Maturation of Eugenia pyriformis seeds under different hydric and thermal conditions

Edmir V Lamarca,Marcelo B.P De Camargo,Carmen C Teixeira,Igor F Borges,José M.R Faria,Claudio J Barbedo,Liliana F Delgado,Juliana S Prataviera

doi:10.1590/s0001-37652013005000006

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the maturation and dispersal of Eugenia pyriformis Cambess. seeds produced in different years, and the influence of variation in thermal and hydric environment on seed physical and physiological characteristics at dispersal. Fruits at different developmental stages were harvested in the city of São Paulo between 2003 and 2010, as well as in the cities of Campinas and Lavras, in 2009 and 2010 and analyzed for size and color. The seeds were extracted from the fruits and their dry mass, water content, germination and vigor were assessed. Results showed that seed maturation is unsynchronized to the maturation of the fruit, taking 45 days on average (430 growing degree-days), longer in rainy times or lower temperatures. Seeds with higher physiological quality were produced in rainy years and when the temperature range was larger. We concluded therefore that hydric and thermal environmental variations during development influence the maturation of Eugenia pyriformis seeds and are able to determine the formation cycle and the final seed quality.

Highlights

Among the environmental conditions that influence growth, production and quality of fruits and seeds, are the weather acting on the acquisition of some physical and physiological characteristics (Daws et al 2004, 2006, Daws and Jensen 2011)
Some studies report that this thermal-dependence may be altered by rainfall, changing flowering and maturation periods (Volpe et al 2002, Ribeiro et al 2006, Petek et al 2009), showing the importance of analyzing these variables together
Eugenia pyriformis Cambess. seeds were obtained from harvested fruits at the Instituto de Botânica (IBt), São Paulo, SP (23°39’S, 46°37’W and 785m altitude), on Santa Elisa Farm of Instituto Agronômico (IAC), Campinas, SP (22°52’S, 47°04’W and 645m altitude), and at the city of Lavras, MG (21°13’S, 44°58’W and 943 m altitude)

Summary

Introduction

Among the environmental conditions that influence growth, production and quality of fruits and seeds, are the weather (represented by some meteorological et al 2009, Fagundes et al 2010) acting on the acquisition of some physical and physiological characteristics (Daws et al 2004, 2006, Daws and Jensen 2011). In Eugenia species, great physical and physiological variation during fruit and seed development and maturation is observed (Silva et al 2001, Pio et al 2005, Avila et al 2009, Cardoso and Lomônaco 2003, Borges et al 2010, Braz and Mattos 2010, Lamarca et al 2011). These variations show the adaptive ability of the genus to unpredictable, heterogeneous or transitional environments (Cardoso and Lomônaco 2003)

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Results