Germination and morphological expression of Pilosocereus pachycladus Ritter fruits, seeds and seedlings

Abstract

It was aimed to present the results on the germination, morphology of fruits, seeds and description of stages of plant growth of Pilosocereus pachycladus. The seeds were obtained from fruits harvested at the Curu Valley Experimental Farm, in Pentecoste - CE. Ten fruits were used to the realization of the biometric and morphological determinations. For description of the morphology of the seeds, were considered the external and internal aspects. Two light conditions (12 hours photoperiod and total darkness) and three temperatures (25; 30 and 20-30 °C) were tested in a factorial arrangement 2 x 3 arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications of 50 seeds each. Counts were done daily until the 16^th day after sowing and to evaluated: the percentage and velocity index of germination. For description of the morphology of the seeds, were considered the external and internal aspects. For description and illustration of the external morphology of germination and seedling, were sowed 200 seeds in a polyethylene tray. The processes of germination and seedling growth were evaluated during 150 days and eight stages of development were characterized and those were based on morphological differences observed. It was concluded that, the fruit measures 38.13 mm of length, 50.53 mm of thickness and 3786 seeds. The constant temperatures of 25 ºC and 30 ºC under a photoperiod of 12 hours made possible the highest percentages and velocities of germination and the seeds behave as photoblastic positive. 150 days after sowing, the epicotyl is growing with a large amount of thorns and 94.31 mm of length.