Abstract
Abstract: Phytelephas macrocarpa (ivory palm) is an Amazonian palm vulnerable to exploitation pressure, as its seeds are widely used in regional handicrafts. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of different stratification temperatures in overcoming seed dormancy and to analyze the seedling development stages of this species. In germination under stratification, the seeds were placed in plastic bags containing moistened vermiculite, and maintained at the constant temperatures of 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C, and an alternating temperature from 26 to 40 °C. In the study about the development of seedlings, seeds were sown in vermiculite under plastic cover (growing house), and the evolution of the seedling was evaluated, from the formation of germinative button to the complete blade expansion of the first eophyll. Stratification at alternating temperatures (26 to 40 °C) helped overcoming seed dormancy. Stratification at 25 °C kept the seed viability for nine months. Germination, characterized by the formation of the germinative button took an average of 114 ± 24 days, and the seedling development until the first extended eophyll lasted 244 ± 57 days.
Highlights
Phytelephas macrocarpa Ruiz & Pavón (Arecaceae), known as ivory palm, is a species occurring in understories of the dry land rainforest, in plains from old floods or inundated plains of rivers in the Southeastern Amazon, in a region reaching territories from Peru, Brazil and Bolivia (Henderson et al, 1995)
It is a palm tree with different uses, the leaves, used to cover constructions, create baskets and ropes, and the seeds, whose liquid or jelly endosperm is appreciated as human and animal food; when solidified, it is used as a substitute raw material for animal ivory, in the creation of jewelry and handicrafts (Costa et al, 2008)
According to Baskin and Baskin (2014b), most palm trees present morpho-physiological dormancy, since it takes more than 30 days to germinate and they have sub-developed embryos
Summary
Phytelephas macrocarpa Ruiz & Pavón (Arecaceae), known as ivory palm, is a species occurring in understories of the dry land rainforest, in plains from old floods or inundated plains of rivers in the Southeastern Amazon, in a region reaching territories from Peru, Brazil and Bolivia (Henderson et al, 1995) It is a palm tree with different uses, the leaves, used to cover constructions, create baskets (utilities and handicrafts) and ropes (fibers), and the seeds, whose liquid or jelly endosperm is appreciated as human and animal food; when solidified, it is used as a substitute raw material for animal ivory, in the creation of jewelry and handicrafts (Costa et al, 2008). According to Baskin and Baskin (2014b), most palm trees present morpho-physiological dormancy, since it takes more than 30 days to germinate and they have sub-developed embryos
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