Germinação, Viabilidade e Armazenamento de Sementes de Cattleya (Ochidaceae)

Abstract

Seeds with extremely reduced size, obligatory association with micorrhyzal fungi for natural germination and specialized pollination procedures are similar characteristics among orchids, a morphologic heterogeneous group that constitutes the biggest family of plants. The natural environment destruction by men action has pushed a great number of species near to extinction, which makes the stablishment of seed banks an interesting preservation strategy. Therefore, studies for understanding seed behavior and viability loss during storage and the use of quick tests for the evaluation of seed viability had become important tools. The popularization of info equipment and software would permit the use of image analysis through digitalization of germination and tetrazolium tests, an interesting alternative that will allows small producers to contribute to orchid species conservation. In the first part of this work, an analysis of sucrose pre conditioned Cattleya seeds submitted to different tetrazolium concentration were done, in distinct periods of exposure. In the second part, ten batches of seed were stored at low temperatures, and their viability were evaluated by germination and tetrazolium tests.