Seed size influences germination and vigor in pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) plantlets

Resumen

Influence of seed size on germination and vigor in seedlings of Eugenia uniflora L., Surinam cherry, was studied. An experiment was conducted under 50% shade and at room temperature in a nursery located on the campus of the Federal University of Semi-Arid, Mossoró, Brazil. The experiment had a randomized complete block design with 4 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments consisted of the following classes of seeds, defined according to the size and mass of 50 seeds: small, medium, large, and extra large. Ninety days after sowing, evaluations were performed for the number of leaves per plant, length of shoots and roots, stem diameter, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, and total dry mass. The emergence percentage and emergence rate index of seedlings were also evaluated. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance, and the mean values were compared using a Tukey test at 5% probability. Analyses were performed using the SISVAR system. Seed mass and size influenced the process of emergence, and seeds with larger masses had higher averages for all the parameters assessed, justifying the use of size classes for growing seedlings. The selection and classification of seeds should be recommended in Surinam cherry tree seedling production.