The aim of the present research was to verify the influence of different substrates in seedling production of star fruit tree rootstocks. Seeds were taken from ripe fruits of sweet star fruit, washed in tap water and sowed in polystyrene trays (72 cells with volume capacity of 120 cm³/cell), containing the following substrates: vermiculite, Plantmax®, Rendmax®, soil, sand, and sand + soil mixture (1:1, 2:1 and 1:2 v/v). After that, the trays were placed inside a lath house covered by 50 % brightness shade, and manually watered daily. After 130 days of sowing, the following biometric data were collected: percentage of live plants, length of sprouts and roots, and number of leaves. It was concluded that the mixture soil + sand (1:1 v/v) was most efficient in seed germination and early formation of star fruit rootstocks.
Averrhoa carambola L.; star fruit; seeds and substrates
