Physiological assessment of Myracrodruon urundeuva spread units with and without exocarp and mesocarp, on different substrates

Abstract

Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. All. is a species of the Anacardiaceae family, whose plant can be used as medicine, in the leather tanning industry, in the regeneration of degraded areas and for timber use. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological potential of the fruits and seeds of M. urundeuva, coming from lots harvested in September in 2012 and stored until September 2013, under uncontrolled conditions, with the use of different substrates and structures (exocarp and mesocarp). The parameters evaluated in the propagation units were the germination test and the electrical conductivity. In the germination test, the fruits and seeds were placed to germinate in washed gravel substrates, including paper and vermiculite in gerboxes in germination under constant temperature of 25 °C and photoperiod of 8 h of light. In laboratory conditions, the highest germination rate occurred in the paper and vermiculite, however, the electrolyte loss was higher in fruit lots than in seed lots. The storage of seeds and fruits of M. urundeuva in environmental conditions was inadequate for the preservation of the vigor characteristics of the propagation units.