Chrysophyllum Gonocarpum Research Articles

Flower structure, anatomy, and sexuality of Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Sapotaceae).

The Sapotaceae are a significant component of the humid forests of the Neotropics and have many species of economic interest. Chrysophyllum gonocarpum is one of them and its edible fruits have currently acquired a high commercial value. Since there are no studies that cover its floral anatomy and elucidate its sexual system, the objective of the present study is to describe these aspects based on field observations and a detailed anatomical analysis of their flowers. Conventional techniques of plant anatomy are implemented. The results indicate that the species presents cryptic dioecy, showing specimens with morphologically and functionally pistillate flowers (with reduced staminodes), and trees with morphologically hermaphrodite and functionally staminate flowers. In addition, data on floral nectaries and laticiferous are provided.

Diversity of Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritoidea) and Their Host Plants in a Conservation Unit from Midwestern Brazil

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae) are among the principal phytophagous insects of fruit and vegetables. Their larvae feed on the pulp or seeds of fruits to complete their development, which favors the entry of pathogens and early fall of the fruits, damaging fruit production. The objectives of this research were to determine the richness of fruit fly species and their associations with their host fruits in the Serra da Bodoquena National Park (Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil) and surrounding areas. To obtain the fruit fly species from their hosts, monthly collections of fruits were made. Leaf samples were prepared and identified by botanists. The collected fruits were transported to the Laboratorio de Insetos Frugivoros, where they were counted and weighed. The species of fruit flies were identified, and their trophic interactions with their hosts analyzed. Thirty-nine plant species from 29 plant families were collected. Twelve fruit species were hosts to fruit fly larvae. The survey resulted in the recovery of 1,476 larvae and 968 adult fruit flies. Among the adults, 878 were Tephritidae and 90 Lonchaidae. Nine species from the genus Anastrepha (Diptera: Tephritidae) and 3 from Neosilba (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) were obtained. These are the first reports for Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), and Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) (all Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting fruits of Eugenia myrcianthes Nied (Myrtaceae); Anastrepha striata Schiner (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting Jacaratia spinosa Aubl. (Caricaceae); Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi (Diptera: Tephritidae) infesting Campomanesia guazumifolia (Cambess) O. Berg. (Myrtaceae); Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann) and Neosilba zadolicha McAlpine & Steyskal are recorded for the first time infesting Persea americana Miller (Lauraceae), and Neosilba certa (Walker) (all Diptera: Lonchaeidae) infesting Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler) Engl. (Sapotaceae), Anastrepha barbiellinii Lima (Diptera: Tephritidae) is recorded for the first time infesting Pereskia aculeata Miller (Cactaceae) in Mato Grosso do Sul State.

Tree rings in tree species of a seasonal semi-deciduous forest in southern Brazil: wood anatomical markers, annual formation and radial growth dynamic

Tree rings provide valid predictions regarding species age and growth rates and, therefore, they can contribute to understand forest dynamics and ecology. In this work, we evaluated the tree rings of eight tree species from different successional groups that show distinct degrees of deciduousness in a seasonal semi-deciduous forest located in a transition zone between subtropical and the tropical climates in southern Brazil. We focused on wood anatomical markers, the annual nature of tree-ring formation, the description of false rings, a cross-dating analyses and an interpretation of the radial increment dynamics of the species. We sampled increment cores at breast height, performed cambial wounding and measured tree-ring widths. Annual tree rings were found in seven species, which were confirmed by cambium wounding. Differences in fiber wall thickness between latewood and earlywood and the marginal parenchyma were the main anatomical markers observed. Deciduous species had better distinction of tree ring boundaries, while the evergreen species had slightly distinct tree ring boundaries. False rings were characterized by variations in wood density and axial parenchyma bands of different widths within true tree rings. The annual tree ring confirmation and the anatomical description of the true and false rings are useful for future dendroecological research in the area. Considering the cross-dating analyses and tree-ring distinctiveness, Chrysophyllum gonocarpum is a recommended species. Regarding radial growth, the early secondary species had higher growth rates than the late secondary species. Assessing the growth trajectories over time, distinct patterns were observed among the species: a constant growth, an initial increase followed by a reduction, and oscillations of the growth were observed. As no consistent pattern of the growth trajectories was observed among species that belong to the same successional groups, they contribute to the explanation of the particular life history of these individuals in the seasonal semi-deciduous forest.

HEIGHT STRUCTURE AND SPATIAL PATTERN OF FIVE TROPICAL TREE SPECIES IN TWO SEASONAL SEMIDECIDUOUS FOREST FRAGMENTS WITH DIFFERENT CONSERVATION HISTORIES

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic disturbances in forests modify survival conditions and development of plants, which has direct effect on the height and spatial structure of tree populations. This study aimed to compare the height structure and spatial pattern of five tree species in two distinct fragments of seasonal semideciduous forest with different histories of conservation. We studied shade-intolerant (Astronium graveolens Jacq., Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms) and shade-tolerant species (Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler ex Miq.) Engl., Euterpe edulis Mart. and Holocalyx balansae Micheli). Sixty plots of 100 m2 (10 m x 10 m) were allocated, being 30 contiguous plots in each fragment. All individuals of five species were marked, assessed for total height data and mapped using Cartesian coordinates. We observed differences in height structure between fragments. All populations had a random spatial pattern, except to H. balansae in the less conserved fragment and E. edulis in the conserved fragment that showed a clumped spatial pattern. There were evidences of forest regeneration due to the establishment of shade-tolerant species in less conserved fragment and coexistence of functional groups in both fragments. The height structure and spatial pattern analyses indicating that anthropogenic exploitation changed the environment and population structure in the less conserved area when compared to conserved area. The anthropic exploitation was ceased few years ago, so it is expected that the less conserved fragment reach the stability of an old-growth forest.

VARIAÇÃO DA ESTRUTURA DA FLORESTA ESTACIONAL DECIDUAL NO ESTADO DE SANTA CATARINA E SUA RELAÇÃO COM A ALTITUDE E CLIMA

http://dx.doi.org/10.5902/1980509817465O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as possíveis similaridades estruturais entre remanescentes da Floresta Estacional Decidual (FED) em Santa Catarina e associar os grupos à influência de condicionantes ambientais. Associado a este objetivo primário, também se buscou a identificação das zonas de contato entre esta tipologia florestal e a Floresta Ombrófila Mista (FOM). Foram analisados os dados de 78 unidades amostrais (UA) instaladas em remanescentes da FED entre 2008 e 2009 pelo Inventário Florístico Florestal de Santa Catarina (IFFSC). Os dados foram tratados através da Análise de Correspondência Corrigida (DCA) e da Análise de Correspondência Canônica (ACC), valendo-se de uma matriz de densidade de espécies e uma matriz de variáveis ambientais, esta constituída por altitude e parâmetros climáticos. A proporção da variância explicada pelos três primeiros eixos da DCA foi baixa, somando aproximadamente 21% do total de informação contida no conjunto original de dados. Este resultado ofereceu baixo poder de interpretação para os resultados. No entanto, quando a DCA foi aplicada sobre os dados de densidade média das espécies em cada bacia hidrográfica, os resultados apontaram para autovetores muito explicativos do conjunto (58,1% da variação). Observada somente a ordenação provocada pelo primeiro eixo da DCA, vê-se a disposição das bacias de leste, em um extremo, e das bacias de oeste, no outro extremo deste eixo. Na extremidade direita do primeiro eixo estão dispostas as bacias do rio Canoas, Pelotas e do Peixe, as quais são caracterizadas pela presença de espécies como Ocotea pulchella, Zanthoxylum fagara, Lithrea brasiliensis, Matayba elaeagnoides, Cinnamodendron dinisii, comumente associadas com a Floresta Ombrófila Mista. Na extremidade esquerda estão distribuídas as bacias de oeste, grupo que inclui as bacias dos rios Jacutinga, Irani, Chapecó, Antas e Peperi-Guaçu. Dentre as espécies que mais fortemente influenciaram os resultados na análise, cabe destacar Apuleia leiocarpa, Rauvolfia sellowii, Bastardiopsis densiflora, Chrysophyllum gonocarpum, Cordia trichotoma, Holocalyx balansae, Myrocarpus frondosus e Pisonia zapallo, as quais são frequentes em florestas estacionais do interior meridional do Brasil. A análise através da ACC apontou para resultados similares e a interpretação conjunta dos dados ambientais indicou que as UA situadas nas bacias de leste estão associadas a climas mais frios, em que as geadas são mais frequentes, como consequência de altitudes mais elevadas. Considerando que as altitudes tendem a declinar das porções lestes para oeste e, diante do resultados apresentados, os autores propõem a existência de uma zona de transição entre as duas regiões fitoecológicas (FOM e FED) na faixa dos 600 m s.n.m., onde ocorre a interdigitação de elementos da flora estacional e aqueles da Floresta Ombrófila Mista, resultando na delimitação de uma área core da FED abaixo deste patamar altimétrico.

Species-specific associations between overstory and understory tree species in a semideciduous tropical forest

We investigated the occurrence of associations between overstory and understory tree species in a semideciduous tropical forest. We identified and measured all trees of nine canopy species with diameter at breast height ≥4.8 cm in a 10.24 ha plot and recorded all individuals beneath their canopies ("understory individuals") within the same diameter class. The total density of understory individuals did not significantly differ under different overstory species. One overstory species (Ceiba speciosa) showed higher understory species richness compared with five other species. There was a strong positive association between three overstory species (Esenbeckia leiocarpa, Savia dictyocarpa, and C. speciosa) and the density of seven understory species (Balfourodendron riedelianum, Chrysophyllum gonocarpum, E. leiocarpa, Holocalyx balansae, Machaerium stipitatum, Rhaminidium elaeocarpum, and S. dictyocarpa). These results probably reflect the outcome of a complex set of interactions including facilitation and competition, and further studies are necessary to better understand the magnitude and type of the effects of individual overstory species on understory species. The occurrence of species-specific associations shown here reinforces the importance of non-random processes in structuring plant communities and suggest that the influence of overstory species on understory species in high-diversity forests may be more significant than previously thought.

Isolation and characterization of 8 microsatellite loci from Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Sapotaceae)

Chrysophyllum gonocarpum is a tropical tree species that is very important in the recovery of heterogeneous forests and of degraded areas of permanent preservation. We identified microsatellite loci for C. gonocarpum to assess the genetic variability and the patterns of the population structure of the species. We isolated 8 microsatellite primers by using CT- and GT-enriched genomic libraries. We detected 2-4 alleles with 2.9 alleles per locus on average, by polymerase chain reaction. Test for cross-amplification showed that some loci were successfully amplified in 2 other Chrysophyllum species. The microsatellites can be used to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of C. gonocarpum. Some primer pairs can be amplified in C. marginatum and C. splendens.

Slope variation and population structure of tree species from different ecological groups in South Brazil

Size structure and spatial arrangement of 13 abundant tree species were determined in a riparian forest fragment in Paraná State, South Brazil (23°16'S and 51°01'W). The studied species were Aspidosperma polyneuron Müll. Arg., Astronium graveolens Jacq. and Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng) Harms (emergent species); Alseis floribunda Schott, Ruprechtia laxiflora Meisn. and Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (shade-intolerant canopy species); Machaerium paraguariense Hassl, Myroxylum peruiferum L. and Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler ex Miq.) Engl. (shade-tolerant canopy species); Sorocea bonplandii (Baill.) Bürger, Trichilia casaretti C. Dc, Trichilia catigua A. Juss. and Actinostemon concolor (Spreng.) Müll. Arg. (understory small trees species). Height and diameter structures and basal area of species were analyzed. Spatial patterns and slope correlation were analyzed by Moran's / spatial autocorrelation coefficient and partial Mantel test, respectively. The emergent and small understory species showed the highest and the lowest variations in height, diameter and basal area. Size distribution differed among emergent species and also among canopy shade-intolerant species. The spatial pattern ranged among species in all groups, except in understory small tree species. The slope was correlated with spatial pattern for A. polyneuron, A. graveolens, A. floribunda, R. laxiflora, M. peruiferum and T. casaretti. The results indicated that most species occurred in specific places, suggesting that niche differentiation can be an important factor in structuring the tree community.

Desenvolvimento da semente de Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (MART. & EICHL.) ENGL. (SAPOTACEAE)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever o desenvolvimento do embrião, endosperma e tegumento da semente de Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichl.) Engl. O rudimento seminal é hemítropo. O desenvolvimento do embrião é do tipo Cariofiláceo e o endosperma é do tipo Nuclear. O embrião maduro apresenta eixo hipocótilo-radicular curto, cilíndrico e cotilédones foliáceos. A semente madura armazena grãos de aleurona e lipídios nos cotilédones e nas células remanescentes do endosperma. A exotesta é composta de diversas camadas de células esclerificadas que também recobrem a região do hilo. Esta característica da exotesta foi registrada pela primeira vez em sementes de Chrysophyllum o que demonstra que esta pode ter importância ecológica e taxonômica.

Frugivory by the fish Brycon hilarii (Characidae) in western Brazil

Frugivory and seed dispersal have been poorly studied in Neotropical freshwater fishes. We studied frugivory and seed dispersal by the piraputanga fish ( Brycon hilarii, Characidae) in the Formoso River, Bonito, western Brazil. We examined the stomach contents of 87 fish and found the diet of piraputanga consisted of 24% animal prey (arthropods, snails, and vertebrates), 31% seeds/fruits and 45% other plant material (algae/macrophytes/leaves/flowers). The piraputangas fed on 12 fruit species, and were considered as seed dispersers of eight species. Fruits with soft seeds larger than 10 mm were triturated, but all species with small seeds (e.g. Ficus, Psidium) and one species with large hard seed ( Chrysophyllum gonocarpum) were dispersed. Piraputangas eat more fruits in the dry season just before the migration, but not during the spawning season. Fish length had a positive relation with the presence of fruits in their guts. The gallery forest of the Formoso River apparently does not have any plant species that depend exclusively on B. hilarii for seed dispersal because all fruit species are also dispersed by birds and mammals. Based on seed size and husk hardness of the riparian plant community of Formoso River, however, the piraputangas may potentially disperse at least 50% of the riparian fleshy fruit species and may be particularly important for long-distance dispersal. Therefore, overfishing or other anthropogenic disturbances to the populations of piraputanga may have negative consequences for the riparian forests in this region.

FENOLOGIA E GERMINAÇÃO DE SEMENTES DE AGUAI, Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichl.) Engl.

Informações básicas sobre Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichl.) Engl., Sapotaceae, ainda são incipientes. Assim, pretende-se contribuir com dados fenológicos, morfológicos e germinativos sobre essa espécie. As observações e a coleta de material botânico foram realizadas na região do Médio Alto Uruguai e das Missões (RS), de setembro de 2004 a novembro de 2005, e os testes físicos e germinativos em laboratório. A espécie floresce de setembro a dezembro, e frutifica de maio a novembro. A inflorescência é constituída por grupos de pequenas flores branco-esverdeadas com prefloração imbricada, sendo a flor metaclamídea, actinomorfa, pentâmera, com gineceu sincárpico, súpero, anteras extrorsas, rimosas, dorsifixas e placentação axilar. O fruto é uma baga quadrangular, com epicarpo liso, de cor amarela, de mesocarpo e endocarpo carnoso macio, ovário com 1 a 5 sementes em forma de meia lua, tegumento lustroso, de cor castanha, com cicatriz linear visível. O embrião possui dois cotilédones grandes, foliáceos, hipocótilo curto e espesso, endosperma uniforme, circundando o embrião. A germinação é epígea e a plântula é caracterizada como fanerocotiledonar. Na análise física, o peso de 1000 sementes foi de 381 g, contabilizando 2.625 unidades por quilo, com umidade de 47,16%. Quanto à germinação, os resultados obtidos apontaram para um processo lento e desuniforme, demonstrando, portanto, a necessidade de maiores estudos para acelerar, uniformizar ou até mesmo estabelecer a germinação.

Estudo fitossociológico de um trecho da floresta estacional semidecidual em Diamante do Norte, Estado do Paraná, Brasil

Phytosociology in semi-deciduous seasonal forest fragment in Diamate do Norte, State of Paraná, Brazil. The aim of this work was to study a Semideciduous Seasonal Forest fragment. It was carried out at the Ecological Station Caiu・(54ｰ 49’W and 22ｰ 34'S), in Diamante do Norte, Paran・State, Brazil. The study covered an area of 1.426 ha. The plots were located by GPS in that fragment. The area was divided in 29 parcels with 50 x 30 m, totalizing 4.35 ha. The individuals belonging to regeneration and the ones with DBH higher than or equal to 5.0 cm were then measured, totalizing 3,812 adult individuals, gathered into 38 families, 85 genera and 102 species. The families with the highest number of species were Myrtaceae, Rutaceae and Leguminosaea groups. Xylosma venosa, Metrodorea nigra, Chrysophyllum gonocarpum, Plinia rivularis, Eugenia uniflora, Aspidosperma polyneuron, Actinostenon concolor, Zygia cauliflora, Caesaria gossypiosperma, Blepharocalyx salicifolius, Astronium graveolens, Campomanesia xanthocarpa and Balfourodendron riedelianum stood out as the ones with higher importance levels. Shannon diversity index (H’) was 3.56 and the Sorensen similarity index was 75.5%.

Fenologia de Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler) Engl. (Sapotaceae) em floresta semidecídua do Sul do Brasil

Phenological patterns of Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler) Engl. were investigated from May 1995 to December 1997 in a tropical semideciduous forest in southern Brazil (23o27' S and 51o15' W). Forty trees were monthly observed for changes on leaf fall and flushing, flowering, and fruiting. The leaf fall occurred in the dry period while leaf flushing, flowering and dispersion occurred at the beginning of the wet season. Except fruiting, all phenophases were highly synchronized. The majority of individuals flowered annually, although they did not fruit annually. Leaf fall was negatively associated with rainfall and temperature and flowering was positively associated with daylength.

Herbivoria foliar em <em>Chrysophyllum gonocarpum</em> (Sapotaceae) no Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy, Londrina, Estado do Paraná, Brasil

The levels of leaf herbivory were studied in individuals of Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart & Eichler) Engl. in sporadically flooded areas and unflood areas of the State Park Mata dos Godoy (23o27’S, 51o15’W ). The aim was to determine if herbivory affected the regeneration of this species. A relevant similarity was found in the average levels of herbivory among the sample sites and time. Only a small fraction of the sampled leaves presented considerable damage levels (removal of more than a third of the leaf area) and few individuals were intensely affected by herbivory. The herbivory did not influence the probability of death of the individuals nor affected their growth in high rates. Herbivory did not seem to be a limiting factor for Chrysophyllum gonocarpum regeneration in the State Park of Mata dos Godoy

New genus and seven new species of Brazilian eriophyoid mites and redescription of Catachela machaerii Keifer (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea)

Surveys on several naturally occurring plants in southeast Brazil led to the discovery of a new genus and seven new species of eriophyid mites. Athrix n.g. is described based on the type species Athrix lissoscutum n.sp. collected on Heteropteris aceroides Griseb; Athrix brevitibia n.sp. is described from Heteropteris anoptera Juss.; Aculus bistichos n.sp. is described from Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz.; Cenaca exigua n.sp. is described from Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichl.) Engl.; Cosella macrothrix n.sp. is described from Ficus pumila L.; Diptilostatus lofegoi n.sp. is described from Myrcia guianensis (Aubl.) DC; Diptilostatus mesae n.sp. is described from Clidemia hirta (L.) DC and Catachela machaerii Keifer is redescribed.

Análise fitossociológica de algumas áreas remanescentes da floresta do Alto Uruguai, entre os rios Ijuí e Turvo, no Rio Grande do Sul.

Para descrever a composição florística e estrutural de algumas áreas remanescentes da floresta do Alto Uruguai foram levantadas oito unidades amostrais de 15 x 100 m entre os rios Ijuí e Turvo, nos municípios de Roque Gonzáles, Porto Lucena, Porto Xavier, Alecrim, Tuparendi, Horizontina, Criciumal e Três Passos, no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Nas parcelas foram consideradas todas as árvores vivas com circunferência à altura do peito maior ou igual a 30 cm, onde mediram-se a circunferência, altura do fuste e altura total. Foram amostrados 588 indivíduos distribuídos em 26 famílias, 53 gêneros e 66 espécies. As famílias mais importantes foram Leguminosae, Boraginaceae e Sapindaceae, e as espécies mais importantes foram Patagonula americana, Diatenopteryx sorbifolia, Helietta longifoliata, Luehea divaricata, Holocalyx balansae e Chrysophyllum gonocarpum. Os fragmentos florestais analisados demonstraram estar se regenerando de perturbações sofridas o passado.