Emergence of surinan cherry (<i>Eugenia uniflora</i> L.) seedlings under different photoperiods

Abstract

The commercial and domestic orchards of surinan cherry, for the most part, are formed by plants propagated through seeds. Information on the requirements of surinan cherry seeds for photoperiod requirements for germination is minimal. The objective of this work was to evaluate the emergence of surinan cherry seedlings under photoperiod. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with three treatments (absence of light, 12 h photoperiod and constant light) and four replications in a heated room. The emergence was evaluated from the 18thto the 60thday and at the end of the experiment the mean time of emergence, the rate of emergence, seedling height, root length and aerial part and dry mass of the seedlings were evaluated. The photoperiod does not interfere with the percentage of emergence of surinan cherry seedlings. However, in the absence of light, the rate of emergence was higher. The dry mass of the seedlings submitted to the constant presence of light was significantly higher than the mass observed in the conditions of absence of light and photoperiod of 12 hours. The emergence of surinan cherryseedlings occurs both in the absence and in the presence of light. The surinan cherrycan be considered as neutral photoblastic for emergence of seedlings.