Germinative response of columnar cacti seeds under different rates of temperature and water potential

Authors

  • João Henrique Constantino Sales Silva Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Humanas, Sociais e Agrárias, Campus III, 58220-000, Bananeiras-PB, Brasil http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6218-5096
  • Gilvaneide Alves de Azerêdo Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Humanas, Sociais e Agrárias, Campus III, 58220-000, Bananeiras-PB, Brasil http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-8260
  • Vitor Araujo Targino Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Centro de Ciências Humanas, Sociais e Agrárias, Campus III, 58220-000, Bananeiras-PB, Brasil http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1245-5307

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14808/sci.plena.2020.123101

Keywords:

Cactaceae, water stress, germination

Abstract

Mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC. subsp. jamacaru) and facheiro (Pilosocereus pachycladus F.Ritter subsp. pernambucoensis (F.Ritter) Zappi) are two columnar cacti endemic to the Brazilian semiarid region, characterized by areas with water deficit. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of water stress on germination and seed vigor of these two species under different rates of temperatures and water potentials. To simulate water stress, polyethylene glycol solutions (PEG 6000) were used in the following water potentials: 0.0 (control); -0.2; -0.4; -0.6 and -0.8 MPa. The seeds were distributed in "gerbox" type boxes among "blotting paper", under temperatures of 25 and 30 °C. The number of germinated seeds was counted daily for 21 days after root protrusion. The variables analyzed were: water content (%), germination (%), germination speed index (GSI) and average germination time (AGT). The design was completely randomized following the factorial scheme of 2 × 5 (temperature × water potential) for each species. The results obtained in this study suggest that C. jamacaru subsp. jamacaru and P. pachycladus subsp. pernambucoensis are able to germinate in soils with low water availability and that the reduction of osmotic levels of PEG 6000 solutions in the germinative medium decreases the viability and vigor of mandacaru and facheiro seeds. At 30 °C there was less tolerance of the seeds to water stress.

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Published

2021-01-18

How to Cite

Silva, J. H. C. S., Azerêdo, G. A. de, & Targino, V. A. (2021). Germinative response of columnar cacti seeds under different rates of temperature and water potential. Scientia Plena, 16(12). https://doi.org/10.14808/sci.plena.2020.123101

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 12 (2020): Dezembro/December 2020

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 João Henrique Constantino Sales Silva, Gilvaneide Alves de Azerêdo, Vitor Araujo Targino

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