Morphology of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Jatropha curcas

Neste trabalho objetivou-se gerar informações referentes à morfologia de frutos, de sementes e de plântulas de Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) que auxiliem na identificação da espécie e na compreensão do seu processo germinativo e início do seu ciclo biológico. Foram determinados o grau de umidade e o peso de mil sementes, sendo utilizados para descrição e ilustração 50 frutos e 50 sementes. Para descrição e ilustração da plântula, foram colocadas para germinar 120 sementes. O grau de umidade das sementes de Jatropha curcas utilizadas nesse trabalho foi de 7,0% e o peso de mil sementes igual a 663,9 g. Os frutos são secos, simples, deiscentes, esquizocarpáceos, medem em média 2,82±0,18 cm de comprimento e 2,15±0,12 cm de diâmetro e contêm sempre três sementes. As sementes têm 1,75±0,06 cm de comprimento, 1,09±0,05 cm de largura e 0,87±0,05 cm de espessura, em média, e possuem forma ovoide, coloração preta com estrias amareladas, endosperma e embrião espatulado com cotilédones membranáceos e ovoides arredondados. A germinação se iniciou entre três e quatro dias, encerrando-se aos onze dias após a semeadura no substrato vermiculita, com 90% de plântulas normais e de desenvolvimento epígeo e fanerocotiledonar.Palavras-chave: Biocombustível; Euphorbiaceae; pinhão-manso. AbstractMorphology of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Jatropha curcas. This research aims to generate information on morphology of the Jatropha curcas L. - Euphorbiaceae fruits, seeds and seedlings, in order to assist the species identification, as well as to understand its germination process and beginning of its biologic cycle. We determined weight and relative humidity of one thousand seeds, while 50 fruits and 50 seeds were used for description and illustration. For seedling description and illustration, we put 120 seeds in germination. The humidity level of Jatropha curcas seeds used in this work was 7,0% and the weight of one thousand seeds was 663,9 g. Fruits are dry, simple, characterized by dehiscence, schizocarpic, averaging 2,82±0,18 cm in length and 2,15±0,12 cm in diameter, always containing three seeds. Seeds average dimension is 1,75±0,06 cm in length, 1,09±0,05 cm in width and 0,87±0,05 cm in thickness, they have ovoid shape, black color with yellowish stripes, spoon shaped embryo with membranous rounded ovoid cotyledons. Germination began within three and four days and ended eleven days after sowing in vermiculite substrate, with 90% of seedlings presenting normal epigeous and fanerocotiledonar development.Keywords: Biofuel; Euphorbiaceae; Jatropha curcas.AbstractThis research aims to generate information on morphology of the Jatropha curcas L. - Euphorbiaceae fruits, seeds and seedlings, in order to assist the species identification, as well as to understand its germination process and beginning of its biologic cycle. We determined weight and relative humidity of one thousand seeds, while 50 fruits and 50 seeds were used for description and illustration. For seedling description and illustration, we put 120 seeds in germination. The humidity level of Jatropha curcas seeds used in this work was 7,0% and the weight of one thousand seeds was 663,9 g. Fruits are dry, simple, characterized by dehiscence, schizocarpic, averaging 2,82±0,18 cm in length and 2,15±0,12 cm in diameter, always containing three seeds. Seeds average dimension is 1,75±0,06 cm in length, 1,09±0,05 cm in width and 0,87±0,05 cm in thickness, they have ovoid shape, black color with yellowish stripes, spoon shaped embryo with membranous rounded ovoid cotyledons. Germination began within three and four days and ended eleven days after sowing in vermiculite substrate, with 90% of seedlings presenting normal epigeous and fanerocotiledonar development.Keywords: Biofuel; Euphorbiaceae; Jatropha curcas