Abstract
Lophantera lactescens Ducke (Malphigiaceae) is an arboreal plant that propagates by seed; once exclusive to the Amazon region, it is now widely distributed in South America. The aim of this work was to study the maturation process in seeds of L. lactescens, in order to determine the point of physiological maturity and the ideal time for harvesting. The field study was conducted at the Centre for Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of Paraiba (CCA/UFPB), Campus II, in Areia, in the State of Paraiba (PB), where the fruit was harvested every two weeks over two consecutive years. The water content, external coloration, fruit size, fruit dry weight, germination and vigour (seed germination index, and seedling length and dry weight) were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomised, with data submitted to analysis of variance and polynomial regression, as a function of the harvest time. For the two years of the study, the water content decreased during the maturation process, reaching 11% at 210 days after anthesis. Fruit dry matter increased during the process, with rises in germination and seed vigour, reaching a maximum value between 190 and 210 days after anthesis respectively. A light-brown coloration with wrinkling of the fruit pericarp is a good visual indicator for determining the point of physiological maturity of the seeds in this species. Under the environmental conditions found in Areia PB, the ideal time for harvest and the physiological maturity of the seeds of L. lactescens are reached from 165 to 186 days after anthesis.
Highlights
The species Lophantera lactescens Ducke, known locally as lanterneira, the Amazon lofantera and golden rain (PAOLI, 1997), belongs to family Malphigiaceae; it is endemic to the Amazon region, but is widely distributed in South America (JUDD et al, 1999), where it is found both in the interior of dense primary forest and in secondary formations (LORENZI, 2008)
The aim of this work was to study the maturation process in seeds of L. lactescens, in order to determine the point of physiological maturity and the ideal time for harvest
From the data on fruit length in L. lactescens, a quadratic fit was seen, with an increase in this variable being noted during the maturation process
Summary
The species Lophantera lactescens Ducke, known locally as lanterneira, the Amazon lofantera and golden rain (PAOLI, 1997), belongs to family Malphigiaceae; it is endemic to the Amazon region, but is widely distributed in South America (JUDD et al, 1999), where it is found both in the interior of dense primary forest and in secondary formations (LORENZI, 2008). The plant is tree-like in size, and can reach between 10 and 20 metres in height, with fruit that are schizocarpic and dry, and seeds that are pyriform, anatropous, bitegmic and exarillate, with mucilaginous cotyledons (PAOLI, 1997). In the states of the Amazon region, transmission was 99.9%, with Plasmodium vivax the species responsible for almost 90% of cases (BRASIL, 2010). The plant is is used in the permanent preservation of degraded areas, the urban landscaping of parks and gardens, and due to having fairly heavy and compact wood, in construction and for the manufacture of beams, ceilings and rafters used in joinery and carpentry (LORENZI, 2008)
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