Erythrina velutina Willd. (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) ocorrente em caatinga e brejo de altitude de Pernambuco: Biometria, embebição e germinação

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the biometry of fruits and seeds, the imbibition and germination of two populations of Erythrina velutina collected in semi-arid region of Pernambuco state, in areas of caatinga (Alagoinha) and brejo de altitude (upper land swams) (Poção). The fruits and seeds were evaluated for length, width, thickness (cm) and weight (g). Regarding the seeds, it was analyzed the number per fruit, volume (cm3), embebition and germination with and without mechanical scarification at the presence of constant light at 25° C. The fruits and seeds from the swamp presented the following values: 9.65 x 1.57 x 1.22 cm, 1.43 g and 1.34 x 0.92 x 0.78 cm, 0.46 g; and the ones from presented the following values: 6.85 x 1.19 x 1.03 cm; 0.21 g and 1.06 x 0.63 x 0.63 cm and 0.26 g. Number of seeds per fruit and volume in the swamp and Caatinga were 2.33 and 1.38 cm3 and 1.40 and 0.23 cm3, respectively. All scarified seed from both places presented the highest values for embebition and percentage of germination. Germination rate was the highest in seeds from Caatinga. These results indicate that the environmental conditions of the upper land swamp favored the development of the fruits and seeds.