Native Fruit Tree Research Articles

Teste de tetrazólio para avaliação da qualidade fisiológica em sementes de Goiabeira-serrana (Acca sellowiana O. Berg Burret)

A goiabeira-serrana, espécie frutífera nativa do Sul do Brasil, vem mostrando- se promissora em termos ecológicos e comerciais. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de dois lotes de sementes de goiabeira-serrana por meio do teste de tetrazólio. O experimento foi dividido em duas etapas. Na primeira, os lotes foram submetidos aos testes de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, tempo médio de germinação, emergência em casa de vegetação, índice de velocidade de emergência de plântulas em casa de vegetação, tempo médio de emergência e comprimento de parte aérea. Na segunda, foi realizado o teste de tetrazólio nas concentrações de 0,5 e 1,0, e tempos de embebição (2 h e 4 h). O tratamento 0,5 TZ 4h obteve 73% de sementes viáveis (lote 2007). Para o lote 2008, não houve diferenças entre os tratamentos. O teste de germinação apresentou correlação positiva para os tratamentos 0,5 TZ 2 h e 1 TZ 2 h. Para a emergência de plântulas em casa de vegetação, houve correlação positiva para o tratamento 0,5 TZ 2 h. O teste de tetrazólio permitiu a classificação dos lotes em quatro níveis de viabilidade, confirmando a eficiência do teste na avaliação da viabilidade de sementes de goiabeira-serrana.

Tratamentos pré-germinativos em sementes de araçá-boi (Eugenia stipitata)

O araçá-boi (Eugenia stipitata) é uma fruteira nativa com grande potencial agroindustrial. Suas sementes são intolerantes ao dessecamento e apresentam dormência, o que dificulta sua propagação. O objetivo do trabalho foi analisar as características de germinação das sementes de araçá-boi submetidas a diferentes tratamentos pré-germinativos: retirada parcial do tegumento, lixiviação e fracionamento. A germinação das sementes intactas e com retirada parcial do tegumento foi realizada em dois ambientes: casa de vegetação e viveiro telado com sombrite de 50%. Para a lixiviação, as sementes foram colocadas em balde e submetidas à lixiviação, em água corrente, por até 90 dias, com intervalos de 10 dias. O fracionamento das sementes foi realizado de acordo com a posição da zona meristemática de protrusão da raiz e parte aérea (fracionamento transversal e longitudinal). A retirada parcial do tegumento das sementes de araçá-boi diminui o tempo médio de germinação de 91 para 48 dias, com 100% de emergência. As sementes de araçá-boi mantidas submersas em água corrente por até 50 dias mantêm a viabilidade e o vigor. As frações de sementes que apresentam a protuberância meristemática formam plântulas normais, com as mesmas características de germinação das sementes intactas, porém os diferentes tipos de fracionamento não aceleraram nem uniformizaram a germinação das sementes.

Physical characteristics and chemical-nutritional composition of the castanheira-do-gurguéia fruit (Dipteryx lacunifera Ducke)

The castanheira-do-gurguéia is a native fruit tree with great regional importance, whose almond present pleasant flavor and exploration still limited. The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical and chemical-nutritional characteristics of 23 castanheira-do-gurguéia genotypes from natural occurrence areas of Piauí State southwestern savannah. A sample of 30 to 50 fruits per genotype was collected. The physical characteristics analyzed were: fruit mass, pericarp mass, fruit length, larger fruit thickness, fruit length/larger fruit thickness ratio, smaller fruit thickness, fruit length/smaller fruit thickness ratio, larger pericarp thickness, smaller pericarp thickness, longitudinal diameter of the pericarp cavity, vertical diameter of the pericarp cavity, almond mass, almond length, larger almond thickness, smaller almond thickness and almond length/larger almond thickness ratio. The following chemical-nutritional characteristics of almonds were analyzed: fat, crude protein, crude fiber, ash total carbohydrates, crude energy and minerals (P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn). The data were submitted to analysis of variance and genotypes means were compared by Scott-Knott's test at 5%. There were differences among genotypes for all physical and chemical-nutritional characteristics evaluated, except Ca in the almonds. It was verified the presence of great phenotypic variability in the analyzed germplasm. The genotype G-3 is the most promising in terms of almond mass, almond length and larger almond thickness, and the genotypes G-7, G-10, G-13 and G-23 are the most promising in the chemical-nutritional composition.

Eugeniamyia dispar em pitangueira: parasitoides associados, dinâmica populacional e distribuição de galhas na planta

A pitangueira Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae) é uma frutífera nativa da América do Sul, podendo ser encontrada em quase todo o território brasileiro, bem como no Paraguai, no Uruguai e na Argentina. Nas folhas dessa planta, são encontradas galhas induzidas por Eugeniamyia dispar (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar os parasitoides associados a E. dispar, a dinâmica populacional de E. dispar e dos parasitoides e a distribuição de galhas na planta. Ramos e folhas foram coletados quinzenalmente, durante as safras agrícolas de 2007/2008 e 2008/2009, em pomares de pitangueira localizados no município de Pelotas-RS, e transportados para o laboratório para a contagem do número de galhas. Do material coletado, foram individualizadas dez folhas em recipientes plásticos (200 mL) contendo 30 mL de uma solução à base de ágar-água (2%) e metilpara-hidroxibenzoato (nipagin) (0,2%). Os recipientes foram fechados e mantidos sob condições controladas de temperatura (24±2ºC), umidade relativa (70±10%) e fotofase (14h), sendo registrado, diariamente, o número de insetos emergidos. Obteve-se uma espécie de Hymenoptera, Rileya hegeli (Eurytomidae), como parasitoide de E. dispar. Quanto à dinâmica populacional de E. dispar e de R. hegeli, foi observado, nos dois anos de avaliação, que a população de ambos aumentou a partir de outubro, atingindo as maiores populações nos meses de dezembro, janeiro e fevereiro, decrescendo posteriormente. O número de galhas por folha variou de zero a 23, sendo que 61,19% das folhas apresentavam de uma a oito galhas e que o número de folhas com galhas por ramo variou de uma a nove, sendo que 63,00% dos ramos apresentaram de uma a três folhas infestadas.

Native Larval Parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of Frugivorous Tephritoidea (Diptera) in South Pantanal Region, Brazil

The frugivorous larvae of Tephritidae and Lonchaeidae are key pests of fruit trees and vegetable crops in Brazil and in many other South American countries. Their most important natural enemies are parasitoids of the families Braconidae and Figitidae (Hymenoptera). The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of parasitoids in larvae of fruit flies (Tephritidae) and frugivorous Lonchaeidae that infest several species of native and exotic fruit trees in the South Pantanal Region, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Ninety-two species of fruits from 36 families and 22 orders were sampled. From 11 species of host fruits, we obtained 11,197 larvae of Tephritoidea, and in some samples there occurred Braconidae, Figitidae or Pteromalidae parasitoids. The Braconidae totaled 99.45%, represented by 3 species: Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti) 92.45%, Utetes anastrephae (Viereck) 6.17%, and Opius bellus (Gahan) with 0.82%. The Figitidae were represented by Lopheucoila anastrephae (Rohwer) (0.28%), and Pteromalidae by Spalangia endius (Walker) (0.28%). Lopheucoila anastrephae emerged from puparia of Neosilba spp. (Lonchaeidae) infesting pods of Inga laurina (Swartz) Willdenow. Doryctobracon areolatus was associated with 2 species of Anastrepha:A. rheediae Stone in Rheedia brasilensis Planchon & Triana and A. zenildae Zucchi in Sorocea sprucei saxicola (Hassler) C. C. Berg. In Ximenia americana L. 14% of the larvae of Anastrepha spp. were parasitized and D. areolatus reached more than 96% of total parasitism in this host fruit. The braconids were specific to Tephritidae, and the Figitidae species collected in this work were associated only with larvae of Neosilba spp. (Lonchaeidae).

High levels of genetic differentiation and selfing in the Brazilian cerrado fruit tree Dipteryx alata Vog. (Fabaceae)

Dipteryx alata is a native fruit tree species of the cerrado (Brazilian savanna) that has great economic potential because of its multiple uses. Knowledge of how the genetic variability of this species is organized within and among populations would be useful for genetic conservation and breeding programs. We used nine simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers developed for Dipteryx odorata to evaluate the genetic structure of three populations of D. alata located in central Brazil based on a leaf sample analysis from 101 adults. The outcrossing rate was evaluated using 300 open-pollinated offspring from 25 seed-trees. Pollen dispersal was measured by parentage analysis. We used spatial genetic structure (SGS) to test the minimal distance for harvesting seeds in conservation and breeding programs. Our data indicate that the populations studied had a high degree of genetic diversity and population structure, as suggested by the high level of divergence among populations . The estimated outcrossing rate suggested a mixed mating system, and the intrapopulation fixation index was influenced by SGS. We conclude that seed harvesting for genetic conservation and breeding programs requires a minimum distance between trees of 196 m to avoid collecting seeds from related seed-trees.

Will the native fruit tree Parkia Biglobosa remain adapted in the West African parklands? Preparing for the future climate

This article was submitted without an abstract, please refer to the full-text PDF file.

Will the native fruit tree Parkia Biglobosa remain adapted in the West African parklands? Preparing for the future climate

Will the native fruit tree Parkia Biglobosa remain adapted in the West African parklands? Preparing for the future climate

Crossability Between Wild (Malus sylvestris) and Cultivated (M. x domestica) Apples

AbstractMalus sylvestris, a native fruit tree of Europe, is believed to be threatened by hybridization with the omnipresent cultivated apple (Malus x domestica). In the present study a series of controlled crossings were carried out in order to establish whether M. sylvestris can hybridize with its near relative, M. x domestica. By looking at fruit set, seed production, germination percentages, and development of seedlings following inter- and intraspecific crossings, no indication of neither pre- nor postzygotic barriers to hybridization between the two species was found. This can have important implications for management of the genetic resources of M. sylvestris.

Caracterização física de frutos e sementes de goiaba-da-costa-rica, produzidos em Manaus, Amazonas

A goiaba-da-costa-rica (Psidium friedrichsthalianum) é uma espécie frutífera nativa da América Central, cultivada em pomares domésticos. Visando a contribuir para o estabelecimento de técnicas de implantação e condução de plantios comerciais, foi realizada a caracterização física de frutos e sementes dessa espécie. Assim, foi verificado que o valor médio da massa fresca dos frutos foi 42,19 g, da polpa foi 39,72 g e das sementes foi 2,47g, com número em torno de 72,8 sementes por fruto. As sementes apresentam formato irregular, com valores médios de comprimento, largura e espessura de 4,29 mm, 4,11 mm e 2,68 mm, respectivamente. O fruto apresenta atributos favoráveis ao aproveitamento industrial, como o elevado rendimento em polpa (94%) e o formato globoso, levemente achatado nos pólos (valor da relação diâmetro longitudinal/diâmetro transversal = 0,83). O número elevado de sementes por fruto representa uma característica facilitadora à propagação e produção de mudas.

EMERGÊNCIA E CRESCIMENTO DE CAGAITA (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) EM FUNÇÃO DO TIPO E DO VOLUME DE SUBSTRATOS

The production of transplants of native fruit trees is of great interest for the state of Goias aiming at the commercial production of these species and the recomposition of the Cerrado (tropical savannas) vegetation. With special interest on high emergence rate and fast growth of Cagaita ( Eugenia dysenterica DC ) transplants, there were tested three volumes of substract in tube-like plastic containers with 50 cm3, 120 cm3 and 228 cm3, and three types of rooting media such as soil + forest humus + vermiculite (1:1:2), the same with 1 gram of Yoorin (thermophosphate) per liter, and industrial organic compound Plantmax. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design with eight replications and split plots with 16 containers each. The rooting medium soil + forest humus + vermiculite showed to be favorable for fresh and dry matter production of over ground parts and underground parts of the plants. A good response was also obtained with the fertilizer treatment. The best growth of plants was observed in the bigger containers. Nevertheless, 160 days after seeding the transplants had not reached the stem diameter sufficient for grafting. KEY-WORDS: Cerrado fruit tree; Myrtaceae ; propagation.

Isolation and structure elucidation of phenolic compounds in Chinese olive (Canarium album L.) fruit

Chinese olive (Canarium album L.), one native and well-known tropical fruit tree in the southeast of China, contain a large amount of phenolics and possess great pharmacological activities. In this study, phenolics were extracted from Chinese olive fruit using 80% (v/v) aqueous acetone, and seven phenolic compounds were isolated and purified by Polyamide column and Toyopearl HW-40 column chromatography from crude extracts. Their structures were elucidated by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS), and where possible by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectrometry. Except gallic acid and hyperin, five phenolic compounds including methyl gallate, ethyl gallate, corilagin, kaempferol-3-glucoside and amentoflavone were first identified in Chinese olive.

Ecological relationships betweenCeratitisspp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) and other native fruit tree pests in southern Mozambique

Introduction . Insect pest identification and understanding of insect pest ecological relationships constitute a basic step for any control measure needed. Some native fruit trees occur naturally in southern Mozambique and the edible fruits are sought after by local communities. Our study aimed at assessing the activity of native fruit tree insect pests during the year and their ecological relationships, providing, for the first time, a faunistic analysis of insect species affecting fruit trees in the region of Maputo, Mozambique. Materials and methods . Entomological surveys were carried out between June 2002 and December 2003 in the Districts of Manhica, Marracuene, Namaacha and Matutuine (southern Mozambique). Quadrangular 900-m2 plots were established in fields where Annona senegalensis, Garcinia livingstonei and Vangueria infausta native fruit trees naturally occurred. The number of individual insect pests per fruit, tree and plot was recorded to estimate ecological fauna measurements: the affinity index, association index and simultaneous constancy. Results and conclusion . A total of 1648 insect specimens, belonging to eight insect species, were found while conducting the ecological observations on Annona senegalensis Pers (Annonaceae), Garcinia livingstonei T. Anders (Clusiaceae) and Vangueria infausta Burch (Rubiaceae). Two groups of pests were observed: defoliators and insects attacking the fruits, which represented the majority. Affinity between insect species was observed, with the relationship between Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann and one unidentified species of the Cosmopterigidae family reaching the highest values. C. capitata was also found to have the highest association index with Spatulipalpia monstrosa Balinsky (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), as well as Carpophilus sp. (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) and Araecerus sp. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). C. capitata and Araecerus sp. had the highest simultaneous occurrence in different locations. Cluster analysis also indicated that Ceratitis capitata and Carpophilus sp. had the highest similarity percentage in all samples.

Transference of microsatellite markers from Eucalyptus spp to Acca sellowiana and the successful use of this technique in genetic characterization

Abstract The pineapple guava (Acca sellowiana), known in portuguese as the goiabeira-serrana or “Feijoa”, is a native fruittree from southern Brazil and northern Uruguay that has commercial potential due to the quality and unique flavor ofitsfruits.Knowledgeofgeneticvariabilityisanimportanttoolinvariousstepsofabreedingprogram,whichcanbefa-cilitated by the use of molecular markers. The conservation of repeated sequences among related species permitsthe transferability of microsatellite markers from Eucalyptusspp.to A. sellowianafor testing. We used primers devel-oped for Eucalyptusto characterize A. sellowianaaccessions. Out of 404 primers tested, 180 amplified visible prod-ucts and 38 were polymorphic. A total of 48 alleles were detected with ten Eucalyptusprimer pairs against DNA from119 A. sellowianaaccessions. The mean expected heterozygosity among accessions was 0.64 and the mean ob-served heterozygosity 0.55. A high level of genetic diversity was also observed in the dendrogram, where the degreeofgeneticdissimilarityrangedfrom0to65%amongthe119genotypestested.Thisstudydemonstratesthepossibil-ity of transferring microsatellite markers between species of different genera in addition to evaluating the extent ofgenetic variability among plant accessions.

Intermediate metabolism during the ontogenetic development of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The fruit fly Anastrepha fraterculus is a major pest of native and exotic fruit trees in South America. Changes in weight, water content and metabolism were observed during its ontogenetic development in standard conditions (25 degrees C, RH=60% and 14 h:10 h photoperiod). The metabolic variables glycogen, total proteins, triglycerides and total lipids were measured by means of spectrophotometric methods. The results were correlated with pupae metamorphosis, temporal pattern, and beginning of adult life. Pupae were observed daily, and a sub-sample of 10 individuals was collected and maintained at -20 degrees C. The same procedure was performed with adults at 4 days after adult eclosion. Levels of total lipids and triglycerides were constant during pupal development, peaking in 312-h-old pupae. In 0-h-old pupae, glycogen levels were high, and decreased progressively until the insects were 312 h old. The peak in total proteins coincides with the post-histolysis period of the larval tissue (96-120 h). These results indicated that glycogen and proteins may be the principal sources of energy for metamorphosis. Total lipid and triglyceride contents remained steady during metamorphosis, and these were consumed in the first 4 days of adult life.

A remarkable new Thripid (Terebrantia: Thripidae) from Jak trees (Moraceae) in Bangalore (Karnataka), India

A remarkable species of Thripidae has been found in Bangalore (Karnataka) during May–June, 2005, living on leaves of Jak, a common native fruit tree in South India. It is surprising that this common species was not detected so far. Jakthrips ignacimuthui, new genus and species, has only superficial resemblance with Thrips, but is not closely related to any known genus of Thripidae.

O sub-bosque de reflorestamentos de pinus em sítios degradados da região da Floresta Estacional Decidual do Rio Grande do Sul.

Analisou-se o sub-bosque de 12 povoamentos de Pinus sp. e um de Araucaria angustifolia O.Ktze., crescendo em solos degradados pelo uso agrícola na chamada 4a Colônia do Rio Grande do Sul. A Araucaria foi semeada diretamente, um dos povoamentos de Pinus, de 10 anos, resultou de uma renovação natural, os demais provêm de plantios de 25 a 30 anos atrás. Em 575 parcelas de 25 m² cada, distribuídas sistematicamente nos povoamentos, foram levantados o estrato arbóreo e a vegetação inferior, classificada em estratos de 0,3 a 1,3 m e maior que 1,3 m; no estrato inferior a 0,3 m somente a renovação natural de Pinus foi contada. A vegetação interna dos povoamentos se compôs de 121 espécies lenhosas, incluindo espécies desde comuns até nobres, mas também ornamentais ou frutíferas nativas e exóticas. Um bom número de espécies, porém, ocorreu com poucos representantes. Além disso registrou-se a presença freqüente de espécies não-arbóreas como ervas, gramas, samambaias e cipós. O número de espécies e o grau de cobertura do sub-bosque não dependiam da densidade do estrato superior de pinheiros. A abundância e a freqüência das espécies não variavam significativamente entre parcelas do centro dos povoamentos e da faixa periférica. O padrão de distribuição espacial das plantas dentro dos povoamentos foi quantificado pelo Índice de Cox. O Índice de Shannon foi usado como medida da diversidade em espécies; pelo Índice de Sörensen foi estudada a semelhança dos povoamentos. Conclui-se que plantios de exóticas nessa região não somente podem ser de interesse para os agricultores pelo elevado potencial produtivo em madeira, como também significam manchas de inesperada biodiversidade numa paisagem degradada. A riqueza do sub-bosque possivelmente se deve á extensão reduzida desses povoamentos.

Collecting, ex situ conservation and characterization of “cajá-umbu” (Spondias mombin×Spondias tuberosa) germplasm in Pernambuco State, Brazil

“Caja-umbu” (Spondias mombin×Spondias tuberosa) is a native tropical Brazilian fruit tree with a great agro industrial potential. However the existing in situ and ex situ germplasm of this species is extremely restricted and vulnerable. This work aimed to collect, maintain characterize and evaluate 36 accesses of “Caja-umbu” Germplasm Collection owned by Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (IPA) located in the Northern Coastal Rain Forest region of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Plant growth, yield and fruit quality descriptors were evaluated, and data have shown variations on plant height, canopy and stem diameters, production and fruit weight. “Caja-umbu” had shown good adaptation to both climate and soil conditions of Northern Coastal Rain Forest region, in Pernambuco, with some genotypes such, as IPA-8.3, IPA-6.2, IPA-8.2, IPA-1.3 and IPA-5.3 showing outstanding yield characteristics.

Biologia floral e fenologia reprodutiva do camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (H.B.K.) McVaugh, Myrtaceae) no Estado Pará, Brasil

The camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (H. B.K.) McVaugh, Myrtaceae) is a native fruit tree found on seasonaly flooded banks of Amazonian rivers and lakes, which is being domesticated for cultivation on non-flooded areas. Its high ascorbic acid content, approximately 2,800 mg.100g-1 of pulp has increased the demand for local market and exportation. The floral biology and reproductive phenology of camu-camu were investigated in 1997 and 1998. The studies were carried out in orchards at Embrapa Amazonia Oriental, located in Belem and in areas of natural occurrence in Santarem and Oriximina, Para State, northern Brazil. Direct observations on the visitors behavior were done, as well as capturing of specimens for identification. M. dubia showed inflorescences with white, polyandrous, hermaphroditic flowers. Anthesis occurred between 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. The pollen grains are dry, easily carried by wind or gravity, being the main flower resource. The osmophores are located at the calyx, corolla, anthers and stigma. The flowering phenology was steady-state type, and showed a peak in March. Fruitification was higher in July. Partial leaf fall was observed in all the studied plants, mainly in November. The main flower visitors were Nannotrigona punctata and Trigona pallens (Meliponinae), as well as small beetles (Chrysomelidae). The stingless bees were considered the legitimate pollinators.

Ecological characteristics of areas naturally inhabited by Dolbae trees(Pyrus pyrifolia) on Mt. Kaya

The ecological characteristics of Dolbae trees, a valuable genetic resource for native pyrus fruit trees, were investigated at four naturally inhabited areas on Mount Kaya, Gyeongsangnam-Do. Most Dolbae trees were found on the southwest side of an old hiking path to a mountain valley at altitudes of 610∼670 m. The surrounding flora consisted of 46 families, 69 genera, 75 species, and 10 varieties. The natural habitat of the Dolbae trees was basically a deciduous broad-leaved forest with a predominance of Quercus serrata and ligneous plants(xylophytes) from the Fagaceae and Betulaceae families. The habitat was also found to be in a second transition resulting from forest disturbance and exhibited a degree of diversity of 2.901-5.065, based on Shannon-Weiner's index. Examination of the Dolbae trees found in Mount Kaya revealed diameter breast heights(DBHs) ranging from 10 to 60 cm, including six old and large Dolbae trees with a DBH of 50∼60 cm, which will be particularly valuable as a genetic resource. Accordingly, the current results suggest that the study areas are a secondary forest in a typical mid-temperate zone resulting from forest damage about 10 years earlier.