Seed desiccation and salinity tolerance of palm species Carpentaria acuminata, Dypsis decaryi, Phoenix canariensis, and Ptychosperma elegans

Abstract

Desiccation-sensitive seeds lose water quickly, what is an important feature to determine their ability to tolerate periods of seasonal drought. Furthermore, excess of soluble salts on seed germination causes a reduction in the substrate water potential. The objective of this study was to assess the desiccation and salinity tolerance of seeds of four ornamental palm species. Different moisture contents were studied for seeds of Carpentaria acuminata, Dypsis decaryi, Phoenix canariensis, and Ptychosperma elegans, while five concentrations of NaCl were tested separately for C. acuminata and P. elegans. Seeds of C. acuminata and P. canariensis tolerated drying at 5% and 8% seed moisture, respectively. On the other hand, seeds of D. decaryi and P. elegans were sensitive to dehydration even at high moisture contents, 20% and 27% of seed moisture, respectively. Increase on salt concentration did not affect germination or germination rate of C. acuminata and P. elegans seeds.

Effects of Temperature, Light and Seed Moisture Content on Germination of <i>Euterpe precatoria</i> Palm

“…However, for B. gasipaes, seeds also presented tolerance and lethal levels of 30.0% and 12.0%, respectively [36]; on the other hand, for seeds submitted to lowermoisture contents than 38.0%, germination and vigor were rapidly reduced, while 17% moisture content, or lower, promoted a very poor germination [23]. Furthermore, drying did reduce seed germination and vigor of Bactris maraja palm when seed moisture content decreased from 23.6% to 7.8% along 15 days [12], while seeds of Carpentaria acuminata and Phoenix canariensis tolerated drying at 5% and 8% seed moisture, respectively [37]. On the other hand, seeds of Dypsis decaryi and Ptychosperma elegans were sensitive to dehydration even at high moisture contents, 20% and 27%, respectively [37].…”

“…Furthermore, drying did reduce seed germination and vigor of Bactris maraja palm when seed moisture content decreased from 23.6% to 7.8% along 15 days [12], while seeds of Carpentaria acuminata and Phoenix canariensis tolerated drying at 5% and 8% seed moisture, respectively [37]. On the other hand, seeds of Dypsis decaryi and Ptychosperma elegans were sensitive to dehydration even at high moisture contents, 20% and 27%, respectively [37].…”

TEMPERATURE, LIGHT, AND DESICCATION TOLERANCE IN SEED GERMINATION OF Mauritia flexuosa L.F.

“…We can also cite the orthodox seeds, as the case of Orbignya phalerata Mart., which are able to maintain GRs above 55% until a 5% moisture content (Silva et al, 2012). Batista et al (2016) found that seeds of Dypsis decaryi (Jum.) Beentje & J. Dransf.…”

“…Although it is a sharp fall, this rate is still not considered critical, as is 26%. However, we can consider these seeds desiccation sensitive as in the case of D. decaryi and P. elegans (Batista et al, 2016). Rodrigues et al (2014) observed that the seedling emergence of B. maraja palms decreased 37% when seed water contents went from 23.6% to 7.8%, but the seeds can still be regarded as tolerant.…”

Temperatures and light regimes in the germination of Areca vestiaria and Areca triandra seeds

“…In the presence of light, the lamps were turned ond and off automatically for a photoperiod of 8 hours of light being in accordance with what was proposed by Luz et al (2014). The substrate medium-sized expanded vermiculite (Batista et al, 2016;Costa et al, 2018;Almeida et al, 2018), maintained at 100% of its water-holding capacity. The substrate was slowly saturated with water, until the interruption of its drainage was observed to determine the of water retention.…”