PRE-GERMINATION TREATMENTS AND ORIGIN OF TUCUMA-DO-AMAZONAS SEEDS IN THE PRODUCTION OF SEEDLINGS

Rapid, uniform seed germination followed by prompt seedling emergence are highly desirable characteristics in seedling production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed origin, frequency with which hydration water was changed and thermal shocks on germination and production of tucuma-do-amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum) seedlings. Fruits were obtained from three locations in the state of Amazonas: Manaus market, and in Maues and Taruma-acu. After cleaning and drying the endocarps and removing them, the seeds were soaked for 15 days, changing the water once or twice a day. After soaking, the following treatments were applied: control without immersion in H(2)O, immersion for 5 minutes in H(2)O at 50 degrees C or 10 degrees C; immersion for 5 minutes in H(2)O at 50 degrees C, followed by a further 5 minutes at 10 degrees C; immersion for 5 minutes in H(2)O at 10 degrees C, followed by a further 5 minutes at 50 degrees C. Treatments were evaluated by pre-germination, seedling emergence in the nursery and seedling production. The experiment was conducted in totally randomized design with treatments arranged in a factorial 3 x 2 x 5 (places of origin x water exchange frequency x temperature treatments) in four replications of five seeds per plot. Germination performance was not affected by the water exchange frequency, nor by exposure to thermal shocks. The origin of tucuma-do-amazonas has effect over the germination and seedling production.