Resumen

LINDNER, Sofia; GARCIA, Daily S.; THALMAYR, Peggy  y  HILGERT, Norma I.. Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) fruits múltiple uses: The conservation of germinative power as a key aspect for its Management. Bol. Soc. Argent. Bot. [online]. 2021, vol.56, n.4, pp.466-478. ISSN 1851-2372.  http://dx.doi.org/10.31055/1851.2372.v56.n4.32130.

Background and aims: Euterpe edulis is an endemic palm tree of the Atlantic Forest whose seeds germinative power decreases when dehydrated because they are recalcitrant. In the past, the plants were cut -which implied death- to harvest the foliar sprout for food purposes, nowadays, fruits are marketed as food and seeds for the ornamental market. To evaluate whether this double use of fruits is possible with local management practices, tests were carried out on the germination power and the survival of seedlings.

M&M: We evaluated germination percentage, seed germination speed index, and seedling survival percentage in fruits either stored with pulp or pulped. In addition, the relative increase in the number of pulped fruits was valued by 1 kg, to estimate the commercial value of this new presentation.

Results: No significant differences were found in the germination power and survival of seedlings from fruits stored whole or pulped. However, the seeds of pulped stored fruits germinated faster. An increase of 33% of pulped fruits in 1 kg was estimated.

Conclusions: The storage of whole or pulped fruits does not affect germination of E. edulis seeds, nor the survival of the seedlings, so double use of the fruits is possible. It is recommended to increase the value by 50% per kg of pulped fruits, concerning the commercial value of the whole fruits.

Palabras clave : Atlantic Forest; edible fruit; jejy’a; local management; Palmito; productive diversificaron.