Phenology of Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. & Schult.) T.D.Penn. in a Caatinga area, Boa Vista - Paraíba state

Abstract

Sideroxylon obtusifolium (Roem. & Schult.) T.D.Penn., belongs to the Sapotaceae family and is one of the most important species of the Caatinga biome. The knowledge of its reproductive cycle through the phenological study is important because it allows the elaboration of strategies for its conservation and its sustainable use. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phenological stages of Sideroxylon obtusifolium and their relationship with the local environmental conditions. The study was carried out at ‘Santa Rosa do Espólio’ farm, located in the municipality of Boa Vista - PB state - at 26 individuals of the species, evaluated every fifteen days for 30 months. From the percentage of Fournier intensity and the activity index the presence and absence of the stages of budding, floral bud, flowering, fruitification and leaf senescence were recorded. The Spearman correlation did not present a significant effect between the phenological characters evaluated and the environmental variables of temperature and relative humidity, with a strong oscillation in intensity and activity index in the 30 months of evaluations. The correlation analysis indicated a significant effect between budding intensity and rainfall. Senescence was recorded in all individuals of Sideroxylon obtusifolium during the entire evaluation period, with the highest intensity (88%) recorded in January and February of 2017. The flower bud, flowering (anthesis) and fruitification stages, a more uniform occurrence pattern was observed from August of 2014 until August of 2016. However, with decreasing intensities and activity indexes. The phenological events of Sideroxylon obtusifolium presented irregularities which may have been influenced by the low rainfall recorded in the study area during the evaluation period.

Keywords:
Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest; Forest species; Flowering; Meteorological data