Biometry of hipocarp, fruit and seed and seedlings development of Anacardium humile A. St. Hil. (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract

The cajuzinho-do-cerrado (Anacardium humile) is a forest species with economic potential for the food, drug and cosmetic industries. The objective of this study was to determine and correlate the main biometric characteristics of hipocarps, fruits, seeds (cashew nuts) and the identification of the ideal substrate, as well as to correlate the biometric characteristics of the cajuzinho-do-cerrado seedlings. In 100 fresh hipocarps and 100 fruits the following biometric characteristics were analyzed: for length, width, thickness, fresh mass, dry mass, volume, water content and dry mass of the nuts. For the determination of the ideal substrate, the test was a completely randomized design, with two treatments (substrates) and 10 replicates, each plot was composed of 20 seeds. The substrates evaluated were washed sand and commercial substrate (Plantmax HT^®). Plant height, root length, shoot diameter, dry mass of roots and shoot, total dry mass and morphological indexes were evaluated: ratio between shoot dry mass/roots, robustness quotient and the Disckson Quality Score. The hipocarps, fruits and seeds (cashew nuts) of the cajuzinho-do-cerrado have large biometric variations, as well as a significant and positive correlation between them. For the initial development of cajuzinho-do-cerrado plants of the substrate used may be washed sand or commercial substrate.