This study was carried with the objective of evaluating the germination of annatto seeds and their embryonic axes development (Bixa orellana L.), cultivating Casca Verde in in vitro culture medium with different agar concentrations. The treatments were set in a completely randomized design, with four replications, in an A x B factorial scheme where factor A consisted of annatto intact seeds (SI), seeds without tegument (SST) and only embryonic axes (E) and factor B consisted of four levels of agar concentrations (4, 6, 8 and 10 g L-1) in basic medium "MS". Seeds without tegument in culture medium containing 4 g L-1 agar presented a greater germination percentage. The largest percentage of normal seedlings was obtained in the development of embryonic axes in culture medium containing 10 g L-1 agar. Intact seeds presented the smallest germination values and abnormal seedlings in 4 and 6 g L-1 agar. Greater values of fresh and dry weight of normal seedlings occurred in the germination of seeds without tegument in culture medium with concentration of 10 g L-1 agar.
Bixa orellana; culture medium; agar
