Morfologia, germinação e uso de análise de imagens para avaliação de aquênios de arnica (Lychnophora salicifolia Mart.)

Abstract

Studying the morphology of fruits, seeds and germination process of non-domesticated native plants is essential for a better interpretation and understanding of plant growth, development and establishment. The objective of the present work was to study the germination process and to verify the feasibility of using image analysis through photographs, botanical illustrations and digital radiographs in the evaluation of the differentiation of the morphology of achenes 4 lots of arnica Lychnophora salicifolia Mart, collected based on the grouping of populations in the study area located in the rural community Lagoas de Freitas, municipality of Montes Claros. L. salicifolia is a native species with high ecological, medicinal and ornamental value. Photographic images and botanical illustrations were used as tools for the study of dispersion, germination and botanical identification. In addition to these, the X-Ray equipment was used to evaluate the characteristics of achenes, regarding the filling of the embryonic cavity by the seed, with the X-Ray equipment being considered full, malformed and empty. , additional assessments of height, width, height, relative density, integrated density, median gray, seed filling were obtained by the IJCropSeed software. The experiment was set up in DIC, with 8 repetitions of 25 achenes each, to characterize the lots and better understand the association of variables with visual assessment, data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by Scott-Knott test, and Person correlations between the evaluated variables were estimated. The in vitro germination process of L. salicifolia is slow and uneven, on the 14th day there is primary root protrusion and low germination rates due to a high amount of empty achenes. Radiographic analysis makes it possible to separate achenes into full, malformed and empty categories, and to associate morphometric and tissue density characteristics with these categories. The physiological potential of the seeds can be influenced by the grain (filling) of the seed / germination potential and seed vigor. All answers obtained can be used as parameters in the selection of achenes and in the interpretation of results in propagation studies.