Aspects of Peltophorum dubium Sprengel (Taubert) seeds in an aerial seed bank

Girlânio Holanda Silva,José Marcio Rocha Faria,Wilson Vicente Souza Pereira,Anderson Cleiton José

doi:10.1590/2317-1545v39n1168605

Girlânio Holanda Silva, José Marcio Rocha Faria + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/2317-1545v39n1168605

Copy DOI

Abstract

Abstract: Knowledge concerning natural regeneration strategies is important due to the effect of natural regeneration on the local ecosystem. The aim of this study was to examine the ecophysiological aspects of the Peltophorum dubium aerial seed bank. Fruits were harvested monthly, before and after seed maturation, from selected trees in the municipality of Lavras, MG, Brazil, for determination of moisture content, acquisition of tolerance to desiccation, seed viability, maintenance of dormancy, and mean germination time. Physiological maturity of the species was attained in June, when low moisture content, maximum dry matter, and high germination percentage were observed. We found that there was no change in dormancy, in germination percentage, or in the protein profile of seeds during the period they remained in the aerial seed bank. The P. dubium species creates an aerial seed bank of short serotiny, with fruits remaining attached to the tree for 9 months.

Highlights

Native forests make use of diverse regeneration strategies for the purpose of maintaining resilience after being disturbed, ensuring the continuity of ecophysiological processes (Tonello and Teixeira Filho, 2012)
Soon after determination of the point of physiological maturity, the aerial seed bank was characterized and the ecophysiological aspects were monitored through germination and physical dormancy of the seeds; moisture content (Brasil, 2009) and mean germination time (MGT) were monitored (Labouriau, 1983)
The results of analysis of variance indicated that there was the effect of collection times of the fruit on viability of the P. dubium seeds during their formation, which is observed upon comparing germination from collection in April 2014 (7%) with collection in May, when mean germination was greater than 90% (Figure 1A)

Summary

Introduction

Native forests make use of diverse regeneration strategies for the purpose of maintaining resilience after being disturbed, ensuring the continuity of ecophysiological processes (Tonello and Teixeira Filho, 2012). Knowledge of strategies of forest species becomes important to understand processes such as colonization, which is fundamental for planning and restoration of forest ecosystems (Albuquerque et al, 2010; Guimarães et al, 2014). Among the best-known plant establishment strategies are vegetative reproduction, seed rain, and soil seed and seedling bank (Braga et al, 2015; Durigan et al, 2011; Miranda Neto et al, 2010). There are other species that have littleknown regeneration strategies, such as delay in seed dispersal. These species maintain viable seeds attached to the mother plant for at least three months after reaching physiological maturity, forming the aerial seed bank (Baskin and Baskin, 2014). The length of time seeds remain in the aerial seed bank depends on the species, as was observed in species from the northern hemisphere (Bastida et al, 2010; Teste et al, 2011)

Objectives

Methods

Results