Atlantic Forest Research Articles

Morphoanatomy and Histochemistry of Symplocos tetrandra (Mart.) Mart. (Symplocaceae).

The Symplocaceae family comprises 406 species, all of which are classified within a single genus, Symplocos Jacq., which is distributed across multiple continents. In Brazil, this genus is predominantly found in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado regions and is characterized by the presence of secondary metabolites, such as iridoids, terpenoids, and saponins with biological activities. Moreover, the literature research has unveiled the potential of this genus for antimicrobial, antitumor, and anti-HIV applications. This research conducted morphoanatomical, histochemical studies using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the leaves and stems of Symplocos tetrandra (Mart.) Mart. Cross-sections and paradermal were performed. The investigation revealed the presence of prismatic calcium oxalate crystal in petiole and druses calcium oxalate crystals, in petiole and leaf blade. Paracytic stomata on the abaxial surface, lignified pith in the stem, which was detected with the phloroglucinol staining. Oil bodies, uniseriate epidermis, and a thin lipidic cuticle were confirmed with Sudan III. These findings suggest potential anatomical markers for taxonomic classification of the species. The data obtained in this study contributes for species identification, and the presence of metabolites can guide future pharmacological investigation with S. tetrandra.

Molecular networks as strategy for dereplication of steroidal alkaloids of herbarium samples of Solanum jabrense Agra and M. Nee, an endemic and unexplored species.

Solanum jabrense is an endemic species from Brazil, distributed in the phytogeographic domains of the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest, in the states of Northeast. Solanum L. species have great economic importance not only because they are used in human food, but also because they present several secondary metabolites, especially glycosylated steroidal alkaloids, giving them medicinal properties. Recently, dry herbarium specimens have been used to identify metabolites of interest preserved even after years of storage, using a simple and fast method of extraction and analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Dereplication techniques aided by molecular networks were used to analyze the chemical composition from samples of S. jabrense herbarium specimens, and to identify chemical markers and bioactive molecules with potential medicinal use. From the LC-MS/MS dataset of the crude extracts and a standard (solasodine), a molecular network was generated that resulted in the dereplication of 19 spirosolane-type alkaminas. Our results suggest that dereplication using fragments of dried Solanum specimens is a quick tool to identify potential conserved metabolites, being useful not only for chemotaxonomy and metabolomic but also for the discovery of new molecules in natural products.

Studies on Neotropical Cerrenaceae (Basidiomycota, Polyporales): a new species of Irpiciporus from Brazil

In this study, Irpiciporus prismaticus sp. nov. is proposed based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Specimens were collected in the Atlantic Forest areas of southern Brazil and nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS and LSU regions were sequenced. This is the first time that Brazilian specimens of Irpiciporus have been sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. Irpiciporus prismaticus is characterized by pileate to effused-reflexed basidiomes with a hydnoid to irpicoid hymenophore and a context distinctly duplex in pileate specimens. Microscopically, it resembles other species of the genera, but differs in the presence of prismatic crystals throughout the context and teeth trama, and smaller basidia. Phylogenetically, it is closely related to the African species, I. branchiformis, and the Asian species, I. sinuosus. Furthermore, I. rajchenbergii, a resupinate species described from adjacent regions in Brazil, is confirmed as a different taxon in the genus based on morphological comparisons of herbarium collections. Additionally, specimens of Cerrena multipileata from areas near the type locality were sampled and sequenced and an updated morphological description is provided. An updated key for Irpiciporus, including our newly described species, and brief discussions about the genera treated here are also provided.

Phylogeography, taxonomy, and conservation of the endangered brown howler monkey, Alouatta guariba (Primates, Atelidae), of the Atlantic Forest

The brown howler, Alouatta guariba, endemic to the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and Argentina, is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting, and its susceptibility to yellow fever. Two subspecies have been recognized, but their names, validity, and geographic ranges have been controversial. We obtained samples covering the species' entire distribution in Brazil and Argentina to clarify these issues by investigating their genetic diversity and structure and assessing their evolutionary history. We analyzed, for the first time, a set of ten microsatellite markers (N = 153), plus mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) segments of the control region (N = 207) and cytochrome b gene (N = 116). The microsatellite data support two to three genetic clusters with biological significance. The southern populations (Argentina, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul) presented a homogeneous genetic component, and populations from São Paulo (SP) to the north presented another component, although most presented ∼20% of the southern component. With K = 3, SP emerged as a third component while sharing some ancestry with Rio de Janeiro and Argentina. The mtDNA phylogenies revealed three main clades that diverged almost simultaneously around 250 thousand years ago (kya). Clades A and B are from central SP to the north and east, while clade C is from SP to the south and southwest. Samples from SP presented haplotypes in all three clades, sometimes in the same population. The demographic history of the species estimated with the Bayesian skyline plot of the mtDNA showed a strong expansion ∼40–20 kya and a strong reduction over the last ∼4–2 kya. Although the genetic clusters identified here deserve appropriate management strategies as conservation units, the absence of (i) concordance between the mtDNA and microsatellite data, (ii) reciprocal monophyly in the mtDNA, and (iii) clear-cut non-genetic diagnostic characters advises against considering them as different taxonomic entities. None of the previous taxonomic proposals were corroborated by our data. Our results elucidate the taxonomy of the Atlantic Forest brown howler, indicating it should be considered a monotypic species, A. guariba. We also clarify the evolutionary history of the species regarding its intraspecific genetic diversity, which is crucial information for its conservation and population management.

Assessment and source apportionment of PM2.5 in a major Latin American port: elevated concentrations from traffic in the Great Atlantic Forest Reserve

Assessment and source apportionment of PM2.5 in a major Latin American port: elevated concentrations from traffic in the Great Atlantic Forest Reserve

Genome‐Wide Diversity in Lowland and Highland Maize Landraces From Southern South America: Population Genetics Insights to Assist Conservation

ABSTRACTMaize (Zea mays ssp. mays L.) landraces are traditional American crops with high genetic variability that conform a source of original alleles for conventional maize breeding. Northern Argentina, one the southernmost regions of traditional maize cultivation in the Americas, harbours around 57 races traditionally grown in two regions with contrasting environmental conditions, namely, the Andean mountains in the Northwest and the tropical grasslands and Atlantic Forest in the Northeast. These races encounter diverse threats to their genetic diversity and persistence in their regions of origin, with climate change standing out as one of the major challenges. In this work, we use genome‐wide SNPs derived from ddRADseq to study the genetic diversity of individuals representing the five groups previously described for this area. This allowed us to distinguish two clearly differentiated gene pools, the highland northwestern maize (HNWA) and the floury northeastern maize (FNEA). Subsequently, we employed essential biodiversity variables at the genetic level, as proposed by the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), to evaluate the conservation status of these two groups. This assessment encompassed genetic diversity (Pi), inbreeding coefficient (F) and effective population size (Ne). FNEA showed low Ne values and high F values, while HNWA showed low Ne values and low Pi values, indicating that further genetic erosion is imminent for these landraces. Outlier detection methods allowed identification of putative adaptive genomic regions, consistent with previously reported flowering‐time loci and chromosomal regions displaying introgression from the teosinte Zea mays ssp. mexicana. Finally, species distribution models were obtained for two future climate scenarios, showing a notable reduction in the potential planting area of HNWA and a shift in the cultivation areas of FNEA. These results suggest that maize landraces from Northern Argentina may be unable to cope with climate change. Therefore, active conservation policies are advisable.

Drivers of Anuran Assemblage Structure in a Subtropical Montane Region.

Elevation gradients provide excellent semi-experimental conditions to investigate how the spatial distribution of biodiversity is shaped by the environment. Here, we investigate how temperature, productivity, and elevation are related to the diversity of anuran assemblages in a montane region of the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We sampled 20 half-hectare plots between 2020 and 2021, distributed along a sharp elevation gradient. Anuran species richness and abundance decreased with increasing elevation. We show a positive relationship between ambient temperature and frog species richness and abundance, highlighting the importance of temperature in shaping assemblages along the elevation gradient. In contrast, productivity did not affect species richness and abundance, suggesting that available energy via resources does not limit local frog diversity. We further observed marked differences in the composition of anuran assemblages between low and high elevation areas, which were related to temperature. Beta diversity is mainly driven by species replacements among assemblages, which were likely related to environmental conditions. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating protected areas that encompass the entire range of elevations to capture the full complement of landscape-scale diversity. This is crucial as species showed limited distributions, and the marked effects of temperature should be explicitly considered under future scenarios of elevated upslope warming.

First molecular detection of adenoviruses in bats from an urban Atlantic Forest in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Bats comprise one of the most diverse and abundant groups of mammals in the world and host a significant viral diversity with zoonotic potential. Bat adenoviruses (bat AdVs), members of the family Adenoviridae, have been detected in several bat species, suggesting that bats are natural reservoirs. Here, faeces and rectal/anal-swabs were collected from 321 bats of an urban Atlantic Forest remnant from Rio de Janeiro, during 2019–2022, and screened for bat AdV nucleic acid with PCR. The positivity of bat AdVs was 3.7 % (12/321). Twelve individuals of four bat species were infected: Artibeus lituratus (66.7 %; 8/12), Desmodus rotundus (8.3 %; 1/12), Platyrrhinus lineatus (16.7 %; 2/12), and Sturnira lilium (8.3 %; 1/12). Phylogenetic analysis based on nucleotide and amino acid sequences showed that the detected bat AdVs clustered into four clades corresponding to the host species, identifying the presence of two potentially new bat adenoviruses. This is the first report of bat AdV detected in Platyrrhinus lineatus.

Specialization in Ciidae-host fungi communities in two Atlantic forest remnants of Southeast Brazil

Mycophagy, the practice of feeding on fungal structures or plant material decomposed by fungal enzymes, is one of the oldest feeding habits of beetles. A notable family of beetles with a strict association with fungi throughout their life cycle is Ciidae. Members of this family use fungi as shelter, food, and sites for copulation and oviposition, making them true mycetobionts. The fungi associated with ciids belong to the phylum Basidiomycota and play a crucial role in nutrient cycling by degrading wood and decomposing cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Ciids contribute significantly to the degradation of these basidiomes, thereby preventing their accumulation and enhancing nutrient availability in forest ecosystems. Although interactions between Ciidae beetles and their host fungi have been relatively well-studied, research on these interactions in the neotropics remains scarce. In this study, we investigated the interactions between ciids and their host fungi in two forest remnants of the Atlantic Forest biome. Using ecological network analysis, we assessed the frequency of occurrence of ciid species and calculated key indices for describing community structure: connectance, web asymmetry, links per species, nestedness, robustness, and specialization. This allowed us to compare the structural patterns of the two Ciidae-fungi networks. Our results revealed that the main host fungal species were the same in both communities, but differences in host usage by ciids were observed, reflecting the availability of fungal basidiomes. These differences led to distinct network structures. Most Ciidae species were found to be generalists, exploiting host fungi according to their availability.

Serological Evidence of Hantavirus in Bats from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: An Investigation of Seroreactivity and Cross-Reactivity of Neotropical Bat Samples Using Nucleoproteins of Rodent- and Bat-Borne Hantaviruses

Serological Evidence of Hantavirus in Bats from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: An Investigation of Seroreactivity and Cross-Reactivity of Neotropical Bat Samples Using Nucleoproteins of Rodent- and Bat-Borne Hantaviruses

Despite forest fragmentation, river connectivity maintains gene flow and diversity in Guadua trinii, a woody bamboo of the Atlantic Forest in Argentina

Despite forest fragmentation, river connectivity maintains gene flow and diversity in Guadua trinii, a woody bamboo of the Atlantic Forest in Argentina

Evolutionary genomics of Leishmania braziliensis across the neotropical realm

The Neotropical realm, one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth, houses a broad range of zoonoses that pose serious public health threats. Protozoan parasites of the Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis clade cause zoonotic leishmaniasis in Latin America with clinical symptoms ranging from simple cutaneous to destructive, disfiguring mucosal lesions. We present the first comprehensive genome-wide continental study including 257 cultivated isolates representing most of the geographical distribution of this major human pathogen. The L. braziliensis clade is genetically highly heterogeneous, consisting of divergent parasite groups that are associated with different environments and vary greatly in diversity. Apart from several small ecologically isolated groups with little diversity, our sampling identifies two major parasite groups, one associated with the Amazon and the other with the Atlantic Forest biomes. These groups show different recombination histories, as suggested by high levels of heterozygosity and effective population sizes in the Amazonian group in contrast to high levels of linkage and clonality in the Atlantic group. We argue that these differences are linked to strong eco-epidemiological differences between the two regions. In contrast to geographically focused studies, our study provides a broad understanding of the molecular epidemiology of zoonotic parasites circulating in tropical America.

Spatial and environmental factors influence AMF assemblages across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest - a biodiversity hotspot

Spatial and environmental factors influence AMF assemblages across the Brazilian Atlantic Forest - a biodiversity hotspot

Radiometric evaluation of Ouratea miersii (Planch.) Engl. From the Municipal Natural Park of Niterói, Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest remnant

Concern about radiation exposure to non-human biota and the environment has increased since the 1990s, resulting in several publications by UNSCEAR, IAEA, ICRP, among other agencies, which highlighted significant gaps in knowledge regarding non-human biota and resulted in the establishment of Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs). In Brazil, the Atlantic Forest biome has vast biodiversity, but there is a lack of information on the radiometric profile of plant species growing there. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the radiometric profile of Ouratea miersii (Malpighiales), endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest, collected in the State of Rio de Janeiro, city of Niterói, at the Municipal Natural Park (PARNIT), which covers a region of protected Atlantic Rainforest. The specimen was completely collected (root, stem, leaf and soil including organic matter around the root), and each sample analyzed individually by gamma spectrometry using a HPGe detector (Canberra). The calculated activity concentrations (AC) indicated the presence of 40K, 226Ra and 228Ra, with significant AC of 40K in the soil (3901 Bq·kg−1). The 40K soil-plant transfer was 11.6%, being limited by some physiological mechanism and/or osmotic saturation, while the transfer factor for 226Ra was 45.3%. The dose rate in non-human biota due to AC's of 226Ra and 228Ra in soil was estimated by modeling with the ERICA Tool, which indicated the absence of adverse effect on non-human biota due to exposure. The radiological hazard index values (Raeq, ADR, AEDR, and ELCR) obtained from the soil AC collected at PARNIT were significantly higher than those from other locations in Brazil, and about three times the value reported by UNSCEAR (2000) due to a ⁴⁰K anomaly in the soil. For this reason, a more extensive environmental monitoring was necessary in the PARNIT region.

Phenotypic plasticity does not prevent impairment of aboveground biomass production due to increased light and water deficit in Dimorphandra exaltata, an endangered species.

Phenotypic plasticity may allow plant species to cope with environmental variability that influences plant growth and may limit the distribution of a species. The present study investigated the morphophysiology and phenotypic plasticity responses due to light and water variability of young Dimorphandra exaltata plants, an endemic threatened tree from the Atlantic Forest. After emergence, plants were grown in two light conditions: shading (70%) and full sun. At 160days old, we measured chlorophyll a fluorescence, chlorophyll indices, and biomass allocation. Afterward, the plants were subdivided into two water regimes: irrigation vs suspension of irrigation. At 310days old, morphophysiological measurements and stem water potential were taken. D. exaltata plants showed higher specific leaf area (SLA, 160days old) and chlorophyll b (310days old) under shading. Over time, plants under shading showed a decrease in SLA. Also, there was a decrease in the leaf area ratio in both light treatments and an increase in the phenotypic plasticity index. Even showing morphological adjustments to light and water deficit, the higher biomass allocation to roots at the expense of the aboveground part could impair the growth of young plants in understory areas. The phenotypic plasticity presented by D. exaltata does not guarantee that the species can withstand severe disturbance while maintaining normal development. Therefore, it is important to understand the effects of ecosystem fragmentation and water variation and their impacts on the maintenance of species in their areas of occurrence, especially endangered species such as D. exaltata.

Differences between Pseudobombax grandiflorum and Bauhinia forficata in terms of responsiveness and dependence to mycorrhiza

ABSTRACT The benefits promoted by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to forest species seedlings include higher growth rate, better nutrition, and higher survival rates. Inoculation with AMF may facilitate revegetation of degraded lands, although it depends on symbionts and environmental conditions, such as soil P availability. In this sense, the lack of information justifies the carrying out of studies of this nature. We investigated the dependence and responsiveness of two forest species native to the Atlantic Forest, Pseudobombax grandiflorum and Bauhinia forficata, to different AMF inocula (isolated AMF species, Dentiscutata heterogama, DH, Gigaspora margarita, GM, Rhizophagus clarus, RC, mixed inoculum with these former three AMF species, MI) compared to the uninoculated control (UC), combined with different P doses applied to the substrate (0, 24, 71, 213, and 650 mg kg -1 ), under greenhouse conditions. We evaluated root colonization, growth, and nutritional variables for Pseudobombax grandiflorum and Bauhinia forficata, 112 and 116 days after sowing with pre-germinated seeds, respectively. Native forest species exhibited different degrees of mycorrhizal dependence. The highest mycorrhizal dependence of P. grandiflorum seedlings was indicated by significant benefits, both growth and nutritional, promoted by innoculation treatments, under fertilization with the intermediate dose of P (213 mg kg -1 ). In fact, under this P dose, seedlings responded to a maximum increase in biomass in the GM treatment and maximum concentration of P and N in the shoots in the UC and DH treatments, respectively. The lowest mycorrhizal dependence of B. forficata seedlings was highlighted by significant growth benefits promoted by inoculation treatments under the lowest doses of P (24 or 71 mg kg -1 ). Under this P dose, we observed seedlings with maximum value of the root:shoot ratio in most of the types of inoculation and also higher values of biomass and height in the MI treatment. The responsiveness in terms of increase in growth and nutritional variables varied depending on the forest species, the dose of P applied to the substrate, and the AMF type of inoculum used. Root biomass and total dry biomass, mainly, should preferably be included in future studies with the same objective as the present study, as they were more relevant to point out the differences between treatments, in comparison with the variables associated with nutritional variables.

Dynamics of Natural Mortality Factors of Immature Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Sugarcane Adjacent to Forest Fragments

ABSTRACTPest regulation may be favoured in crop fields adjacent to semi‐natural vegetation such as fragments of the Atlantic Forest in Southeastern Brazil. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyse the dynamics of mortality factors for eggs and larvae of Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in sugarcane adjacent to two types of forest fragments (Plateau and Gallery) at two distances from these fragments during two growing seasons. In each area (seven sugarcane plots), two 50 m long transects were established, parallel and spaced at 5 and 100 m from the field edge, and cohorts of the insect at each stage of development were monitored. The collected data were used to construct an ecological life table and determine the main mortality factors. Natural mortality factors that could not be characterised were grouped as unknown. In both seasons and stages of development observed, there was no difference in mortality between the two types of forest fragments (Plateau and Gallery) or between the two distances from the forest. For the egg stage, the mortality factors were classified as inviable due to infertility, predation, parasitism, desiccation and dislodgement. In both seasons, there was a significant difference in the natural mortality factors of D. saccharalis, with predation distinct from the others. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were the most frequent predatory agents and occurred at both distances and types of forest fragments. For the larval stage, the mortality factors were classified as predation, parasitism, drowning and unknown, with the unknown group differing from the others. Unknown factors might have included predation, larval movement towards other plants and displacement caused by wind after hatching. Overall, predation is a key mortality component of D. saccharalis suppression. Therefore, agricultural practices focused on the conservation of natural enemies such as predators may provide more sustainable management.

Biogeographical Origins of Caatinga Squamata Fauna

ABSTRACTAimSeveral lines of evidence have noted that open vegetation biomes in the Neotropics are younger than moist forests, leading us to question which historical processes shaped the current species distribution patterns in these new biome formations. Here we investigate the temporal patterns of speciation and colonisation from surrounding biomes (Amazonia, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado) in the Caatinga historical assembly of squamate species, to understand the role of geomorphological events and climate change in driving its diversification.LocationNeotropics.TaxonSquamata (snakes, lizards and amphisbaenians).MethodsWe used a phylogenetic tree and occurrence data for 459 squamate species distributed throughout four different biomes (Amazonia, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Caatinga) to reconstruct ancestral geographic ranges using the R package BioGeoBEARS. We used BAMM to estimate the rates of species diversification.ResultsOur results indicate that the current diversity patterns of squamates in the Caatinga were a result of pervasive faunal exchanges from adjacent biomes since the Paleogene, with similar numbers of dispersal events in each source area. The Neogene period was determinant in the diversification process, leading to the current assembly patterns of this group in the Caatinga.Main ConclusionsThe landscape transformation and climate change that increased aridity in northeastern Brazil probably shaped the diversification of dry‐adapted squamates in the Caatinga, like tropidurid lizards. However, the Pleistocene climatic fluctuations associated with the highly heterogeneous gradients of topography, geology, soils, climatic conditions, and different vegetation physiognomies could have facilitated faunal exchange with their neighbouring forested biomes, explaining the current presence of some typical forested lineages inside the Caatinga domain and help us to clarify the current distribution patterns of squamates in this region.

Biodiversity from the Sky: Testing the Spectral Variation Hypothesis in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Tropical forests have high species richness, being considered the most diverse and complex ecosystems in the world. Research on the variation and maintenance of biodiversity in these ecosystems is important for establishing conservation strategies. The main objective of this study was to test the Spectral Variation Hypothesis through associations between species diversity and richness measured in the field and hyperspectral data collected by a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) in areas with secondary tropical forest in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest biome. Specific objectives were to determine which dispersion measurements, standard deviation (SD) or coefficient of variation (CV), estimated for the n pixels occurring within each sampling unit, better explains species diversity; the effects of pixel size on the direction and intensity of this relationship; and the effects of shaded pixels within each sampling unit. The spectral variability hypothesis was confirmed for the Atlantic Forest biome, with R2 of 0.83 for species richness and 0.76 and 0.69 for the Shannon and Simpson diversity indices, respectively, using 1.0 m illuminated pixels. The dispersion (CV and SD) of hyperspectral bands were most strongly correlated with taxonomic diversity and richness in the red-edge and near-infrared (NIR) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Pixel size affected R2 values, which were higher for 1.0 m pixels (0.83) and lower for 10.0 m pixels (0.71). Additionally, illuminated pixels had higher R2 values than those under shadow effects. The main dispersion variables selected as metrics for regression models were mean CV, CV for the 726.7 nm band, and SD for the 742.3 and 933.4 nm bands. Our results suggest that spectral diversity can serve as a proxy for species diversity in the Atlantic Forest. However, factors that can affect this relationship, such as taxonomic and spectral diversity metrics used, pixel size, and shadow effects in images, should be considered.

PRE-GERMINATION TREATMENTS IN BRAZILWOOD SEEDS IN SEEDLING EMERGENCE AND DEVELOPMENT

Brazilwood (Caesalpinia echinata) is a species from the Atlantic Forest considered a national symbol of Brazil. The wood is heavy, smooth and hard and highly resistant to wood-eating organisms. Brazilwood seeds may present dormancy and initial germination difficulties. The objective of this study was to evaluate different methods to stimulate the emergence and development of Brazilwood seedlings. The research was carried out in the nursery of IFES-Campus Santa Teresa. The seeds were subjected to the following immersion treatments for 60 minutes: natural water (26°C) as control; gibberellin solution at 1000 mg.L-1, 2000 mg.L-1, 3000 mg.L-1 and 4000 mg.L-1; NaCl solution 9 gL-1; KCl solution 50 gL-1 and coconut water. They were then sown in 150 mL tubes containing commercial substrate. The experimental design was randomized blocks with 8 treatments and four replicates. After 30 days from the beginning of emergence, the emergence percentage was evaluated and, after 90 days from emergence, the number of leaves; plant height; stem diameter; root length; green mass of the aerial part; dry mass of the aerial part; green mass of the root; dry mass of the root were evaluated. Immersion in coconut water promoted the highest percentage of seedling emergence. The dose of 4000 mg.L-1 of GA3, 9 gL-1 of NaCl solution and 50 gL-1 of KCL provided the highest values ​​related to growth and greater production of dry mass of leaves and roots in the brazilwood seedlings.