Abstract

MARTINS, Cibele Chalita; CALDAS, Isliana Griebler Ribeiro; MACHADO, Carla Gomes  and  DOURADO, Wilson de Souza. Substrate types to king palm seeds (Archontophoenix alexandrae H. Wendl. & Drude) germination. Rev. Árvore [online]. 2011, vol.35, n.6, pp. 1189-1196. ISSN 0100-6762.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-67622011000700005.

The objective of this work was to evaluate germinative performance of king palm seeds in different substrates and to set appropriate particle size and moisture for this substrate. Sowing was done with for replications of 25 seeds in soil, sand, paper rolls, and vermiculite of different size: micron (0.15-0.20mm), superfine (0.21-0.30mm), fine (0.30-0.50mm) and medium (1.19-0.50 mm) moistened with 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 times its weight in water. Germination test was carried out at 20-30°C, evaluating the first test count seven days after sowing and germination was evaluated weekly until 35 days, when abnormal seedlings and dead seeds were also counted. Germination average time and relative frequency were calculated. Micron vermiculite moistened with 1.0 times its weight in water presented the best performance as substrate for germination test of king palm seeds because it possibilities maximum germination of seeds (90%) and germination rate, requiring an average time of 15.3 days in this process.

Keywords : Moistening; Particle size; Vermiculite; Germination rate; Archontophoenix alexandrae.