Germinação de sementes e monitoramento de plântulas de araça de boi (Eugenia stipitata McVaugh) em condições de viveiro e submersão em água corrente

Abstract

Eugenia stipitata McVaugh, known as the araçá-boi, is a shrub up to four meters high, native to the Western Amazon. The E. stipitata tree stands out as a native fruit of the Amazon with great economic potential, due to the early fruiting, frequency and large volume of production. Although seeds are sensitive to desiccation and have difficulty in storage, they can survive under running water for, at least, 12 months. Submerged can germinate and develop seedlings, however, the seedling morphology differs from those grown in the air, which was interpreted as adaptation to the long periods of submersion to which the species is subjected to their natural habitat. Thus, according to the environment, the E. stipitata tree may have specific survival strategies that affect seedling morphology. Thus, the present study aims to provide information on the morphological and temporal aspects of the germination process, and the aspects of morphological development of Eugenia stipitata seedlings, submitted to different O2 availability, comparing two environmental conditions: (1) under natural light and temperature in the nursery; and (2) submerged in water with artificial light. E. stipitata seeds present cryptocotyledonous hypogeal germination that occurs, on average, two months after sowing under nursery conditions. When kept submerged and under artificial illumination (fluorescent light), E. stipitata seeds did not germinate during the experiment period. The E. stipitata seedlings have green / brown and pubescent stem, opposite phyllotaxis with interpeciolary stipules, and lanceolate leaves. Palavras chave: germination; seedlings; Eugenia stipitata