Efeito da secagem na qualidade fisiológica de sementes de ingá-cipó (Inga edulis Mart.)

Abstract

The seed desiccation carried out by reducing their moisture content is an important technique to promote the preservation of native species and the recovery of degraded áreas. Inga edulis Martius, commonly known as ingá-cipó, is a tree-sized plant, native to the rainforests of the American continent, very appreciated for having good wood for firewood and for the edible mucilage that surrounds its seeds. The objective of this study was to verify drying and physiological quality of ingá-cipo seeds. There were 5 treatments with 4 repetitions of 25 seeds each. Treatment 1 fresh seeds, treatment 2 seeds in a laboratory with a temperature of 22.8 ºC and a relative humidity of 79% for 24 hours; treatment of 3 seeds in a laboratory with a temperature of 22.8 ºC and a relative humidity of 79% for 48 hours; treatment 4 seeds that after treatment 3 were desiccated at a temperature of 23 ºC and relative humidity of 50% for 24 hours; treatment seeds that after treatment 3 were desiccated at a temperature of 23ºC and a relative humidity of 50% for 48 hours). Sowing was done horizontally and the experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions without temperature and relative humidity control. It was evaluated: the water content of the seeds; days to start emergency, emergency speed index; the percentages of germination, dead seeds and abnormal seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized. The fresh seeds of inga-cipó, presented an initial water content of 56.2%, the reduction of this value to 40.3% did not statistically affect the parameters emergence, germination, dead seeds and abnormal seedlings. However, analyzing the decreasing water loss by desiccation, it was observed that after reaching 40.3% moisture, the seeds approached their critical moisture content. Inga-cipó seeds are sensitive to reduced moisture content and can be classified as recalcitrant in storage.