Germination and emergence of pomegranate seeds on different substrates

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different substrates on germination and emergence of Punica granatum L. seeds. The seeds were removed from the fruits and submitted to fermentation and drying. The germination and emergence tests were performed using the following substrates: washed and autoclaved sand, fine texture vermiculite, carbonized rice husk, commercial substrate (Tropstrato HT®), and the mixtures - washed and autoclaved sand + carbonized rice husk and commercial substrate + carbonized rice husk. The germination test was performed in clear plastic boxes at alternated temperature of 20 and 30oC (8h - 16h), in the absence of light, with weekly evaluation up to 42 days after sowing. The characteristics evaluated were percentage of germinated seeds, normal seedlings, abnormal seedlings and hard seeds. The emergence test was conducted at the seedling nursery using styrofoam seed trays, the counting was realized until the 35th day. The characteristics evaluated were emergence percentage and emergence speed index. In both tests, the experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and four replicates. The data were analyzed by Assistat program and the means were compared by Tukey’s test at 5% probability. The commercial substrate and the mixture Tropstrato HT®+ carbonized rice husk, provided higher, faster and more uniform germination. In additing, the Tropstrato HT® and vermiculite substrates, as well as the mixtures promoted greater emergence speed index.