Germination and vigor of Crataeva tapia L. seeds in different substrates - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v29i4.874

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Seed Analysis at the Center for Agricultural Sciences of the Federal University of Paraíba, in Areia – Paraíba State, Brazil, using seeds of trapiá (Crataeva tapia L.) to study the use of different substrates for evaluation of the physiological seed quality in the germination test. The substrates consisted of: vermiculite (T1), bioplant^® (T2), bioclone^® (T3), sand (T4), plugmix^® (T5), rolled paper toweling (T6) and paper layers in gerbox (T7). After the distribution of the seeds in their respective substrates, they were placed in a germinator at 25ºC, under eight-hour photoperiods. The following parameters were evaluated: germination (%), germination speed index, and length of aerial part and root. The seeds distributed in rolled paper toweling showed the highest percentages of germination, whereas bioclone^® had the worst performance. For the germination speed index, no significant effect of the substrate was verified. The seedlings presented greatest length of aerial part and root in the rolled paper toweling substrate, and lowest in the substrate between paper in gerbox. The rolled paper toweling substrate is recommended for evaluation of the physiological quality of trapiá seeds.