Schlumbergera truncata is a cacti of epiphytic habit known popularly as Christmas Cactus, Thanksgiving Cactus or Crab Cactus, Zygocactus. It is an ornamental plant cultivated in vases and highly appreciated for the beauty of their flowers. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of temperature and of substrate on seed germination of S. truncata. The substrates used in the experiment included: blotting paper, sand of medium granulation, charred rice peel and triturated cane pulp. The tested temperatures were 20, 25 and 30ºC. The analyzed variables were: germination percentage, index of germination speed and average germination time. The highest germination percentages were recorded at 20ºC and 25ºC for paper, sand and charred rice peel. Charred rice peel showed the highest index of germination speed and the lowest average germination time. In conclusion, temperature at 20ºC and the substrate charred rice peel showed the best results for seed germination of S. truncata and cane pulp was not a suitable substrate for the germination of the species.
Cactaceae; germination test; ornamental plants
