Seed germination and pruning effect in the posttransplant establishment of Palma Kerpis [Veitchia merrillii (Becc.), H. E. Moore, Arecaceae]

Abstract

Studies of germination and establishment post-transplant of Palma Kerpis are few. In order to address this issue, two experiments were conducted, one for studying the fruit size effect in the germination and another one to evaluate the effect on the radical and aerial pruning in the post-transplant establishment. The first experiment in a RC design was done in germination chambers with three sizes of fruit: small (1,34 ± 0,10 and 2,61 ± 0,21 cm), medium (1,52 ± 0,18 and 3,02 ± 0,31 cm) and large (2,08 ± 0,14 and 3,57 ± 0,26 cm), in equatorial and polar diameter, respectively. The second experiment in a RCB design, using a factorial of two factors (palms with leaves and palms with leafless), five levels (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % of the root) and 10 repetitions per treatment. The results indicated that the large fruits seeds germinate best, up to 95 % at 28 days; and when the size is smaller, so too is the germination percentage. At 18 months after planting, the palms that come from large fruits, reached up to 69,60 cm plant height, which coincided with the development of the first foliated leaf; and also, at smaller size of the fruit, lower height. Eight months after the transplant, the treatment palms (with leaves and 75 % of root at the time of the transplant), highlighted in comparison with the other treatments; showed outstanding values in plant height (99,81 cm), root length (6894 cm) and dry mass gain (57,21 g).