CARPOSEMINAL BIOMETRY AND GERMINATION OF Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Mart.

Abstract

Cabralea canjerana is a species that has ecological and economic importance for the Southern Brazil. This study aimed to characterize the biometry of fruits and seeds as well as the C. canjerana germinative process submitted to different substrates and temperatures. The biometric characteristics of fruits and seeds were analyzed with the aid of digital caliper. In the germination test, the substrates blotting paper, sand and vermiculite, and the temperatures of 20, 25 and 30 ºC were used. The germination percentage, mean germination rate (MGR), mean germination time (MGT), synchronization index (SI), fresh mass (FS) and dry mass (DM) of seedlings were assessed. The highest germination percentages occurred for vermiculite at three temperatures, blotting paper at 25 °C and sand at 20 and 30 °C. There was seedling formation in all treatments. The use of the sand substrate and the temperatures of 25 and 30 °C provided lower mean values of MGT and SI and higher mean values of MGR. The highest DM occurred with sand at the temperature of 20 ºC. The biometric characteristics of fruits and seeds varied. We recommend the use of vermiculite at temperatures of 20, 25 and 30 ºC, blotting paper at 25 °C and sand at 20 and 30 °C for germination tests.