INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF AÇAÍ PLANTS UNDER SHADE GRADATION

ABSTRACT In order to evaluate the effect of different levels of shading on açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) plants development, an experiment was conducted at the nursery of Floresta, Rio Branco, AC. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with six treatments and four replications of 25 plants, set as full sunlight and 18%, 35%, 50%, 70%, and 80% shading. The evaluation occurred 125 days after transplantation and the variables were stem diameter, root length, length of the aerial part, total length, dry matter of root, dry matter of aerial part, and total dry matter. With exception of root length, there was significant difference between treatments for all variables. The production of açai plants should be performed using 40% shading

Métodos para acelerar e uniformizar a emergência de plântulas de Schizolobium amazonicum

A dormência intensa verificada em sementes de Schizolobium amazonicum dificulta o processo de formação de mudas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi testar procedimentos para acelerar e uniformizar a emergência de plântulas de paricá. Foram utilizadas sementes coletadas de diversas matrizes na Floresta Estadual do Antimary, Acre. Os tratamentos constaram de sementes intactas (testemunha), escarificação com ácido sulfúrico concentrado (imersão por 5; 10; 15; 20; 25; 30; 35; 40; 45 e 50 min), imersão em água aquecida (60 ºC, 80 ºC e 100 ºC), escarificação da porção basal da semente com lixa, escarificação com punção por meio de perfurações na maior porção lateral do tegumento, e escarificação com esmeril elétrico na lateral do tegumento. Os efeitos dos tratamentos foram avaliados por meio da emergência de plântulas (EP) e do índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE) em seis momentos de observação, além da frequencia relativa e do tempo médio de emergência nos melhores resultados. O delineamento estatístico foi o inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições em esquema fatorial para a EP e em arranjo simples para o IVE. A máxima EP em menor tempo pode ser conseguida com uso do punção, imersão em água fervente (100 ºC) e do esmeril elétrico

Physiological and health quality of commercial lettuce and cabbage seed

Physiological and sanitary seed quality is essential for rapid and uniform crop establishment at field, a factor which contributes to vegetable crop production success. The aim was to evaluate physiological and sanitary quality of lettuce and cabbage seeds coming three lots acquired in trade. Physiological quality was determined by means of germination test and index of speed germination. Health status was assessed through sanity test in Petri dishes containing BDA medium. The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications and the averages of each lot compared among themselves by Tukey test (5%). No statistical analyzes were performed to health test and samples were evaluated for presence of microorganisms on the plates. Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus spp., cocci and bacillus are associated with lettuce seeds, and Aspergillus spp., cocci and bacillus are associated with cabbage seeds, but this association can not interfere with germination performance at laboratory. Information about germination contained in the package do not always coincide with those examined in situ. Lettuce and cabbage seeds are being marketed carrying pathogens