SUBSTRATES AND TEMPERATURES FOR GERMINATION TEST OF MYRTACEAE SEEDS

The Brazilian species of the Myrtaceae comprises several arborescent and shrubby plants that are used to produce fruit for fresh consumption or industrialization. Information about the seed quality evaluations for these species are scarce in the literature, mainly related to the adequacy of the germination tests. This study tests different substrates and temperatures to test the germination of Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret. (goiaba-serrana), Campomanesia xanthocarpa O. Berg (guabiroba), Eugenia involucrata DC. (cereja-domato) and Eugenia pyriformis Camb. (uvaia) seeds. Two seed lots were collected at different locations, one for each species, according to the requirements of the selection matrices. Sand and germitest paper towel rolls substrates were used, moistened with distilled water, and submitted to temperatures of 15 degrees C, 25 degrees C, 30 degrees C, 35 degrees C and 20-30 degrees C under constant light, on P.D.A. germinators. The experimental delineation was entirely randomized with four repetitions of 25 seeds/treatment/lot/specie, and treatment means were compared using the Tukey test (P < 0.01). The germination tests can be conducted at 25 degrees C using paper roll substrate for Eugenia pyriformis and E. involucrate. Both substrates can be used to Acca sellowiana germination test at 25 degrees C. The temperature of 25 degrees C and alternating 20-30 degrees C are indicated for Campomanesia xanthocarpa, as well as sand and paper roll substrates.