Aspectos morfológicos e influência do tamanho da semente na germina??o do jambo-vermelho

摘要

The fruits of wax jambu (Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merryl et Perry), species belonging to the Myrtaceae family, is a source of vitamins, iron and phosphorus. This work aimed to supply information on morphological aspects of the fruit, seed and seedling and to evaluate the influence of the seed size in the germination of this species. The fruit is a pear-shaped bacca, juicy and undeiscent. The epicarp is thin, smooth and redish; the mesocarp and the endocarp are whitish and succulent. The fruits weigh, in average, 35,57g and measure 7,16cm in length and 5,15cm in width. The seeds are polyembrionic and unalbuminous, weighing, in average, 7,62g. The cotyledons are massive and greenish. The germination is hypogeal and the emergency of the seedlings starts at 36 days after the sowing. The primary root is long and whitish. The secondary roots are short and filiform. The large seeds are most vigorous and it doesn't have difference between the seeds of medium and small size. The morphological study of the wax jambu may be used to the identification of the species or in interespecifics ecologics relations.