Abstract

MARTINEZ-MENESES, Angie Lisseth; LUCUMI-BANGUERO, Ruby Estella  and  TORRES-GONZALEZ, Alba Marina. Seed Germination and Seedling Establishment of Schefflera morototoni ( Araliaceae) and Geonoma interrupta (Arecaceae). rev. cienc. [online]. 2019, vol.23, n.2, pp.39-51. ISSN 0121-1935.  https://doi.org/10.25100/rc.v23i2.8613.

Many tree species are useful for humans and have positive interactions with fauna, however, their germinative traits or seedling establishment are not known. This research aimed to characterize the germination of Schefflera morototoni and Geonoma interrupta seeds and the establishment of their seedlings. Germination tests were carried out in two alternating temperature conditions and the seedlings were tested on two substrates. The results show that seeds recently extracted of these species have high seed moisture content (S. morototoni: 33.8 % and G. interrupta: 32.5%). The germination percentage of S. morototoni was 93 % and 77 % and G. interrupta was 52 % and 50 %, at 20/30 °C and 25/30 °C, respectively. The establishment of S. morototoni seedlings was 8% and 4%, and G. interrupta was 64.4% and 53.35%, in silty soil and clay soil, respectively. The average growth of seedlings was lower in S. morototoni (0.8 ± 0.6 mm/week) than in G. interrupta (1.8 ± 0.9 mm/week). It is concluded that the seeds of G. interrupta are dormant and alternating temperatures help to promote seed germination of S. morototoni. Besides, we conclude that the best substrate for the seedling establishment is the silty soil, black and rich in organic matter.

Keywords : alternating temperature; seed moisture content; seed dormancy; seedlings; dry forest.

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