Germinação e vigor de sementes de Euterpe edulis após despolpamento mecânico.

Abstract

The palm Euterpe edulis M. is a fundamental palm for the Atlantic Rain Foresta fauna, being associated to the feeding of more than 70 different birds and mammals. Researches has been developed to evaluate the production of pulp of it's fruits, levereging the opportunities to this palm sustainable management and conservation, beyond the tradional heart of palm, internationally famous and appreciated. This palm fruits are very well known through a series of experiments already published, pointing to a high germination rate, now we need to evaluate the consequences of the mecanic removal of the pulp to produce juice. Considering humidity loss, fungus and seed age as the main reasons to germination and vigor loss, the seeds germination and vigor were evaluated in two different substracts: sand and vermiculite. They've been submited to two different treatments, boiled in a 35ºC water recipient during 15 minutes in the first one and in a 50ºC water recipient during 10 minutes in the second one. Both samples where sotred in BOD/5ºC. As they are recalcitrant seeds, the way you store them and the number of days since the crop are important factors to consider and they've had been also evaluated. Seeds submited to 50ºC/10min treatment presented better results than those boiled in the 35ºC/15min recipient, either in sand or vermiculite.