Aspectos morfológicos, germinação e desenvolvimento inicial de plântulas de Archontophoenix alexandrae (F. Mueller) H. Wendl. e Drude (Arecaceae) em diferentes substratos

This work aimed at describing the morphology and germination phases of diaspores, in order to determine a more suitable substrate for germination and growth of Queen Palm seedlings. Representative units of each germination phase were removed periodically for the morphological descriptions. The used substrates were Plantmax®, sand, rich soil and a substrate with equal ratios of soil, sand and manure (TAE). The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design. The percentage and the time of germination and the initial growth of seedlings at 135 days after the emergency were evaluated on the basis of seedling height, crown diameter, leaf number, length and width of leaves. Seeds are albuminous, with a ruminated and oleaginous endosperm. The embryo is lateral, peripheral and relatively undifferentiated. The germination is hypogeal cryptocotyledonary, initiating with the formation of an undifferentiated cell mass in the micropilary depression. This mass of cells becomes cylindrical, with the differentiation of the shoot and root primordium. It is concluded that for the germination of Queen Palm seeds, the most indicated substrate is Plantmax®, however for the initial growth, both Plantmax® and TAE are indicated.