Viability, morphometric, and anatomical characteristics of Cedrela odorata L. and Cariniana pyriformis Miers seeds

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify morphometric, anatomical, and the viability characteristics of the seeds of Cedrela odorata and Cariniana pyriformis . The study was carried out at the Universidad de Cordoba of Monteria, Colombia, from April 2012 to July 2014; the study was carried out with a laboratory descriptive methodology, tetrazolium and germination tests in germination chamber were performed. Seeds of commercial lots from three locations in the department of Cordoba, were used. Five trees of each specie were randomly selected and from each tree, five samples of one hundred seeds, were randomly selected. The description of the shape and the anatomy of the seeds was made according to ten seeds of each specie. For the tetrazolium tests, a completely randomized design experiment, with six treatments, and four replications of 25 seeds, was established. The six treatments were originated by combining the tetrazolium concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%, with two and three hours of immersion in the solution. The external characteristics of C. odorata showed less variation than C. pyriformis , especially in weight. Four topological patterns were identified in each specie. It was possible to determine the viability for C. pyriformis and C. odorata with immersion for two hours at concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0% tetrazolium, respectively.