Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de baru de diferentes tamanhos obtidas de frutos coletados em dois anos sucessivos

Abstract

The Cerrado is a biome rich in native fruit species with vast biodiversity. Among the species is the barueiro, which is a leguminous tree with great potential for introduction to cultivation, in addition to serving as a source of family income. Its seed has a high content of fatty acids and minerals making it beneficial to human health. The fruit has a woody endocarp, serving as a food supplement for animals, since the fall period coincides with the dry period, where the shortage of forage is clear. Maintaining the vigor of the stored seeds is of paramount importance for the propagation of the species. In order to evaluate the physiological potential of baru seeds of different sizes and harvested in two consecutive years, the physiological quality of seeds was evaluated through tests of water content, electrical conductivity, accelerated aging and germination in paper rolls and in sand. The experimental design was completely randomized, arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme, having as factors two sizes and two years of harvest, with four replications, with 50 seeds in each plot, according to the RAS. Based on the results obtained, it was verified that there were no significant differences between seed sizes and interaction between size and year of collection for any variable. The newly harvested seeds showed a percentage of about 88% of germination, at 10 days after the beginning of the test, and 40% in the seeds stored for one year. It was possible to verify that seeds collected in the previous season tend to result in low vigor, being confirmed by the electrical conductivity test. Germination was not affected in relation to seed size.