Abstracts
Seeds of Eugenia pyriformis may produce several seedlings after cutting. Both the type of cutting and the size of the seed can determine the success in obtaining new seedlings. The size of the seeds is dependent on both the number of seeds per fruit and the conditions in which seeds develop, as well as the biometric characteristics of these seeds obtained from different regions and seasons. The seeds from each origin were evaluated in length, width, thickness, water content and dry mass, as well as the average number of seeds per fruit. From one of the regions, seeds were grouped according to the number of seeds per fruit and also according to their size, and then cut into two and four parts, and then analyzed for the fragments germination. The results demonstrated the high capacity of these seed fragments to produce new seedlings, but the capability reduces with the reduction in seed size. This size depends not only on the number of seeds per fruit, but also on the region and the period of the seed production.
germination; seed cutting; Myrtaceae; uvaia
Uma semente de uvaieira (Eugenia pyriformis) pode produzir várias plântulas quando fracionada. A posição do corte e o tamanho da semente influenciam o sucesso da obtenção de novas plântulas. O número de sementes por fruto e as condições nas quais as sementes se desenvolvem podem promover diferenças nesse tamanho. No presente trabalho foram analisados o grau de influência do número de sementes por fruto sobre a capacidade das sementes de uvaieira em germinar após fracionamento e os aspectos biométricos de sementes de uvaieira obtidas em diferentes regiões e épocas. As sementes de cada origem foram avaliadas quanto ao comprimento, largura, espessura, conteúdo de massa fresca e seca e teor de água. De uma das regiões, sementes foram agrupadas segundo a quantidade de sementes por fruto e também segundo seu tamanho e, a seguir, foram fracionadas em duas e quatro partes e analisadas quanto à capacidade germinativa dos fragmentos obtidos. Os resultados demonstraram a elevada capacidade dos fragmentos dessas sementes em formar novas plântulas, mas tal capacidade reduz concomitante à redução no tamanho da semente. Esse tamanho depende não apenas do número de sementes por fruto, mas também da região e da época de produção das sementes.
germinação; fracionamento de semente; Myrtaceae; uvaia
Introduction
Uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Cambess - Myrtaceae) produces fruits which
are of great marketing, gastronomic and pharmacological value and are native of Brazil
(Stieven et al., 2009STIEVEN, A.C.; MOREIRA, J.J.; SILVA, C.F. Óleos essenciais de uvaia
(Eugenia pyriformis Cambess): avaliação das atividades microbiana e antioxidante.
Eclética Química, v.34, p.7-13, 2009.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/eq/v34n3/01.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/eq/v34n3/01.pdf...
; Ramirez et al., 2012RAMIREZ, M.R.; SCHNORR, C.E.; FEISTAUER, L.B.; APEL, M.; HENRIQUES,
A.T.; MOREIRA, J.C.F.; ZUANAZZI, J.A.S. Evaluation of the polyphenolic content,
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of total extract from Eugenia pyriformes
Cambess (uvaia) fruits. Journal of Food Biochemistry, v.36, p.405-412, 2012.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-4514.2011.00558.x/pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.11...
; Lamarca et
al., 2013LAMARCA, E.V.; BAPTISTA, W.; RODRIGUES, D.S.; OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, C.J.F.
Contribuições do conhecimento local sobre o uso de Eugenia spp. em sistemas de
policultivos e agroflorestais. Revista Brasileira de Agroecologia, v.8, p.119-130,
2013a.
http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br/revistas/index.php/rbagroecologia/article/view/13256/9905
http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br/revis...
a), with great potential for economic exploitation. However, this
exploitation still depends on technology development for a large-scale production, which
has limitations starting at the commercial orchards installation. The seedling
production of this species is currently low due to, among other factors, the lack of
sufficient amount of seeds, for there are few plants producing fruits, few fruits per
plant and few seeds per fruit (Silva et al.,
2005SILVA, C.V.; BILIA, A.C.; BARBEDO, C.J.Fracionamento e germinação de
sementes de Eugenia., Revista Brasileira de Sementes v.27, p.86-92,
2005.http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbs/v27n1/25185.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbs/v27n1/25185...
). The number of seeds per fruit is variable, but generally does not exceed
four units (Justo et al., 2007JUSTO, C.F.; ALVARENGA, A.A.; ALVES, E.; GUIMARÃES, R.M.; STRASSBURG,
R.S. Efeito da secagem, do armazenamento e da germinação sobre a micromorfologia de
sementes de Eugenia pyriformis Camb. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v.21, p.539-551, 2007.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v21n3.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v2...
). Therefore, to
increase the cuttings production there is the need to deploy orchards producing seeds
and/or to maximize the use of seeds produced.
Studies have demonstrated the possibility of having several seedlings from a single
uvaia seed because, although monoembryonic, such seed has great potential in producing
seedlings after being cut (Delgado et al., 2010DELGADO, L.F.; MELLO, J.I.O.; BARBEDO, C.J.Potential for regeneration
and propagation from cut seeds of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) tropical tree species. Seed
Science and Technology, v.38, p.624-34,
2010.http://dx.doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.3.10
http://dx.doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.3...
;
Teixeira and Barbedo, 2012TEIXEIRA, C.C., BARBEDO, C.J.The development of seedlings from fragments
of monoembryonic seeds as an important survival strategy for Eugenia (Myrtaceae) tree
species. Trees, v.26, p.1069-1077, 2012.
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/86/art%253A10.1007%252Fs00468-011-0648-5.pdf?auth66=1419267966_7e6742fd8463ea9746b548039f7dc051&ext=.pdf
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/...
). This potential
suggests the presence of meristematic tissues capable of further differentiation,
including in new embryos (Delgado et al., 2010DELGADO, L.F.; MELLO, J.I.O.; BARBEDO, C.J.Potential for regeneration
and propagation from cut seeds of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) tropical tree species. Seed
Science and Technology, v.38, p.624-34,
2010.http://dx.doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.3.10
http://dx.doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.3...
).
In fact, in general, the embryo has meristematic toti or pluripotent cells, offering all
the information needed to grow and give rise to a mature plant (Marcos-Filho, 2005MARCOS-FILHO, J. Fisiologia de sementes de plantas cultivadas.
Piracicaba: FEALQ, 2005. 495p.; Batygina and
Vinogradova, 2007BATYGINA, T.B.; VINOGRADOVA, G.Y. Phenomenon of polyembryony. Genetic
heterogenity of seeds. Russian Journal of Developmental Biology, v.38, p.126-151,
2007.http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/882/art%253A10.1134%252FS1062360407030022.pdf?auth66=1419268241_9f33377ab9ce09346fd271c5311779c0&ext=.pdf
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/...
). In uvaia, this characteristic was described ten years ago
and has been studied since then.
Non fractioned uvaia seed produces, as a rule, a single root and single seedlings. It
was found, for example, that seeds fractioned into two parts produce two independent
root systems (one in each resultant fraction), each one generating a new seedling. This
would suggest that there is a potential stimulating effect generated by the cut however,
curiously, there is hardly any formation of two root systems in the same fraction,
suggesting a method of inhibiting a second germination after the beginning of the first
seedling development (Amador and Barbedo, 2011AMADOR, T.S.; BARBEDO, C.J. Potencial de inibição da regeneração de
raízes e plântulas em sementes germinantes de Eugenia pyriformis. Pesquisa
Agropecuária Brasileira, v.46, p. 814-821, 2011.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v46n8/05.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v46n8/05.pd...
).
It was also found that both the cutting positions as well as the size of the seed
influence the success of obtaining young seedlings. Therefore, when increasing the
number of cuts in the seeds, only the largest ones proved to be able to continue
producing young seedlings (Silva et al., 2005SILVA, C.V.; BILIA, A.C.; BARBEDO, C.J.Fracionamento e germinação de
sementes de Eugenia., Revista Brasileira de Sementes v.27, p.86-92,
2005.http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbs/v27n1/25185.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbs/v27n1/25185...
;
Amador and Barbedo, 2011AMADOR, T.S.; BARBEDO, C.J. Potencial de inibição da regeneração de
raízes e plântulas em sementes germinantes de Eugenia pyriformis. Pesquisa
Agropecuária Brasileira, v.46, p. 814-821, 2011.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v46n8/05.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v46n8/05.pd...
; Teixeira and Barbedo, 2012TEIXEIRA, C.C., BARBEDO, C.J.The development of seedlings from fragments
of monoembryonic seeds as an important survival strategy for Eugenia (Myrtaceae) tree
species. Trees, v.26, p.1069-1077, 2012.
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/86/art%253A10.1007%252Fs00468-011-0648-5.pdf?auth66=1419267966_7e6742fd8463ea9746b548039f7dc051&ext=.pdf
http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/...
). Therefore the resulting mass after
fractioning seems to affect the success in the production of seedlings per seed.
One of the factors that influence the size of uvaia seeds is the number of seeds per
fruit, for seeds are smaller when more numerous per fruit (Justo et al., 2007JUSTO, C.F.; ALVARENGA, A.A.; ALVES, E.; GUIMARÃES, R.M.; STRASSBURG,
R.S. Efeito da secagem, do armazenamento e da germinação sobre a micromorfologia de
sementes de Eugenia pyriformis Camb. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v.21, p.539-551, 2007.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v21n3.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v2...
). The conditions under which seeds develop can
also promote differences in the size of seeds produced. Studies show that water
availability and thermal variations, for example, may contribute to the variability of
physical aspects such as the size and weight of fruits and seeds, among individuals or
populations of the same species (Daws et al.,
2004DAWS, M.I.; LYDALL, E.; CHMIELARZ, P.; LEPRINCE, O.; MATTHEWS, S.;
THANOS, C.A.; PRITCHARD, H.W. Developmental heat sum influences recalcitrant seed
traits in Aesculus hippocastanum across Europe. New Phytologist, v.162, p.157-166,
2004.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01012.x/pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.11...
, 2006DAWS, M.I.; CLELAND, H.;; CHMIELARZ, P. GORIN, F.;; LEPRINCE, O.;
MATTHEWS, S. MULLINS, C.E.;; THANOS, C.A. VANDVIK, V.; PRITCHARD, H.W.Variable
dessication tolerance in Acer pseudoplatanus seeds in relation to developmental
conditions: a case of phenotypic recalcitrance? Functional Plant Biology, v.33,
p.59-66, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP04206
http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP04206...
; Santos et al., 2009SANTOS, F.S.; PAULA, R.C.; SABONARO, D.Z.; VALADARES, J. Biometria e
qualidade fisiológica de sementes de diferentes matrizes de Tabebuia chrysotricha
(Mart. ex A. DC.) StandI. Scientia Forestalis, v.37, p.163-173, 2009.
http://www.ipef.br/publicacoes/scientia/nr82/cap06.pdf
http://www.ipef.br/publicacoes/scientia/...
; Andrade et al.,
2010ANDRADE, L.A.; BRUNO, R.L.A.; SOARES, L.; OLIVEIRA, B.; SILVA, H.T.F.
Aspectos biométricos de frutos e sementes, grau de umidade e superação de dormência
de jatobá. Acta Scientiarum Agronomy, v.32, p.293-299, 2010.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/asagr/v32n2/a16v32n2.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/asagr/v32n2/a16...
; Joët et al., 2013JOËT, T.; OURCIVAL, J. M.; DUSSERT, S. Ecological significance of seed
desiccation sensitivity in Quercus ilex. Annals of Botany, v.111, p.693-701, 2013.
http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/02/05/aob.mct025.full.pdf
http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/ea...
). Specifically
for uvaia, environmental conditions during seed formation may exert great influence on
their various characteristics, but did not assess such influence on the size (Lamarca et al., 2013LAMARCA, E.V.; PRATAVIERA, J.S.; BORGES, I.F.;; DELGADO, L.F. TEIXEIRA,
C.C.; CAMARGO, M.B.P.; FARIA, J.M.R.; BARBEDO, C.J.Maturation of Eugenia pyriformis
seeds under different hydric and thermal conditions. Anais da Academia Brasileira de
Ciências, v.85, p.223-233, 2013b.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v85n1/0001-3765-aabc-85-01-223.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v85n1/0001...
b). There is no description in
literature on uvaia seed size variations according to its origin, nor variations in the
potential of these seeds in producing new seedlings after cutting, arising from the size
and number of seeds per fruit.
In the present study, the degree of influence of the number of uvaia seeds per fruit on seed germinability after cutting were analyzed, as well as their biometric aspects obtained in different regions and seasons.
Material and Methods
Origin of seeds: uvaia seeds were obtained from freshly dispersed ripe
fruits, according to the maturation and dispersal information from Lamarca et al. (2013LAMARCA, E.V.; PRATAVIERA, J.S.; BORGES, I.F.;; DELGADO, L.F. TEIXEIRA,
C.C.; CAMARGO, M.B.P.; FARIA, J.M.R.; BARBEDO, C.J.Maturation of Eugenia pyriformis
seeds under different hydric and thermal conditions. Anais da Academia Brasileira de
Ciências, v.85, p.223-233, 2013b.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v85n1/0001-3765-aabc-85-01-223.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v85n1/0001...
b). Fruits were collected from 10 different
regions, as described in detail in Table 1.
Abbreviations have been adopted, according to the area and period or elevation, as
follows: Ribeirão Preto (RIB), Lavras (LAV), São Bento do Sapucaí (SBS), Campinas (CAM),
Jumirim (JUM), São Paulo (SPA), Ibiúna (IBI), São Bernardo do Campo (SBC), Itaberá (ITA)
and Pariquera-Açú (PAR). In four of those regions (CAM, SPA, IBI and SBC) seeds were
obtained from the same plants in two years, identified as 1 and 2 and, SBS from three
different elevations, indicated by 1, 2 and 3. Each collecting according to the period
and region or region and elevation, was seen as a different origin of seeds.
In the period of the species maximum flowering, of each origin, tree inflorescences that
had most of the flowers in anthesis were marked. From weather stations, located close to
the collection areas, daily rainfall data were obtained (mm), as well as maximum and
minimum air temperatures (°C). The data were provided by the Campinas Agronomic
Institute, Federal University of Lavras and the Astronomical and Geophysical Institute
of São Paulo University. At the period between flowering and seed dispersal the
accumulated precipitation (mm) and accumulated degree-days (°C.day), were calculated
according to the equations proposed by Villa Nova et al.
(1972)VILLA NOVA, N.A.; PEDRO JÚNIOR, M.J.; PEREIRA, A.R.; OMETTO, J.C.
Estimativa de graus-dia acumulados acima de qualquer temperatura base em função das
temperaturas máxima e mínima. Caderno Ciência da Terra, v.30, p.1-8,
1972., taking into consideration the basic temperature of 10 °C (Pedro Junior et al., 1977PEDRO JUNIOR, M.J.; BRUNINI, O.; ALFONSI, R.R.; ANGELOCCI, L.R.
Estimativa de graus-dia em função de altitude e latitude para o estado de São Paulo.
Bragantia, v.36, p.89-92, 1977.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/brag/v36n1/05.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/brag/v36n1/05.p...
).
The germinating capacity analysis after cutting according to size and number of seeds per fruit: SPA2 seeds were grouped among those from fruits containing a single seed, fruits containing two seeds and fruits containing three or more seeds. Each group of seed samples was evaluated per size, three orthogonal axes measures being taken, using digital calipers with 0.01 mm accuracy. The largest seed size axis was considered to be its length, perpendicular to the major axis length regarded as width, and the axis perpendicular to the previous two as its thickness.
In a first experiment, seeds of each group were divided into three groups, each receiving different cutting treatments: a) whole seeds (without cutting), b) seeds cut in its middle and c) seeds cut into four parts. Therefore, we obtained a 3 x 3 factorial design (number of seeds per fruit x type of cutting) in a completely randomized design and four replications of 16 seeds in each test.
In a second experiment, the seeds from fruits with one or two seeds were separated according to their size, small and large, keeping track of their origin (number of seeds per fruit). Therefore, four groups of seeds were obtained, according to origin and size: large seeds from fruits with one seed (LGF1), large seeds from fruits with two seeds (LGF2), small seeds from fruits with one seed (SSF1) and small seeds from fruits with two seeds (SSF2). Seeds were also cut as described in the previous experiment, obtaining a 4 x 3 factorial (seed origin x fractionation type), with four replicates of 16 seeds.
Uvaia seeds origin. Geographic location, Köppen climate classification, maturation cycle (period between flowering and dispersion) and collection sites meteorological data during the maturation cycle. Min: minimum temperature; Max: maximum temperature; Degree-days; Rain: accumulated rain precipitation; WC: seed water content (% wet basis) at the time of dispersion.
Seeds and seed fractions were placed in transparent, colorless plastic boxes (gerbox
type) filled with expanded vermiculite of medium particle size, saturated with 70 mL tap
water and placed in a growth chamber at 25 °C, with constant light and 100% relative
humidity. The number of seeds or seed fractions which produced normal seedlings was
registered (Delgado and Barbedo, 2007DELGADO, L.F., BARBEDO, C.J.Tolerância à dessecação de sementes de
espécies de Eugenia., Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira v.42, p.265-272, 2007.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v42n2/16.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v42n2/16.pd...
) to
calculate germination and seeds issuing primary root with at least 2 cm, for germinable
seeds evaluation.
The evaluations were performed every 5 days, until there were no more new roots for 30 consecutive days. The final accounting of germination and germinated seeds, for cut seeds, were the number of fractions with normal seedlings or protruded roots, respectivelly, related to the total number of seeds. Data were subjected to the variance analysis and averages were compared by the Tukey test with 5% probability (Santana and Ranal, 2004SANTANA, D.G.; RANAL, M.A. Análise da germinação: um enfoque estatístico. Brasília: Universidade de Brasília, 2004. 248p.).
Biometrics and germination of seeds from different origins: at the end
of the period of fruit formation and maturation, freshly dispersed ripe fruits were
collected (up to 24 hours from dispersion) for seed biometric evaluations. We selected
40 fruits at random from each origin, opened them, registering the number of seeds per
fruit. The seeds were then washed in water, on strainer. Once washed, we removed the
excess water on its surface with filter paper. Afterwards the seeds from each origin
were evaluated per length, width, thickness, as described above. Dry and fresh mass and
water content were also evaluated. The fresh mass content was determined by a scale with
0.001 g accuracy, the results being shown in g .seed-1; the dry mass content
and the water content was determined gravimetrically by oven method at 103 °C for 17
hours with the results shown, respectively, in g.seed-1 and in % (wet basis),
as described in Brasil (2009)BRASIL. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Regras para
análise de sementes. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Secretaria
de Defesa Agropecuária. Brasília: MAPA/ACS, 2009. 395p.
http://www.agricultura.gov.br/arq_editor/file/2946_regras_analise__sementes.pdf.
http://www.agricultura.gov.br/arq_editor...
. The germination
test was performed as described previously.
The experimental design was completely randomized with four replications of 10 seeds. The data obtained were subjected to the variance analysis (F test), at 5% level. When relevant, the averages were compared by the Tukey test, also at 5% (Santana and Ranal, 2004SANTANA, D.G.; RANAL, M.A. Análise da germinação: um enfoque estatístico. Brasília: Universidade de Brasília, 2004. 248p.). Later, we calculated simple correlation coefficients for all combinations between the meteorological data and biometric data of the seeds and the significance was determined by t test with 5% probability.
Results and Discussion
The seed dimensions according to the number of seeds per fruit (Figure 1A) showed that the greater the number of seeds per fruit, the
smaller the final size of each seed, as was also observed by Justo et al. (2007JUSTO, C.F.; ALVARENGA, A.A.; ALVES, E.; GUIMARÃES, R.M.; STRASSBURG,
R.S. Efeito da secagem, do armazenamento e da germinação sobre a micromorfologia de
sementes de Eugenia pyriformis Camb. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v.21, p.539-551, 2007.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v21n3.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v2...
). The germination potential was high for seeds
from all sources (Figure 1), reaching values above
200% of germinable seeds, when cut into four parts (Figure
1C). However, it was found that the number of seeds contained in the fruit is
related to the germination capacity, specifically when there are three or more seeds per
fruit, and also when more than one cutting is performed. One explanation for this
difference would be the fact that, as described above, a larger number of seeds per
fruit results in smaller seeds and the seed mass are directly related to the number of
cutting, capable of ensuring the formation of new seedlings (Silva et al., 2003SILVA, C.V.; BILIA, D.A.C.; MALUF, A.M.; BARBEDO, C.J.Fracionamento e
germinação de sementes de uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Cambess.- Myrtaceae)., Revista
Brasileira de Botânica v.26, p.213-221,
2003.http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n2/a09v26n2.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n2/a09v2...
). Therefore, it would be expected that the
greater the number of seeds per fruit, the lower the germination capacity of these
seeds. This was observed when comparing seeds from fruits with three or more seeds, to
fruits with one or two seeds, however not when comparing the last two ones. This could
be due to the variation in seed size of these two sources, which was high. These are the
most frequent categories, specifically the fruits with two seeds, which correspond to
81% of the fruits (Andrade and Ferreira,
2000ANDRADE, R.N.B.; FERREIRA, A.G. Germinação e armazenamento de sementes
de uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Camb.) - Myrtaceae. Revista Brasileira de Sementes,
v.22, n.2, p.118-125, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/23264
http://hdl.handle.net/10183/23264...
).
Uvaia seed size (A) germination (B) and germinated seeds (C) according to the number of seeds per fruit and type of cutting. Columns in black: fruit with one seed; in white: with two seeds; gray: three or more seeds. Columns with the same letter (lowercase comparing number of seeds per fruit, upper case comparing cutting) do not differ among them (Tukey, 5%).
The size variation in the seeds of these two groups was evident in the second experiment, in which seeds were visually divided between large and small. Seeds of different sizes within the same sub category were obtained (Figure 2A). The results of germination of these subgroups showed that seed size has greater effect on germination after cutting than the amount of seeds per fruit. Within the same category, large seeds germinated more than the small ones (Figure 2).
Uvaia seed size (A) germination (B) and germinated seeds (C) according to the number of seeds per fruit and type of cutting. Columns in black: large seeds, fruit with one seed; in white: large seeds, fruits with two seeds; gray: small seeds, fruit with one seed; stripes: small seeds, fruits with two seeds. Columns with the same letter (lowercase comparing size and number of seeds per fruit, upper case comparing cutting type) do not differ among them (Tukey, 5%).
Cutting small seeds SSF1 and SSF2 showed that there is a higher limitation on the plant growth than in the root production. This could be due to: 1) the seed fragmentation reduces the reserves amount that, in the small ones, can become insufficient for the seedling, root and shoot growth, similar to the described in previous studies (Silva et al., 2003; Teixeira and Barbedo, 2012);
2) the distance between the germination region end and its opposite is higher in the larger seeds than on the smaller ones. In this case a possible inhibitory effect, caused by the first germination onset, preventing the totipotent cells differentiation in the opposite area, would take longer to sense in larger fragments, similar to the observed with fissured seeds (partially fractioned) (Amador and Barbedo, 2011).
The results obtained for the cut seeds of different sizes demonstrated the importance of the biometrics knowledge for a better analysis of benefits and harms of this fractionation. However, the variation in seed size not only lies in the number of seeds per fruit, but also in the region and time of seeds production.
Seeds of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul state, for example, showed fresh mass between 0.2 and 2.0 g (Andrade and Ferreira, 2000), while those from Lavras, Minas Gerais state, were between 0.5 and 2.5 g (Justo et al., 2007), a variation range similar to the one obtained in the present study, from 0.5 to 2.7 g, considering ten regions and 16 different origins (Table 2).
Seeds obtained from different regions and seasons also demonstrated big changes of other
biometric aspects evaluated, such as length (ranging from 8.11 to 19.21 mm), width (7.11
to 16.18 mm), thickness (5.28 to 13.36 mm), beyond the number of seeds per fruit (which
ranged from 1.08 to 1.85). The seed size (length, width and thickness) is linked to the
fresh and dry mass content and water content, as there were significant correlations
between these variables (Table 3). The number of
seeds per fruit was always between 1 and 4, similar to the previously observed (Andrade and Ferreira, 2000ANDRADE, R.N.B.; FERREIRA, A.G. Germinação e armazenamento de sementes
de uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Camb.) - Myrtaceae. Revista Brasileira de Sementes,
v.22, n.2, p.118-125, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/23264
http://hdl.handle.net/10183/23264...
; Justo et al., 2007JUSTO, C.F.; ALVARENGA, A.A.; ALVES, E.; GUIMARÃES, R.M.; STRASSBURG,
R.S. Efeito da secagem, do armazenamento e da germinação sobre a micromorfologia de
sementes de Eugenia pyriformis Camb. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v.21, p.539-551, 2007.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v21n3.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v2...
). However, the average seeds per fruit little
fluctuated, between 1.08 and 1.80 (Table 2).
Considering that plants from ten different regions were analyzed, it can be assumed that
the uvaia fruit produce mostly, one or two seeds. The number of seeds was negatively
correlated to the length and thickness (Table 3).
Therefore, when the fruit has two seeds, these are smaller than those with one seed,
especially concerning length and thickness and, as seen in the previous experiment, it
directly affects the seed germination capacity after fractionation.
The highest values of length, width, thickness and fresh and dry mass were from higher elevation and higher maturation cycle, SBS2 and SBS3 respectively (Tables 1 and 2). On the other side, the source that had length, width and thickness lowest values, had the highest value of seeds number per fruit, as IBI2 (Table 2).
It was observed also that the origins that were similar in length, width and thickness, for example, RIB, CAM1, CAM2, JUM, SBC1, SBC2 and IBI1 showed as well similar values as the sum of degree-days (Tables 1 and 2). The differences between seed sizes were also observed for samples taken at the same plants, but at different periods (SBS and IBI); however, they were more evident concerning the fresh and dry mass content (SBS, IBI and SBC). Despite the differences in dimensions, seeds from only three regions showed germination values below the highest LAV (100%), namely, SPA1 (63%), IBI2 (57%) and SBC1 (68%) (Table 2).
In studies of Tabebuia chrysotricha seeds, arising from the same
population (Santos et al., 2009SANTOS, F.S.; PAULA, R.C.; SABONARO, D.Z.; VALADARES, J. Biometria e
qualidade fisiológica de sementes de diferentes matrizes de Tabebuia chrysotricha
(Mart. ex A. DC.) StandI. Scientia Forestalis, v.37, p.163-173, 2009.
http://www.ipef.br/publicacoes/scientia/nr82/cap06.pdf
http://www.ipef.br/publicacoes/scientia/...
), but from
different plants and with Eugenia dysenterica seeds (Silva et al., 2001SILVA, R.S.M.; CHAVES, L.J.; NAVES, R.V. Caracterização de frutos e
árvores de cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) no sudeste do estado de Goiás, Brasil.
Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, v.23, p.330-334, 2001.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbf/v23n2/7976.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbf/v23n2/7976....
) and Eugenia calycina
(Cardoso and Lomônaco, 2003CARDOSO, G.L.; LOMÔNACO, C. Variações fenotípicas e potencial plástico
de Eugenia calycina Cambess. (Myrtaceae) em uma área de transição cerrado-vereda.
Revista Brasileira de Botânica, v.26, p.131-140, 2003.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n1/v26n1a14.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n1/v26n1...
), from
different populations, variations in the biometric of seeds were observed, which have
also been associated, among other factors, to phenotypic differences in response to
environmental conditions. In this study, the biometric variations of uvaia seeds from
different regions and periods were correlated with environmental conditions,
specifically among accumulated degree-days and length, dry mass content and water
content variables (Table 3).
The maturation cycle also exerted influence on the biometric variables (length,
thickness, dry mass content and water content), with significant correlations (Table 3). This cycle, however, was positively
correlated with accumulated rainfall and degree-days. The influence of environmental
conditions on seed maturity and physical characteristics has also been demonstrated for
Aesculus hippocastanum and Acer pseudoplatanus
(Daws et al., 2004DAWS, M.I.; LYDALL, E.; CHMIELARZ, P.; LEPRINCE, O.; MATTHEWS, S.;
THANOS, C.A.; PRITCHARD, H.W. Developmental heat sum influences recalcitrant seed
traits in Aesculus hippocastanum across Europe. New Phytologist, v.162, p.157-166,
2004.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01012.x/pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.11...
, 2006DAWS, M.I.; CLELAND, H.;; CHMIELARZ, P. GORIN, F.;; LEPRINCE, O.;
MATTHEWS, S. MULLINS, C.E.;; THANOS, C.A. VANDVIK, V.; PRITCHARD, H.W.Variable
dessication tolerance in Acer pseudoplatanus seeds in relation to developmental
conditions: a case of phenotypic recalcitrance? Functional Plant Biology, v.33,
p.59-66, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP04206
http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP04206...
), coffee (Petek
et al., 2009PETEK, M.R.; SERA, T.; FONSECA, I.C.B. Exigências climáticas para o
desenvolvimento e maturação dos frutos de cultivares de Coffea arabica., Bragantia
v.68, p.169-181, 2009.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/brag/v68n1/a18v68n1.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/brag/v68n1/a18v...
), Euterpe edulis (Martins et al., 2009MARTINS, C.C.; BOVI, M.L.A.; NAKAGAWA, J.; MACHADO, C.G. Secagem e
armazenamento de sementes de juçara. Revista Árvore, v.33, p.635-642, 2009.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rarv/v33n4/v33n4a06.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rarv/v33n4/v33n...
), Quercus ilex (Joët et al., 2013JOËT, T.; OURCIVAL, J. M.; DUSSERT, S. Ecological significance of seed
desiccation sensitivity in Quercus ilex. Annals of Botany, v.111, p.693-701, 2013.
http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/02/05/aob.mct025.full.pdf
http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/ea...
) and Inga vera
(Lamarca et al., 2013LAMARCA, E.V.; BONJOVANI, M.R.;; FARIA, J.M.R. BARBEDO, C.J.Germinação
em temperatura sub-ótima de embriões de Inga vera subsp. Affinis obtidos sob
diferentes condições ambientais. Rodriguésia, v.64, p.877-885, 2013c.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rod/v64n4/v64n4a15.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rod/v64n4/v64n4...
c), besides the
uvaia itself (Lamarca et al., 2013LAMARCA, E.V.; BAPTISTA, W.; RODRIGUES, D.S.; OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, C.J.F.
Contribuições do conhecimento local sobre o uso de Eugenia spp. em sistemas de
policultivos e agroflorestais. Revista Brasileira de Agroecologia, v.8, p.119-130,
2013a.
http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br/revistas/index.php/rbagroecologia/article/view/13256/9905
http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br/revis...
a).
The results of germination of cut seeds of different sizes and origins (seed number per
fruit) as well as the seed biometric variations from different regions and seasons,
allow its division into three groups. In the first one, with greater chances of success
in obtaining seedlings from cut seeds, they would include the ones coming from SBS, LAV,
PAR, JUM, ITA and RIB; in the second one, with higher probability of failure, SPA and
IBI; in the third one, CAM and SBC seeds, in borderline position between success and
failure, being more dependent on the number of seeds per fruit and environmental
conditions, according to the year of seed production. Therefore, although one can get
technological gain by cutting uvaia seeds for seedling production, reaching a 50%
increase as shown in previous works (Silva et al.,
2003SILVA, C.V.; BILIA, D.A.C.; MALUF, A.M.; BARBEDO, C.J.Fracionamento e
germinação de sementes de uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Cambess.- Myrtaceae)., Revista
Brasileira de Botânica v.26, p.213-221,
2003.http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n2/a09v26n2.pdf
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n2/a09v2...
), it became clear that this gain depends on a previous analysis of the
lot biometric characteristics, which may vary according to the region and the
season.
Conclusions
The ability to produce new seedlings in uvaia seeds after cutting depends on the seed size, which also depends on the number of seeds per fruit, the region and the period of the seed production.
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Dr. Domingos S. Rodrigues (IBt), Dr. João J. D. Parisi (IAC), the Regional Pole of Vale do Ribeira - Pariquera-Açú/São Paulo, CATI from Itaberá/SP, CATI from São Bento do Sapucaí/São Paulo, the Agriculture House in Jumirim/São Paulo, USP-University of Ribeirão Preto/São Paulo, the Botany Institute of São Paulo/SP, the Agronomic Institute of Campinas/São Paulo, the Lavras Federal University/Minas Gerais, Mrs. Kathya I. B. Costa and Mr. Milton R. Costa, for permission and support in collections; Dr. Lucia Rossi (IBt), for the species identification; the Lavras Federal University, Lavras, Minas Gerais, the Agronomic Institute of Campinas, Campinas/São Paulo and the Astronomical and Geophysical Institute of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, for the provision of meteorological data; the CNPq and CAPES for scholarships granted to J.S. Prataviera (Scientific Initiation), E.V. Lamarca and C.C. Teixeira (Doctorate) and C.J. Barbedo (Research Productivity).
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» http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v46n8/05.pdf - ANDRADE, R.N.B.; FERREIRA, A.G. Germinação e armazenamento de sementes de uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis Camb.) - Myrtaceae. Revista Brasileira de Sementes, v.22, n.2, p.118-125, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10183/23264
» http://hdl.handle.net/10183/23264 - ANDRADE, L.A.; BRUNO, R.L.A.; SOARES, L.; OLIVEIRA, B.; SILVA, H.T.F. Aspectos biométricos de frutos e sementes, grau de umidade e superação de dormência de jatobá. Acta Scientiarum Agronomy, v.32, p.293-299, 2010. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/asagr/v32n2/a16v32n2.pdf
» http://www.scielo.br/pdf/asagr/v32n2/a16v32n2.pdf - BATYGINA, T.B.; VINOGRADOVA, G.Y. Phenomenon of polyembryony. Genetic heterogenity of seeds. Russian Journal of Developmental Biology, v.38, p.126-151, 2007.http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/882/art%253A10.1134%252FS1062360407030022.pdf?auth66=1419268241_9f33377ab9ce09346fd271c5311779c0&ext=.pdf
» http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/882/art%253A10.1134%252FS1062360407030022.pdf?auth66=1419268241_9f33377ab9ce09346fd271c5311779c0&ext=.pdf - BRASIL. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Regras para análise de sementes. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Secretaria de Defesa Agropecuária. Brasília: MAPA/ACS, 2009. 395p. http://www.agricultura.gov.br/arq_editor/file/2946_regras_analise__sementes.pdf.
» http://www.agricultura.gov.br/arq_editor/file/2946_regras_analise__sementes.pdf. - CARDOSO, G.L.; LOMÔNACO, C. Variações fenotípicas e potencial plástico de Eugenia calycina Cambess. (Myrtaceae) em uma área de transição cerrado-vereda. Revista Brasileira de Botânica, v.26, p.131-140, 2003. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n1/v26n1a14.pdf
» http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbb/v26n1/v26n1a14.pdf - DAWS, M.I.; LYDALL, E.; CHMIELARZ, P.; LEPRINCE, O.; MATTHEWS, S.; THANOS, C.A.; PRITCHARD, H.W. Developmental heat sum influences recalcitrant seed traits in Aesculus hippocastanum across Europe. New Phytologist, v.162, p.157-166, 2004. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01012.x/pdf
» http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01012.x/pdf - DAWS, M.I.; CLELAND, H.;; CHMIELARZ, P. GORIN, F.;; LEPRINCE, O.; MATTHEWS, S. MULLINS, C.E.;; THANOS, C.A. VANDVIK, V.; PRITCHARD, H.W.Variable dessication tolerance in Acer pseudoplatanus seeds in relation to developmental conditions: a case of phenotypic recalcitrance? Functional Plant Biology, v.33, p.59-66, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP04206
» http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/FP04206 - DELGADO, L.F., BARBEDO, C.J.Tolerância à dessecação de sementes de espécies de Eugenia., Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira v.42, p.265-272, 2007. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v42n2/16.pdf
» http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pab/v42n2/16.pdf - DELGADO, L.F.; MELLO, J.I.O.; BARBEDO, C.J.Potential for regeneration and propagation from cut seeds of Eugenia (Myrtaceae) tropical tree species. Seed Science and Technology, v.38, p.624-34, 2010.http://dx.doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.3.10
» http://dx.doi.org/10.15258/sst.2010.38.3.10 - JOËT, T.; OURCIVAL, J. M.; DUSSERT, S. Ecological significance of seed desiccation sensitivity in Quercus ilex. Annals of Botany, v.111, p.693-701, 2013. http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/02/05/aob.mct025.full.pdf
» http://aob.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2013/02/05/aob.mct025.full.pdf - JUSTO, C.F.; ALVARENGA, A.A.; ALVES, E.; GUIMARÃES, R.M.; STRASSBURG, R.S. Efeito da secagem, do armazenamento e da germinação sobre a micromorfologia de sementes de Eugenia pyriformis Camb. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v.21, p.539-551, 2007. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v21n3.pdf
» http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abb/v21n3/a04v21n3.pdf - LAMARCA, E.V.; BAPTISTA, W.; RODRIGUES, D.S.; OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, C.J.F. Contribuições do conhecimento local sobre o uso de Eugenia spp. em sistemas de policultivos e agroflorestais. Revista Brasileira de Agroecologia, v.8, p.119-130, 2013a. http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br/revistas/index.php/rbagroecologia/article/view/13256/9905
» http://www.aba-agroecologia.org.br/revistas/index.php/rbagroecologia/article/view/13256/9905 - LAMARCA, E.V.; PRATAVIERA, J.S.; BORGES, I.F.;; DELGADO, L.F. TEIXEIRA, C.C.; CAMARGO, M.B.P.; FARIA, J.M.R.; BARBEDO, C.J.Maturation of Eugenia pyriformis seeds under different hydric and thermal conditions. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, v.85, p.223-233, 2013b. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v85n1/0001-3765-aabc-85-01-223.pdf
» http://www.scielo.br/pdf/aabc/v85n1/0001-3765-aabc-85-01-223.pdf - LAMARCA, E.V.; BONJOVANI, M.R.;; FARIA, J.M.R. BARBEDO, C.J.Germinação em temperatura sub-ótima de embriões de Inga vera subsp. Affinis obtidos sob diferentes condições ambientais. Rodriguésia, v.64, p.877-885, 2013c. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rod/v64n4/v64n4a15.pdf
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- MARTINS, C.C.; BOVI, M.L.A.; NAKAGAWA, J.; MACHADO, C.G. Secagem e armazenamento de sementes de juçara. Revista Árvore, v.33, p.635-642, 2009. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rarv/v33n4/v33n4a06.pdf
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» http://www.ipef.br/publicacoes/scientia/nr82/cap06.pdf - SILVA, R.S.M.; CHAVES, L.J.; NAVES, R.V. Caracterização de frutos e árvores de cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) no sudeste do estado de Goiás, Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, v.23, p.330-334, 2001. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbf/v23n2/7976.pdf
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Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
Jan-Mar 2015
History
-
Received
07 Oct 2014 -
Accepted
12 Feb 2015