Magnum de Sousa Pereira

Armazenamento de sementes de xique-xique

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of Pilosocereus gounellei seeds stored in different environments and types of packaging for six months. The experimental design was completely randomized, in split plots with four replications. The plots received two storage environments, cold chamber and natural environment, and three types of package, multi-layer paper bag, plastic bag and glass. The subplots received the storage periods 0, 2, 4 and 6 months. After each storage period, the seed moisture content, percentage of germination, germination speed index and mean time of germination were evaluated. The cold chamber was more suitable to store xique-xique seeds compared to the natural environment. In that environment, all the packages were effective to keep the physiological quality. In the natural environment, the seeds packed in plastic bags showed the highest percentage of germination (87%), but the multi-layer paper bag was more stable for all variables, with 58% of germination, speed index of germination equals to 3.9 and mean time of germination of 7.9 days after six months of storage. In the natural environment, multi-layer paper bags showed the best results to the conservation of xique-xique seed viability.

Biometria e efeito da temperatura e tamanho das sementes na protrusão do pecíolo cotiledonar de carnaúba

This work aimed to evaluate the biometry of carnauba seeds and the effect of temperature and seeds size on the protrusion of cotyledonary petiole. It was realized the biometric analysis with a sample of 100 seeds, evaluating length and diameter, what allowed to classify the seeds in three diameter classes. It was used a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement 4 x 4: four seeds sizes (small - Φ 14.24 mm and mixture - seeds that were not classified) and four temperatures (20, 25 and 30 °C and environmental temperature - 28.8 °C). Were used four replications of 25 seeds per treatment and each experimental unit was packed in recipients containing 250 mL of water, maintained under different temperatures, realizing daily counting of the seeds that presented the protrusion of the cotyledonary petiole. The results allowed the conclusion that the length and the diameter of the carnauba seeds analyzed present an asymmetric behavior to the left. Under the temperatures of 20 and 25 oC occurred the highest percentages of protrusion of cotyledonary petiole in all the seeds sizes, except for the large seeds, that expressed the best result only under 25 oC. Seed of sizes medium, large and mixture presented highest protrusion speed. The temperature of 25 oC is the one that promotes the highest protrusion speed. When maintained under 20 oC, the seeds took 32 days to obtain maximum protrusion of the cotyledonary petiole.

Germination and morphological characterization of the fruits, seeds, and seedlings of Pilosocereus gounellei

The present work examined the germination and morphology of the fruits and seeds of the cactus Pilosocereus gounellei (xique-xique) and describeb the different stages of seedling growth. Germination tests examined the effects of combinations of two illumination regimes (a 12 hour photoperiod and total darkness) and three temperature regimes (25, 30, and 20-30 oC) on the seeds of this species. Germination counts were made daily until the 16th day after sowing and the germination percentage and velocity index, and average germination time were evaluated. Descriptions of seed morphology considered both their external and internal aspects. The processes of germination and seedling growth were evaluated during 150 days and eight developmental stages were identified based on morphological changes. The fruits of the xique-xique cactus are 40.67 ± 4.40 mm long and 48.09 ± 3.23 mm in diameter, weigh 53.85 ± 10.03 g, and contain 3713 ± 689.50 seeds. Alternating temperatures of 20-30 oC together with a photoperiod of 12 hours of light resulted in the highest seed germination rate. The seeds are positively photoblastic and germination is epigeal and fanerocotyledonary. Seedling growth is slow, but at 150 days after sowing the plants had developed epicotyls, large numbers of thorns, and the whole plant averaged 59.56 mm in height.

Crescimento e tolerância à salinidade em três espécies medicinais do gênero Plectranthus expostas a diferentes níveis de radiação

In the cultivation of medicinal plants, salinity and light can affect the yield and quality of biomass. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of light and salinity levels of the irrigation water on the growth and salt tolerance of three medicinal plant species of the genus Plectranthus. A completely randomized split-plot design with five repetitions was used. The plots were formed by the environment of cultivation (full sunlight and greenhouse), the subplots by the salinity in the irrigation water - ECw (0.7, 1.9, 3.1, 4.3 and 5.5 dS m-1), and the subsubplots by the three plant species (P. amboinicus, P. barbatus and P. grandis). The following variables were evaluated: relative chlorophyll index (RCI), leaf area (LA), leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), shoot dry mass (SDM), root dry mass (RDM), total dry mass (TDM), RDM/SDM ratio, relative salt tolerance, and concentration of Na+ and K+ in leaves. Salinity reduced plant growth, with the greatest reductions observed in plants exposed to full sunlight. Salinity affected the dry matter partitioning, and the roots were more affected than the shoot. With increasing ECw, there was a significant increase in the concentration of Na+ in the leaves, while K+ and RCI decreased. However, the increase in Na+ accumulation was lower in P grandis. The three species were moderately tolerant to salinity up to 3.1 dS m-1, considering the total dry mass production, except the P. grandis grown in greenhouse, classified as tolerant. Regarding the relative reduction in shoot dry mass (part of commercial interest), we could recommend the cultivation of P. grandis when the available irrigation water presents values of ECw up to 3.1 dS m-1.

Emergence and initial growth of Copernicia prunifera (Arecaceae) as a function of fruit maturation

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of fruit maturation on the physiological quality of seeds and on the initial growth of carnauba palm (Copernicia prunifera). Propagules were collected from specimens of urban tree growth in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. The treatments were set up with four replications in a 2x3+1 factorial arrangement; the factors consisted of two color tones of fruit (yellowish-green and dark colored fruit), three types of propagules (whole fruit, pulped fruit and seeds) and an additional control (pre-germinated seed extracted from dark colored fruits) in a completely randomized design. The variables assessed were: percentage of emergence, plant height, stem diameter, dry weight of the shoots and of the root system, and the Dickson quality index. The yellowish-green fruits may be used in carnauba palm propagation if the pulp and the pellicle around the seed are removed. Plants derived from dark colored fruits exhibit greater values for height, stem diameter, dry weight of the above ground part and of the roots. From the Dickson quality index, plants derived from dark colored fruits have a better standard of quality than those from yellowish-green fruits.

Germination and morphology of fruits, seeds and plants of Cereus jamacaru DC

This work aimed to evaluate the germination and morphology of fruits, seeds and description of plant growth stages of mandacaru. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of combinations of two light conditions and three temperature regimes. A daily count of the number of germinated seeds was performed until the 16 th day after sowing in order to determine the percentage, speed and time of germination. External and internal aspects were considered for the morphological description. The germination and the development of plants were evaluated for 150 days and featured eight stages of growth, based on morphological differentiation. The fruit has 154,66 ± 40,01 g mass, 82,26 ± 5,78 mm length, 62,63 ± 6,63 mm diameter and 1439 ± 189,78 seeds. The temperature of 25 °C under a photoperiod of 12 h provides the highest rate of seed germination and the seeds behave as neutral photoblastic. The germination is epigeal and fanerocotyledonary. The growth is slow and after 150 days of sowing the plant presents epicotyl with a large amount of thorns, where the whole plant is 325.30 mm in length.

Influência da maturação dos frutos na emergência e crescimento inicial de Copernicia hospita Mart. - Arecaceae

Objetivou-se nessa pesquisa avaliar a influencia da maturacao dos frutos na qualidade fisiologica das sementes e crescimento inicial de Copernicia hospita. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em um fatorial 2 x 3 x 2 com quatro repeticoes, os fatores foram constituidos por duas coloracoes de frutos (verde-amarelados e escuros), tres tipos de propagulos (fruto integro, fruto despolpado e semente), e embebicao (sem e com) por cinco dias, dispostos em um delineamento inteiramente casualisado. As variaveis de observacao foram: porcentagem, velocidade e tempo medio de emergencia, altura da planta, diâmetro do coleto, massa seca da parte aerea e do sistema radicular. Frutos de coloracao escura, independentemente do tipo de propagulo, e frutos verdes amarelados despolpados, com ou sem embebicao, mostram-se superiores com uma maior porcentagem de emergencia, indice de velocidade e menor tempo medio de emergencia. A embebicao dos propagulos proporciona incrementos na massa seca da parte aerea, das raizes e no diâmetro do coleto.

Effects of Different Concentrations of Organic Waste on Selected Traits of Individuals Capsicum Chinense Jacq.

At present, excessive waste production makes it necessary to carry out research aimed to minimize the problems arising from waste generation and inadequate disposal. In this sense, this study aimed to analyze plant growth, fruit production, antioxidative enzyme activities and organic solute contents in fruits of Capsicum chinense Jacq. plants (BRS Moema cultivar) growing in substrates with different concentrations of municipal organic solid waste (MW) or shrimp waste (SW) under greenhouse conditions. A completely randomized design was used with seven treatments (control; MW at 50, 100 and 200% of recommendation; and SW also at 50, 100 and 200%) and five replications. The MW and SW were mixed with the soil. When plants already had fruits, 122 days after sowing (DAS), shoot height, stem diameter and number of leaves were determined, and 134 DAS, the visibly ripe fruits were collected and stored at -20 °C for subsequent biochemical analysis. The MW and SW provided a linear increase in the parameters of shoot height, stem diameter and number of leaves. The numbers of fruits in the treatments were quite variable, but it can be concluded that the MW 200 and SW 100 treatments provided higher fruit production. The best results for the activities of catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) in the fruits occurred in the MW 100 and SW 200 treatments. Both provided an increase in CAT and reductions in APX and GPX, which can contribute to greater postharvest life of C. chinense Jacq. fruits. In relation to soluble protein and carbohydrate contents, the MW 100 and SW 100 treatments did not contribute to their increase; in the other residue concentrations, the results were variable. However, considering all parameters analysed in this study, the most suitable treatments would be MW 100 and SW 100. Therefore, the results demonstrate the susceptibility of using substrates with MW and SW in the cultivation of C. chinense Jacq. plants.