Influência da seleção de sementes no desenvolvimento de plantas e na biologia floral do mamoeiro (Carica papaya L).

Abstract

The objective of this work was to analyze the influence of the selection of seeds of different parts of the papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.) on their sexuality. Studies related to the characterization of papaya sex are relevant, for producers can identify early hermaphrodite plants, since these are the ones that present the greatest economic relevance of the sexes that papaya can present. The experiment was carrieed out at the Federal Rural University of Amazonia - UFRA, Campus Belém, PA, from May to December, 2018. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with 5 treatments (T1 = seeds removed from the whole fruit; T2 = Selected seeds of the fruit apex, T3 = seeds selected from the middle of the fruit, T4 = seeds selected from the base of the fruit and T5 = commercial seeds) with fifteen replicates. Papaya fruits were used in stage five of maturation, presenting 100% of its yellowish surface. Prior to the collection of seeds, analyzes of fruit firmness, soluble solids content and seed moisture were carried out to determine the fruit quality of seed acquisition. After the results of the analyzes, the seedlings were produced and the nursery was planted with sombrite of 75% of shadow. During the nursery period the germination rates of seedlings, height measurements and leaf counts were monitored. After 65 days in nursery, the seedlings were planted in the field. Pits with dimensions of 40 x 40 x 40 cm were opened, the spacing adopted was in double row (2 x 2 m), spaced between the double rows in 3 m. After 90 days of the implantation of the plants in the field were collected the data for analysis. The response variables were: plant height (AP), collection diameter (DA), number of leaves (NF), percentage of flowering (F%), and height of first flowering insertion (AIF) of papaya plants. Statistical software SPEED star was used for statistical analysis, where the Tukey test was applied at 5% significance level. The results were significant in function of the treatments. It was concluded that seeds from the base of the papaya fruit responded positively to the variables analyzed.