Abstract

Genetic (populations and progenies) and environmental (planting date, germination stimulator, insecticide and fungicide) effects were evaluated on Pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) seeds emergence. Two Completely Randomized Block Design (E₁ and E₂, on 2005 and 2009 years, respectively) experiments were set up on field. Seeds for E₂ were harvested in mother trees whose seeds showed higher germination rate in E₁. The effects, in E₁, of planting date, insecticide, fungicide and gibberellic acid were not significant. The mother tree effects were significant for both trials. The seeds emergence rates for all and selected mother trees in E₁, and in E₂ were 17.2% (P₀), 24.2% (P_s) and 28.2% (P_m), respectively. The environment effects supposedly responded for the actual (P_m-P₀) gain being higher than the greatest expected (P_s-P₀) since the estimated correlation of common progenies between E₁ and E₂ was 36.4%. In direct sowing in the field, the emergence rate of Pequi seeds is strongly influenced by mother trees from where they were collected. Phytosanitary control and the use of germination stimulator did not change the emergence rate in Pequi seeds.

Key words: Caryocar brasiliense, mother tree, populations, genetic gain, correlation.