Germinação de sementes e estabelecimento de plântulas de Parkia panurensis Benth. ex H. c. Hopkins(Fabaceae)

Abstract

Popularly known as faveiro or manopé, Parkia panurensis Benth. ex H.C.Hopkins is a forest species belonging to the Fabaceae family, commonly known as faveiro or manopé occurring in upland forests in the Brazilian Amazon. It has phytotherapeutic, wood, and regeneration potential for degraded areas. In addition, it is used by some primates, terrestrial ungulates, and rodents as a food resource. Given its importance, this work aimed to evaluate the viability of seeds after prolonged storage, and the germination of P. panurensis seeds under different light conditions, as well as to investigate the of normal and abnormal seedlings in the nursery. The fruits were collected in the municipality of Coari, in February 2006. After collection, the fruits were processed and stored in a cold chamber at the Seed Laboratory-EST of the UEA for 16 years. Four replications of 25 seeds were submitted to the following pre-treatments: mechanical scarification and control (without pre-treatment) to evaluate the effect of luminosity and scarification. The seeds were sown in vermiculite and taken to the germination chamber under conditions of presence and absence of light at constant temperatures of 30 ± 1 °C (12h/12h; light/dark) and continuous dark. The evaluated variables were percentage, speed, and average time of germination. In the nursery, the establishment of normal and abnormal seedlings was evaluated. Germination was classified as phanerocotylar epigeal and the species behaves as neutral photoblastic, germinating in the presence or absence of light. Mechanical scarification using sandpaper and the presence of light provided greater speed, lower mean germination time, and a higher percentage of normal seedlings. P. panurensis seeds are long-lived or macrobiotic and maintain high germination capacity and low deterioration rate after prolonged storage in a cold chamber. KEYWORDS: Dormancy, Photoblastism, Viability.