Germinação das sementes e crescimento inicial de mudas de espécies de Ficus (Moraceae) em diferentes substratos

Abstract

Ecological restoration is essential for recovering biodiversity and ecosystem services in degraded areas, as well as promoting income and employment generation. Exotic species have been widely used for this purpose, but they reduce biodiversity. The lack of information about seeds, germination, seedlings, and seedling production is a barrier to the use of native species in restoration programs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to characterize the morphological aspects of germination and early seedling growth of Ficus spp. under different substrates, aiming to contribute to ecological restoration. For this purpose, morphometric analyses of the seeds and morphophysiological aspects of seedlings of the following species were performed: Ficus guianensis, F. mathewsii, F. maxima, F. obtusifolia, and F. paraensis. For seedling production, a commercial substrate and substrates containing açaí and pineapple residues with and without sand were used in a completely randomized experimental design. The Dickson Quality Index of the seedlings was used as a parameter to assess quality. The species presented distinct morphological characteristics of seeds and seedlings, which can be used for identification. Higher-quality seedlings were obtained in treatments with residues and sand, particularly for F. guianensis and F. obtusifolia. The use of agro-industrial residues represents a viable alternative to commercial substrates for the production of Ficus seedlings, and the morphological descriptions of seeds and seedlings contribute to the use of these species in ecological restoration programs.