Caracterização biométrica de frutos e sementes, curva de embebição e germinação de sementes de crateva tapia L

Abstract

Crateva tapia L. is a woody species from the Capparaceae family, used for afforestation and recovery of degraded areas. Its wood is used in internal constructions, boxes, linings, canoes and in folk medicine. The study of technological methods for forest seeds is important to guarantee their physiological quality, preservation and use in different areas. In this sense, the objective was to perform the biometric characterization of fruits and seeds of C. tapia, as well as to determine the water imbibition curve and the germination process of the seeds at different temperatures. The characteristics analyzed were: fruit and seed biometry, water content, germination and vigor (first count and germination speed index, as well as the length and dry mass of seedlings). To determine the water absorption curve and the germination test, four replications of 25 seeds each were used, at constant temperatures of 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C. The physical data of the fruits and seeds were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Data from the germination test were subjected to analysis of variance and, when significant, the Tukey test (p ≤ 0.05) was applied to compare means. The fruits of C. tapia average 43.29 mm long, 43.30 mm wide, weigh around 51.47 g and have around 20 seeds per fruit. The average length, diameter and thickness of C. tapia seeds were 8.54, 7.41 and 4.86 mm, respectively. The average seed mass was 0.15 g. Water absorption by C. tapia seeds follows a three-phase pattern at temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 °C, with protrusion of the primary root observed after 96 hours of imbibition. For the germination of C. tapia, a temperature of 30 °C is recommended for seed germination and vigor tests.