Cmpus de Jaboticabal

Temperature effects on the germination of Plukenetia volubilis L. seeds

Joo Eduardo Brando Boneti1, Renato Teo Barros1, Lilan Faria de Melo1, Maria Teresa Gomes Lopes2, Cibele Chalita Martins1
1UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Department of Crop Science, 14884-900, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil
2UFAM Univ Federal Amazonas, Department of Animal an Plant Production, 69077-000, Manaus, AM, Brazil
E-mail: lilianfariamelo@gmail.com

Plukenetia volubilis L. is a species native to the Amazon region. Its

seeds have a high content of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids which

RESULTS
A

have been found to be important for medicinal and aesthetic purposes.

Knowing aspects of its ecophysiological characteristics is of strategic
importance for a more efficient management of the production of plantlets

100
Germination (%)

INTRODUCTION

80
60
40

= - 161.500 + 20.975x 0.4250x2

R = 0.936

20
0

of this species.
B

The objective of this study was to evaluate how temperature affects

the germination process of seeds of this species.

25
30
Temperature (C)

35

100
First count of
germination (%)

OBJECTIVE

20

80
60
40
= 842.500 121.792x + 5.550x2 0.783x
R = 1.000

20
0

MATERIALS AND METHODS

20

bank of the Eastern Amazon Embrapa, located in Manaus, Amazon state,

Brazil.
Seed germination was evaluated by a test in which four 20 seed
replications were sown in rolls of wet paper towel and, at an eight hours

Speed of
germination index

The seeds were collected from 25 matrix plants in the germplasm

1,5
1
0,5

was determined by the moment the seeds no longer germinated in most

of the treatments. First count of germination, germination, the speed of
germination index, and the mean time for seed germination were
determined.

Mean time for seed

germination (days)

two days from 9 to 61 days after the beginning of the test. The last count

= -7.225- 1.108x + 0.058x - 0.001x

R = 1.000

0
20

35

regime of light, were submitted to the following temperatures: 10, 15, 20,
25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 C. The normal seedlings were counted at each

25
30
Temperature (C)

25
30
Temperature (C)

35

20
15
10
5

= 79.818 4.725x + 0.080x

R = 0.994

0
20

25
30
Temperature (C)

35

The results were submitted to the analysis of variance by the F test (p

< 0.05) and the means were adjusted to polynomial regression models
which presented biological explanation, normality and high R2.

Figure 1. Germination (A), first count of germination (B), speed of germination index
(C), mean time for seed germination (D) of P. volubilis at temperatures 20, 25, 30 and
35 C.

CONCLUSIONS
It was verified the temperature of 30 C to be the optimum one since it
permitted maximum germination of P. volubilis seeds in the shortest period
of time (10 days). The temperatures of 20 C and 40 C were, respectively,
the minimum and the maximum, since below the lower and above the
higher seed germination no longer took place.