Germinação de sementes e conservação de plântulas de Pupunha (Bactris gasipaes kunth)

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the seed germination and conservation of seedlings of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) under different conditions. The study was conducted in three independent tests: a) Germination depending on the type and condition of the substrate - a completely randomized design in factorial 5 (substrates: wood sawdust, expanded vermiculite, rice hulls; Plantmax®, and fiber coconut crushed) X 4 (proportions of water: 50%, 60%, 70% and 80% on the mass of dry substrate) x 2 (temperature: 26ºC and 20ºC) with four replicates; b) Germination in function of pre-treatment with acetylene - fully randomized experimental design, in factorial 4 (concentrations of acetylene: 10, 20, 30 and 40 g/m3 of CaC2) X 3 (incubation periods: 6, 12 and 24 hours) plus an additional treatment (control, without pre-treatment) with four replicates; c) Conservation of seedlings in terms of substrate and temperature - a completely randomized design in factorial 3 (stages of seedling: germinative button; ligule and first sheath) x 3 (substrates: wood sawdust, expanded vermiculite, coconut fiber crushed) x 3 (temperature: 26°C, 20°C and 15°C) with four replicates. Seed germination peachpalm had better performance in sealed plastic bags, where the vermiculite was used as substrate, this containing around 58.9% of moisture, under environmental conditions (26ºC). The use of calcium carbide (acetylene) has not provided satisfactory results as to speed up the germination of peach palm, to promote some degree of abnormalities in the seedlings obtained. Seedlings of peachpalm retained best when the stage of "first sheath" in vermiculite and wood sawdust, each with a moisture content of 40% under a temperature of 15ºC.