Variations in desiccation tolerance in seeds of Eugenia pyriformis: dispersal at different stages of maturation

Eugenia pyriformis Cambess., known locally as uvaieira, a species of fruit-bearing tree with both pharmacological and gastronomic potential, has seeds which are sensitive to desiccation. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the degree of tolerance to desiccation of uvaieira seeds depends on...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Lamarca, Edmir, Camargo, Marcelo, Teixeira, Simone, Silva, Edvaldo Aparecido, Faria, Jose Marcio, Barbedo, Claudio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC)
Repositorio:Revista ciência agronômica (Online)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:periodicos.ufc:article/84601
Acceso en línea:http://periodicos.ufc.br/revistacienciaagronomica/article/view/84601
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Myrtaceae
Uvaieira
Degree days
Physiological quality
Drying
Descripción
Sumario:Eugenia pyriformis Cambess., known locally as uvaieira, a species of fruit-bearing tree with both pharmacological and gastronomic potential, has seeds which are sensitive to desiccation. The aim of this study was to analyse whether the degree of tolerance to desiccation of uvaieira seeds depends on the stage of maturation of the seeds at shedding. This, in turn, depends on the environmental conditions in which the seeds develop, including the accumulation of degree-days and rainfall in the period. Seeds were collected from the ripe fruit of parent plants located in the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, Brazil, submitted to drying and analysed for water content and germination. A completely randomised design was used in a 20 x 3 factorial scheme (source of material x level of drying). The degree of desiccation tolerance differs between region and period of collection, even for the same parent plant when the seeds are collected in different years. The water and thermal conditions of the environment during seed development modify the maturation cycle, the physiological quality and the acquisition of desiccation tolerance. In uvaieira seeds, desiccation tolerance depends on the physiological maturity of the seeds at the time of dispersal, which is associated with the environmental conditions.