Germinação e vigor de sementes de Sapindus saponaria L. submetidas a tratamentos pré-germinativos, temperaturas e substratos Germination and vigor of Sapindus saponaria L. seeds submitted pre-germinative treatments, temperatures and substrates

Sapindus saponaria L. é uma árvore de grande porte distribuída especialmente na região Amazônica, sendo de grande importância para o reflorestamento de áreas degradadas, na construção civil e confecção de brinquedos. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi testar tratamentos pré-germinativos para superar a dormência e avaliar o efeito da temperatura e do substrato na germinação das sementes de S. saponaria. O experimento foi conduzido em ambiente protegido e no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes (LAS) da Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Dois ensaios foram desenvolvidos, sendo no primeiro testados os seguintes tratamentos: imersão das sementes em ácido sulfúrico (H2SO4) por 0, 15, 30, 45 e 60 minutos, analisando-se as variáveis: emergência e índice de velocidade de emergência, comprimento e massa seca de plântulas. No segundo ensaio foi avaliado o efeito das temperaturas (25, 20-30, 30 e 35°C) e substratos (areia, vermiculita e pó-de-coco) na germinação e no vigor das sementes. Pelos resultados constata-se que a imersão das sementes de S. saponaria em ácido sulfúrico por 60 minutos é suficiente para superar a dormência acelerando e uniformizando a emergência das plântulas. A melhor condição para executar o teste de germinação é empregando temperatura constante de 30°C ou alternada de 20-30°C em substrato vermiculita ou apenas 30°C combinado com o substrato areia.<br>Sapindus saponaria L. is a large tree distributed especially in the Amazon region is of great importance for the reforestation of degraded areas, construction and manufacture of toys. The aim of this study was to test pre-germination treatments to overcome dormancy and to evaluate the effect of temperature and substrate on seed germination of S. saponaria. The experiment was conducted in a protected ambient and the Seed Analysis Laboratory (SAL), Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Two tests were developed, and tested first in the following treatments: seeds immersion in sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes, analyzing the variables: emergence and emergence speed index, length and dry mass of seedlings. In the second test, was evaluated the effect of temperatures (25, 20-30, 30 and 35°C) and substrates (sand, vermiculite and coconut dust) on the germination and seed vigor. From the results it appears that the immersion of seeds of S. saponaria in sulfuric acid for 60 minutes is sufficient to overcome dormancy accelerating and standardizing the seedling emergency. The best conditions for testing germination using constant temperature of 30°C or alternating 20-30°C in vermiculite or only 30°C combined with the sand

Allelopathic growth inhibition and colony formation of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus by the aquatic macrophytes Stratiotes aloides

Laboratory experiments were conducted to elucidate the allelopathic effects of exudates from the aquatic macrophyte Stratiotes aloides on the growth and morphology of the green alga Scenedesmus obliquus. Both water originating from a S. aloides culture and water that had not been in contact with S. aloides was simultaneously inoculated with S. obliquus cells. In all experiments we observed a highly significant inhibitory effect of Stratiotes water on the green alga. The duration of the lag phase as well as the initial biovolume doubling time of S. obliquus were extended. The growth rate of S. obliquus was only significantly inhibited by the younger Stratiotes plants. Furthermore, the mean particle volume (MPV) of Scenedesmus increased significantly in the presence of Stratiotes water in all three experiments. Microscopic analyses confirmed that S. obliquus forms more colonies in the presence of water from a S. aloides culture. Colonies of phytoplankton have higher sinking rates than single phytoplankton cells of the same species and disappear faster from the upper water layers, reducing the competition for light between algae and macrophytes. [KEYWORDS: Colony formation ; Growth inhibition ; Infochemical ; Macrophytes ; Sedimentation]

Armazenamento de sementes de carolina em diferentes temperaturas e embalagens Storage of carolina seeds in different temperature and packing

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar a embalagem e a temperatura adequadas para o armazenamento de sementes de carolina. As sementes foram armazenadas em sacos de papel e de plástico, mantidas em 0±2; 10±2; 20±2°C e 60 5% de umidade relativa do ar (UR) e em temperatura ambiente (23,4±3,3°C) e 68,7±9%UR. O teor de água, a germinação e o vigor foram determinados trimestralmente. Durante o armazenamento, o teor de água das sementes foi de aproximadamente 8,9%. A embalagem saco de plástico e a temperatura de 0°C são adequadas para o armazenamento das sementes de carolina.<br>The objective of the present research was to determine the more adequated packing and temperature for storage of "carolina" seeds. The seeds were stored in paper and plastic packings and kept in 0±2; 10±2; 20±2°C and 60 5% air relative humidity (ARH) and in ambient temperature (23,4±3,3°C) and 68,7±9% ARH. Quarterly, the water seed content, germinative test and seed vigour were avaluated. During storage, the seed water content was approximately 8.9%. The plastic packing (plastic bag) and tempertature of 0oC are adequated for storage of "carolina" seeds