Contribuição para conservação de Simarouba amara Aubl.: Armazenamento de sementes e produção de mudas

Abstract

Plant genetic resources conservation is main for the maintenance of ecosystems and human life. The irrational exploitation of forest resources has taken to the degradation of biomes. The Atlantic Forest is in this scenario, with a high degree of devastation. Thus Simarouba amara Aubl is a native forest species with potential logging, pharmacological, medicinal and for restoration of degraded areas. However, studies regarding seed storage and seedling production evaluating the initial field growth for the species are scarce. S. amara seeds were collected in the Joanes-Ipitanga Environmental Protection Area at Simões Filho (BA) in 2018. The study was divided into three chapters. Chapter I- It was compiled all the information available in the literature on the species from morphological characteristics to potential use through papers. Chapter II- two experiments were performed. In the first one the seed desiccation tolerance was evaluated (5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, 15%, 25%, and 36.6%). In the second experiment it was done germination test for vigor evaluation and seeds were stored for four months with humidity (7.5%, 12.5% and 36.6%) at temperatures (8 oC; 15 oC; 20oC); samples were taken for moisture and germination testing. S. amara seeds remained viable for two months when stored at 20 oC in 36.6% humidity, however with low vigor. S. amara seeds are classified as recalcitrant. Chapter III- it was determined the dimensions that S. amara seedlings must have in order to be able to plant. Three containers size (55 cm3, 180 cm3 and 280 cm3) and four nursery periods, 105, 125, 135 and 145 days were tested. Survival, height, neck diameter, aerial dry mass, root dry mass, Dickson quality index were evaluated in the nursery. The nursery treatments were carried out in the field. They were evaluated height, diameter and survival for six months. Containers influenced the growth of S. amara seedlings in the nursery phase, however in the field this tendency decreased after seedling establishment. The seedlings grown in the 180cm3 container had higher survival in the field, remaining for 125 days in the nursery. S. amara seedlings are fit for planting when they reach a diameter greater than 2 mm and a minimum height of 7.4 cm.