Heart-of-palm tree (Euterpe edulis Mart.) is a native species from Atlantic Forest, known by its production of palm heart. It is a palm with high potential to sustainable management and the fauna largely consumes its fruits. Heart-of-palm propagation through seeds is a determinant factor in the production of quality seedlings to the maintenance of sustainable populations. The objective of this study, conducted at Forest Biotechnology Laboratory from the Federal University of Santa Maria, was to evaluate the germination and initial growth of 15 progenies of heart-of-palm tree. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four replications and 15 treatments (progenies) distributed in 10 liner pots, with two seeds in each one. The following characteristics were analyzed: seed germination percentage, seedling survival percentage, stem diameter, leaf number and plant height. The results showed that heart-of-palm tree progenies had higher variability for survival percentage (ranging from 26 to 58% and average of 38%), at 210 days. The most vigorous seedlings derived from provenance P12, which showed better results for survival percentage (média=58%), height (média= 2.12 cm), leaf number (média= 1.45) and stem diameter (média= 0.7 cm). The provenances with low survival rates (média= 26%) had more delayed seed germination and consequently showed lower seedling height (média= 1.7 cm). Hence, batches of seeds derived from the studied population of E. edulis should be formed by the provenances showing homogeneity among the analyzed characteristics, in order to facilitate seedling management in nursery conditions, and also, guarantee a higher uniformity of the material to be established in field conditions.
Heart-of-palm tree; genetic improvement; survival
