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Strategies of plant establishment of two Cerrado species: Byrsonima basiloba Juss. (Malpighiaceae) and Eugenia dysenterica Mart. ex DC (Myrtaceae)
Author(s) -
SILVEIRA CONCEIÇÃO E. S.,
PALHARES DARIO,
PEREIRA LUIZ A. R.,
PEREIRA KARINA B. D.,
SILVA FERNANDA A. B.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plant species biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1442-1984
pISSN - 0913-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-1984.2012.00366.x
Subject(s) - malpighiaceae , myrtaceae , biology , germination , seedling , dormancy , botany , seed dispersal , anacardiaceae , biological dispersal , population , demography , sociology
This study investigates the initial development of two Cerrado species, Eugenia dysenterica and Byrsonima basiloba . Both species have high ethnobotanical importance and are widely used as a food source as well as in folk medicine. Eugenia dysenterica presented hypogeous cryptocotylar germination and the cotyledons were rich in reserve material. This plant species showed quick root development and after the shoot had produced the first two pairs of eophyls, the seedling went into a latent state for at least 1 year. Byrsonima basiloba had a hard endocarp, which had to be broken to facilitate germination. This species showed epigeous phanerocotylar germination. Similarly to E. dysenterica , B. basiloba roots also developed rapidly; however, the aerial part grew continuously and did not show a latent period. Moreover, within the first 6 months of cultivation B. basiloba developed a xylopodium. The strategies for seed dispersal and breakage of seed dormancy were different between the species, but their initial growth showed several similarities.