Azadirachta indica A. Juss. is a native specie of the arid areas of Asia and Africa, but nowadays is also distributed in America and other areas with tropical and sub-tropical climate. It is a very resistant plant that presents excellent medicinal properties. The objective of this study was to define the ideal germination conditions for neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) seeds evaluating the most appropriate substrates, temperature and characterizing its post-seminal morphology. Seeds were sown on vermiculite, sand and towel paper and maintained in a germinator at 25°C, 30°C, 35°C and 20-30°C. A complete randomized design was used, with 25 seeds sown in four replications, and the germination percentage was evaluated. The best results were obtained for temperature of 35°C in vermiculite and towel paper substrates and countings performed at 15 and 30 days after sowing. Normal seedlings were classified as epigeal germination.
Azadirachta indica A. Juss.; substrate; temperature; medicinal plant
