Abstract The diameter increments of Euterpe edulis was characterized in order to understand the influence of reproduction and forest basal area on its growth and to represent its development through polynomial models. For up to 14 years three populations were studied using permanent plots. To identify the effect of reproduction, the diameter increments of young and reproductive palms, as well as the effect of productivity on growth, were compared. To characterize the effect of basal area, subpopulations under different basal area conditions were compared, as was the effect of their evolution over time. Reproductive activity and forest basal area interfered with plant growth, being smaller in more productive plants and under more advanced successional conditions. Fifth-degree models were more suitable for ecological studies or for fruit harvesting. Quadratic models were restricted to estimates of palm heart management.

RESUMO Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a fenologia reprodutiva de Euterpe edulis, a fim de fundamentar estratégias de conservação e manejo. A área de estudo encontra-se na Floresta Nacional de Ibirama, Santa Catarina, e apresenta 24 parcelas permanentes (40 x 40 m). As avaliações fenológicas ocorreram de out/2007 a out/2009, monitorando todos os indivíduos quanto ao número e tipo de inflorescências e infrutescências. Durante o estudo, foram registrados dois eventos reprodutivos. A floração ocorreu de outubro a março e as infrutescências com frutos maduros ocorreram de março a dezembro (2008) e de maio a outubro (2009), evidenciando a importância de Euterpe edulis como fonte de alimento para a fauna, disponível por até 10 meses do ano. O número médio de inflorescências produzidas por matriz/ano foi de 2,2 e destas, somente 55,7% formaram frutos maduros. Durante o desenvolvimento das infrutescências, observou-se também uma redução de 52% na quantidade de frutos. As plantas entraram em reprodução a partir dos 7 cm de diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP), produzindo quase que exclusivamente inflorescências masculinas e à medida que crescem em diâmetro, aumentam o número de inflorescências e infrutescências emitidas/planta e o número de frutos maduros formados por infrutescência, apresentando também uma participação mais constante nos eventos reprodutivos. A formação de maior número de infrutescências por matriz, também se correlacionou à redução das taxas de crescimento anual em DAP, no qual a produção registrada em 2008 apresentou forte correlação com o crescimento apresentado pelas plantas entre 1997 e 2008, o que agrega qualidade às estimativas de produção partindo do DAP.

ABSTRACT This work aimed to study the reproductive phenology of Euterpe edulis in order to support conservation and management strategies. The study area is located in the National Forest of Ibirama - SC state, and consists of 24 permanent plots (40x40m). The phenological evaluations took place from October 2007 to October 2009, and all individuals were monitored in regard to the number and type of inflorescences and infructescences. During the study, two reproductive events were registered. The flowering period occurred from October to March. Infructescences with ripe fruits were found from March to December (2008) and from May to October (2009), which highlights the importance of Euterpe edulis as a food source for fauna, since it is available for10 months out of the year. The average number of inflorescences produced per mother tree/year was 2.2, of these only 55.7% formed ripe fruits. During the development of infructescences, a reduction of 52% in fruit quantity was also observed. The plants become reproductive from 7 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH), producing almost exclusively male inflorescences, and as they grow in diameter the number of inflorescences and infructescences emitted per plant increases, as well as the number of ripe fruits formed by infructescences, presenting a more constant participation in reproductive events. The formation of a higher number of inflorescences per mother tree is also correlated to the reduction of annual growth rates in DBH, where production recorded in 2008 showed a strong correlation with plant growth registered between 1997 and 2008, adding quality to the production estimates from DBH.