Palm seeds are indicative of being recalcitrant species. Seeds germination for many species, is slow and uneven, even in favorable conditions, often due to the resistance of the woody endocarp that makes them impermeable to water. Most species also have the characteristic of not tolerating the drying process at low moisture levels, thus losing their viability. In view of these considerations, the objective was to evaluate the effect of different periods of rehydration on the germinative process of seeds of royal palm, dwarf palm and jeriva. Seeds were homogenized and immersed in water containing 3 times their volume, with daily replacement. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with 5 treatments (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 days of rehydration), with 4 replications of 25 seeds. The seeds were placed in transparent “gerbox” plastic boxes containing medium vermiculite as substrate and placed in BOD with a photoperiod of 16-hour of light and their respective optimum temperatures for each species. The number of germinated seeds was counted every 2 days until germination stabilized. The variables analyzed were germination percentage, germination speed index (GSI), average germination time (AGT) and distribution of germination over the days. Rehydration for 3 days increased the germination rate of royal palm seeds. For dwarf and jeriva species, rehydration did not influence the analyzed variables. The GSI and AGT were negatively influenced by the rehydration periods for royal palm. Rehydration prolonged the peak of germination of the studied species.

All palms present ornamental appeal and may be widely used in landscaping, especially the native ones because of their ecological importance, such as the jussara palm (Euterpe edulis Mart.). In this sense, aiming at maximum plant development in the urban environment, it is necessary to use high-quality seedlings; the substrate is one of the key factors that directly influence it. The objective of this study was to evaluate the initial growth of jussara palm seedlings cultivated in biosolid-based substrates, which is a material of good characteristics besides attending sustainability issues. The experimental design was entirely randomized with six treatments consisted of substrates composed by biosolid (BIO) and subsoil (SS) at different proportions (v:v): 100% SS - control; 20% BIO + 80% SS; 40% BIO + 60% SS; 60% BIO + 40% SS; 80% BIO + 20% SS; 100% BIO. Seedlings were cultivated in a greenhouse and evaluated according to the following variables: height of aerial part; root length; collar diameter; leaf number; dry mass of aerial part and of roots; total dry mass; chlorophyll content; height of aerial part/collar diameter rate; dry mass of aerial part/dry mass of roots rate; and Dickson Quality Index. There was a significant effect (p < 0.05) for all evaluated characteristics. The biosolid, combined with subsoil, may be used for 20% and 40% substrate composition, as it is potentially appropriate for jussara palm seedling production. Higher proportions were toxic to seedling growth.

Temperatures and light regimes in the germinationof Areca vestiaria and Areca triandra seeds 1Propagation of palm trees is mainly by seeds and, in general, germination is uneven and slow, caused by several factors, such as temperature and light. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different temperature conditions and light regimes in the germination of Areca vestiaria and Areca triandra seeds. Two experiments were carried. The experimental design was completely randomized with a 5 × 2 factorial (temperature × light), with four replicates per treatment for the species A. vestiaria and five replications for A. triandra, with 25 e 20 seeds, respectively. The temperatures tested were 25, 30, 35, 20-30 and 25-35 ºC and the light regimes were presence and absence of light. The germination percentage and germination speed index were evaluated. Analysis of variance was performed using the F Test, with subsequent comparison of the means using the Tukey test (α = 0.05). For both species, there were significant differences between the temperature conditions for the studied characteristics. It was concluded that temperatures of 25 ºC, 30 ºC, 25-35 ºC and 20-30 ºC are indicated for germination of seeds of the species Areca vestiaria and, 25-35 ºC for Areca triandra, being the seeds classified as neutral photoblastics.

This work aimed to analyze diaspores biometric characteristics, the effect of different temperatures and light regimes on seed germination and on the initial seedlings’ growth of Ptychosperma macarthurii. The experiment was performed at the Horticulture Seed Laboratory, UNESP/FCAV, Jaboticabal, SP. The individual diaspores biometric analysis was performed by measuring the length, diameter, mass and weight of a thousand diaspores, the data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. It was adopted a completely randomized design in a 5 × 2 factorial with four replications of 25 seeds per treatment. Five temperatures (25; 30; 35; 20-30 and 25-35 ºC) and two light regimes (presence and total absence of light) were evaluated. The variables analyzed were germination, germination speed index, average length of the primary root and shoot, diameter of the stem and seedlings total dry mass. The length, diameter and average weight of the diaspores were 12.54 mm, 6.05 mm and 0.1610 g, respectively. The seeds of Ptychosperma macarthurii germinated in a wide temperature range, reaching a higher germination percentage at 25 ºC and a higher germination speed index at 30 ºC, being classified as neutral photoblastics. The constant temperature of 30 ºC provided higher mean values ​​for all seedlings’ biometric characteristics.

Zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq.) is a widely cultivated species and used as an ornamental plant in the world flower market. Although it has great potential for phytoremediation and compounds with anti-infective and antioxidant activities there are few studies that address the process of production of its seedlings especially using substrates from organic waste. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of biosolid as a substrate component in the initial growth of Zinnia elegans seedlings. The seedlings were produced in nursery conditions with 50% light control. The experimental design was entirely randomized. There were six treatments, four repetitions and five plants per plot. The treatments consisted of substrates resulting from the mixture of subsoil (SS) and biosolid (BIO) in different proportions: 100% SS (control); 80% SS + 20% BIO; 60% SS + 40% BIO; 40% SS + 60% BIO; 20% SS + 80% BIO; T6 100% BIO. The morphological and quality characteristics of the seedlings were evaluated. Polynomial regression analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient were performed. Quadratic regression fitting was observed for plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, total chlorophyll, and shoot and root dry mass, as well as total dry mass. The shoot height/stem diameter ratio was the characteristic that correlated least with the others, being observed a positive correlation only with plant height. The use of biosolid in the proportion of 60% in the substrate composition proved to be efficient for the initial growth of seedlings as it showed the best responses for most morphological and quality characteristics of the seedlings.

Substrate composition is a major factor influencing seedling quality. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of biosolid as a substrate component in the initial growth of Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized, with six treatments, five replicates and seven plants per plot. The treatments consisted of substrates resulting from the mixture of subsoil (SS) and biosolid (BIO) at different proportions: 100 % SS; 20 % BIO + 80 % SS; 40 % BIO + 60 % SS; 60 % BIO + 40 % SS; 80 % BIO + 20 % SS; 100 % BIO. The seedling quality and morphological characteristics were evaluated. There was an increase up to the proportion of 60 % of biosolid for shoot height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, total chlorophyll content, root length, shoot dry matter and Dickson’s quality index. For the root and total dry matter, increases occurred up to the proportion of 40 % of biosolid. Therefore, the use of biosolid in the proportions of 40 and 60 % in the substrate composition proved to be efficient, as they promoted a satisfactory initial growth (all seedlings presented shoot height between 30 and 40 cm and stem diameter of 5 mm) and quality of the evaluated seedlings.

A necessidade de estudar a utilização dos resíduos de tratamento de esgoto como substrato é de grande importância ambiental para solucionar os problemas de contaminação do solo e de corpos d’água provocados pelo despejo incorreto dos efluentes no ambiente e melhorar a qualidade da formação de mudas para paisagismo e arborização urbana. O estudo deste material foi avaliado com o desenvolvimento de mudas de amendoim-do-campo (Platypodium elegans Vogel) em diferentes concentrações de biossólido e terra de subsolo. O experimento foi instalado no Departamento das Ciências da Produção Agrícola da Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias – UNESP, Campus de Jaboticabal. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado. Foram seis tratamentos, oito repetições e quatro plantas por parcela. Os tratamentos testados foram constituídos por substratos resultantes da mistura de terra de subsolo (TS) e biossólido (BIO) em diferentes proporções: 100% TS (controle); 80% TS + 20% BIO; 60% TS + 40% BIO; 40% TS + 60% BIO; 20% TS + 80% BIO; T6 100% BIO. Para acompanhar o desenvolvimento das mudas de amendoim-do-campo, foram avaliados: altura da parte aérea (cm), comprimento da raiz (cm), diâmetro do coleto (mm), número de folhas, área foliar (cm2), e massa seca da parte aérea, das raízes e total. As características foram avaliadas assim que as raízes das plântulas puderam ser observadas na extremidade inferior dos tubetes. Da análise dos resultados, possibilitou-se concluir que os substratos estudados promoveram diferenças significativas para praticamente todas as características avaliadas das mudas de P. elegans, não existindo significância apenas para comprimento da raiz. As maiores concentrações de biossólido apresentaram os melhores resultados no desenvolvimento das mudas de amendoim-do-campo.

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