Biometry, determination of water uptake curve in seeds and initial emergency of Copernicia hospita seedlings

Abstract

The propagation of palm trees is carried out principally by seeds. The research was conducted to evaluate the biometry, characterize the water absorption in seeds and the emergency of Copernicia hospita seedlings. From a random sample of 100 seeds was determined diameter, allowing a full choice of most appropriate to classify them according to different sizes. We also determined the water content, thousand seed weight and the curve of water absorption, obtained by measuring the rate of water absorption by seeds in the range of 0 to 432 hours. In addition, we have evaluated seedlings emergency percentage and seedlings average time The seeds ofC. hospitahave a spherical shape with a diameter ranging from 8. to 12.4 mm. Water content and thousand seed weight varied according to different sizes, with average values of the latter increased significantly in direct proportion to the size of seed . The absorption of water by seeds ofC. hospitafollowing a three-phase pattern and the protrusion of the cotyledonary peciol occurs at about 192 hours after exposure of seeds to water. The emergency percentage has been not affected by seed size but the emergency average time is directly related to seed size.