Resumo

CARVALHO DE CASTRO, Tatiana; CAMPOS BARBOSA, Karen; ALBARELLO, Norma  e  LUA FIGUEIREDO, Solange Faria. Characterization of pseudofruits, fruits, seeds and plantules obtained from in vivo and in vitro germination of Hovenia dulcis (Rhamnaceae) medicinal species. Rev Cubana Plant Med [online]. 2005, vol.10, n.1. ISSN 1028-4796.

The present study provides information on the morphology of the pseudofruit, fruit and seed of Hovenia dulcis. Some aspects of germination stages and features of the seedlings developed from in vivo and in vitro conditions were also studied. The effect of interaction between temperature (20, 25, 30, 35ºC, 15-25, 20-30ºC) and substrate (germitest paper, sand, vermiculite) was also evaluated in order to determine appropriate conditions to lead the in vivo experiments. The germination process was evaluated during 60 days, by determining percentages of normal seedlings, speed germination and mean time to germination. Treatments to overcome dormancy were examined. The pseudofruits are sweetened and edibles. Fruits are schizocarps and globe-shaped. The orbicular seeds presents a variation in size and colouration and frequently they are big and have light brown coloration. The seed coating is composed of a layer of macrosclereids which confer hardness and impermeability characteristics. The germination is epigeous-phanerocotylar. The cotyledon are orbicularis and foliaceous, and the leaves are membranaceous. The best in vivo conditions to germination has been on vermiculite, at alternating temperature of 20-30ºC, with 70 % of germination. The more efficients treatments of dormancy breaking were mechanical scarification joined or not with gibberellic acid (GA3) and mechanical scarification after seven days on storage (10oC), where 90 to 97 % of germination was achieved. Plants from in vitro germination have morphological features similar in vivo ones, nevertheless, in vitro seedlings present a great root system, more leafs and a developed epycotyl too, after 60 days of the test start.

Palavras-chave : Postseminal development; morphology; medicinal plant; germinative process.