Bactris maraja Mart., palm tree native to the Amazon, typically occurs in sandy soils on the shores of lakes and streams. Presents great ecological importance and can be vegetatively propagated (clumps) or by seed. The spread of palm trees by seeds usually show slow, irregular and low percentage germination. Thus, the research aimed to study the effects of different temperatures, drying periods of pyrene and extraction of seeds and soaking periods of the seed in germination. Three experiments were conducted: 1) Seeds were subject to two levels of processing (with and without removal of endocarp) and six different temperatures (20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 26-40 ºC); 2) Pyrenes were subject to 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 15 days of drying, in each period the seed extraction was made, 3) Seeds were subject to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days of soaking. Seeds subjected to alternating temperatures of 26-40 ºC showed higher germination percentage (above 60%), with no difference between the levels of processing. Drying of pyrenes made seed extraction easier. However, drying and extraction of seeds reduced germination and vigor. Thus, the processing is not recommended. The seed soaking for two days favored the germination percentage and speed.
Palm; Pyrene; Processing
