SEED GERMINATION AND PRODUCTION OF SWAMP PALM SEEDLINGS (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.)

Abstract

Swamp palm (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.) is a typical palm tree from the Amazon and Cerrado of Brazil, whose fruits are used in cooking and the pharmaceutical industry. Seed germination of this palm is slow, irregular and often low, which makes its cultivation limited, being exploited in extractive systems. Also, little is known about seedling development, and this knowledge is important to define a protocol for the production of seedlings of this species. This research aimed to develop a protocol for the seed germination of swamp palm under semi-aseptic conditions and to evaluate the seedling development of swamp palm under different production systems. There was no germination in treatments without scarification. The best germination protocol for swamp palm was scarification with operculum removal in seeds recently extracted from the fruit with application of gibberellic acid (plant growth regulator) because it increased the rate and accelerated germination. However, imbibition in aerated water (with H2 O2) proved to be suitable up to two days. The best method for seedlings production of swamp palm is the use of conventional bag (20×30 cm) with soil and manure or for producers with greater investment capacity, the use of tubes (180 cm3) for two months and subsequent transplanting to a conventional bag with soil and manure until completing six months.