FRUTIFICAÇÃO, PREDAÇÃO DE SEMENTES E ESTABELECIMENTO DE PLÂNTULAS DE TABEBUIA SERRATIFOLIA NICHOLS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24278/2178-5031.199241342Keywords:
Tabebuia serratifolia, seed, predation, establishment, frutificationAbstract
Botucatu county, located in the southern central region of the state of São Paulo, has some peculiar characteristics as far as different formations ranging from Mesofilous Semidecidous Forest to Savanas. Tabebuia serratifolia Nichols, that grows in that region, is a tree species, frequently utilized in landscape designs and urban arborization and naturally has been found in the transition area between Mesofilous Semidecidous Forest and Savanas. The purpose of the present research was to study the frutification habit, predispersal predation characteristics and seedling establishment of thé species. lt was concluded that frutification period spreads out from September to November, and the seed dispersai finishes at the middle of December, matchs with the hotest and wettest months of the year. Average fruit lenght and diameter was 20,9 cm and 1,21 cm respectively. The number of seeds per fruit was 139 and the percentage of predispersal seed predation was 33,2%. Simulated seedling establishment was higher in gap areas (18%) than under tree canopies (6%). However seeds left under three canopies for 45 days, and tested for germination under laboratory conditions, had higher percentage of germination (69,5%) and moisture content (39,4%) than those left in gap areas, wich showed respectively 22,5% and 33,8% for those characteristics. Seven seedlings average per square meter were found from the tree stem until 14 m but only 0,031 young trees were found in the sarne area, indicating that the percentage of recruitmen is less than 0,2% under studied conditions.
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References
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