REPRODUCTIVE PHENOLOGY AND PRODUCTION OF FRUITS IN Euterpe edulis (Martius)

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.

Keywords:
management; infructescences; raceme; diameter at breast height