and Shepherd, 1986)
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