Caracterização das reservas das sementes e avaliação da germinação e formação de plântulas de nove espécies arbóreas de florestas alagáveis da Amazônia

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Departamento de Botânica, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica, 2013.Árvores que colonizam as áreas alagáveis da Amazônia ficam expostas a longos períodos de inundação. Para sobreviver a essas condições e garantir a perenização da espécie, as plantas precisam dispor de estratégias de tolerância ao alagamento evidenciadas a partir da formação da semente. Esse trabalho teve por objetivo analisar características morfológicas e bioquímicas de sementes de nove espécies lenhosas que habitam as cotas mais baixas do gradiente de inundação nas florestas alagáveis da Amazônia Central e avaliar a germinação e a formação de plântulas dessas espécies em condições de alagamento. O resultado da análise das reservas totais contidas na semente mostrou que as espécies investem na produção de reservas compactadas (carboidratos estruturais e lipídeos), que são mobilizados após a germinação das sementes para uso durante o desenvolvimento da plântula. As reservas de carboidratos foram compostas, na sua maior parte, por polissacarídeos de reserva de parede celular, que diferiram muito quanto ao tipo entre as espécies, conforme indicado pelas proporções de monossacarídeos. Para os açúcares solúveis as maiores concentrações verificadas foram de sacarose e rafinose. A análise da germinação e formação de plântulas mostrou que de maneira geral as espécies estudadas apresentaram adaptações à colonização dentro de ambientes sujeitos a frequentes inundações como as que ocorrem nas florestas alagáveis da Amazônia, pois todas as espécies com exceção de P. discolor, germinaram e formaram plântulas na água. Em algumas espécies as porcentagens de formação de plântulas na água foram bem altas, como verificado para Crateva tapia, Eugenia inundata e Albizia subdimidiata (> 80%). As plântulas formadas na água permaneceram até mais de 30 dias em condições de alagamento e, quando retiradas da água, a maioria conseguiu se recuperar. A maioria das espécies estudadas possui sementes com rápida germinação, até mesmo em condições de alagamento (<10 dias), uma vez que não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa do tempo de germinação entre os experimentos de alagamento e controle. O conjunto das características detectadas parece promover estratégias eficazes para a manutenção das populações das espécies estudadas, o que é confirmado por sua ampla ocorrência nas florestas alagáveis Amazônicas. ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTTree species that colonize the Amazonian floodplains are subjected to long periods of submersion. To survive these conditions and ensure the perpetuation of the species, they need to have strategies for flood tolerance that should be evidenced from the formation of the seed. The goal of this study was to analyze morphological and biochemical seed characteristics of nine woody species that inhabit the lower portions of the flood-level gradient in the Central Amazonian floodplains and to evaluate germination and seedling formation of these species in water. All nine species are of widespread occurrence within the Amazonian floodplains. The result of analysis of total reserves contained in the seed showed that species invest in producing compacted reserves (structural carbohydrates and lipids) that are deployed after seed germination for use during the development of the seedling. Storage carbohydrates were composed in greater part by reserve cell wall polysaccharides, which differed greatly on the type among the nine species, as indicated by the different proportions of monosaccharides. For the soluble sugars higher concentrations were observed of sucrose and raffinose. Analysis of germination and seedling development showed that overall species are adapted to colonization of environments that are subjected to frequent floods, for all species, with the exception of Parkia discolor, germinated and formed seedlings in water. Crateva tapia, Eugenia inundata and Albizia subdimidiata were the ones with higher percentages of germination and seedling development in water (> 80%). Plantlets formed under these conditions remained in water and were able to withstand over 30 days of flooding and most of them were able to recover when removed from the water. Most species have seeds that germinate quickly, even in flooded conditions (<10 days), since there was no statistically significant difference in germination time between controls and submerged seeds. Overall, we conclude that these characteristics seem to promote effective strategies for maintaining populations of the studied species in the Amazonian floodplains

Seed germination and seedling development in response to submergence in tree species of the Central Amazonian floodplains

Successful germination and seedling establishment are crucial steps for maintenance and expansion of plant populations and recovery from perturbations. Every year the Amazon River and its tributaries overflow and flood the adjacent forest, exerting a strong selective pressure on traits related to seedling recruitment. We examined seed characteristics, stored reserves, germination, seedling development and survival under water of eight representative tree species from the lower portions of the flood-level gradient to identify adaptive strategies that contribute to their regeneration in this extreme ecosystem. Submerged seedlings were assessed for longevity and survival until they showed symptoms of injury. At this point, the remaining healthy seedlings were planted in unsaturated soil to monitor recovery after re-exposure to air over 30 days. All small (seed mass ≤0.17 g) seeds had epigeal phanerocotylar-type germination, a trait that would allow plants to acquire light and CO2 in the shortest time. Cell wall storage polysaccharide was a major component of all seeds, suggesting plant investment in structural reserves. Seven of the eight species germinated and formed healthy seedlings under water that endured submersion without any apparent injury for periods of 20–115 days, depending on the species. Seedlings of some species changed the direction of root growth and grew towards the surface of the water, which might have increased the uptake of oxygen to the tissues. Only one of the seven species did not survive re-exposure to air. Species able to germinate and produce seedlings under submersion, which subsequently are able to establish in aerated soils, would have more time available for terrestrial growth. This is critical for colonization of lower portions of the flood-level gradient where establishment is constrained by the short terrestrial phase that precedes the next flood

Anatomia da lâmina foliar de onze espécies lenhosas dominantes nas savanas de Roraima

O conhecimento da anatomia da folha é crucial para o entendimento da adaptação das plantas ao ambiente. O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a anatomia da lâmina foliar de 11 espécies lenhosas, frequentes nas savanas do extremo norte da Amazônia, com ênfase na identificação de atributos adaptativos a ecossistemas abertos, sujeitos a forte insolação e déficit hídrico sazonal. Amostras de folhas foram coletadas e processadas segundo técnicas usuais para estudos de anatomia e histoquímica. Bowdichia virgilioides, Byrsonima coccolobifolia, By. crassifolia, By. verbascifolia, Casearia sylvestris, Curatella americana, Erythroxylum suberosum, Himatanthus articulatus, Miconia albicans, Roupala montana e Xylopia aromatica apresentaram caracteres típicos de plantas heliófilas e xerófilas, como cutícula espessa e estômatos predominantes na face abaxial, além de forte investimento em tecido fotossintético. Em oito das onze espécies, o parênquima paliçádico (PP) ocupa 50% ou mais do espaço do mesofilo. Curatella americana, mesofilo isobilateral, e Bo. virgilioides, mesofilo homogêneo, foram as espécies com maior investimento em PP (~80% e 100%, respectivamente). Além disso, destaca-se a presença de hipoderme (Bo. virgilioides e X. aromatica) ou de epiderme estratificada, densos indumentos, idioblastos cristalíferos e extensões da bainha de feixes. Em síntese, este conjunto de atributos estruturais protege a lâmina foliar contra o excesso de luminosidade, aumenta a resistência mecânica, minimiza a transpiração e contribui para manutenção do balanço hídrico da planta, favorecendo, portanto, o estabelecimento destas espécies nas savanas sazonais do norte da Amazônia.Knowledge of the anatomical characteristics of the leaf blade is crucial to the understanding of plant adaptation to the environment. The objective of this study was to describe the leaf anatomy of 11 woody species of common occurrence in the open savannas of the northern edge of the Amazon. The focus of the study was on the identification of leaf adaptive features to cope with high irradiances and seasonal water deficits. Leaf samples were fixed and processed by the usual methods for anatomical and histochemical studies. Bowdichia virgilioides, Byrsonima coccolobifolia, By. crassifolia, By. verbascifolia, Casearia sylvestris, Curatella americana, Erythroxylum suberosum, Himatanthus articulatus, Miconia albicans, Roupala montana and Xylopia aromatica showed leaf anatomical traits typical of heliophilous and xerophilous plants such as thick cuticle, stomata prevailing on the abaxial surface, strong investment in photosynthetic tissue. In eight of the eleven species the palisade parenchyma (PP) occupied 50% or more of the mesophyll. Curatella americana, with isobilateral mesophyll, and Bo. virgilioides, with homogeneous mesophyll were the species with the highest investment in PP (~80% and 100%, respectively). Leaves were also characterized by the presence of hypodermis (Bo. virgilioides and X. aromatica) or stratified epidermis, dense indumenta, crystalliferous idioblasts and bundle sheath extensions. This distinctive assortment of anatomical traits helps protecting the leaf blade against excessive irradiances, increases mechanical strength, minimize transpiration and contribute to the maintenance of leaf water balance. Overall they favor the establishment of these species in the seasonal savannas of northern Amazon

Anemochorous and zoochorous seeds of trees from the Brazilian savannas differ in fatty acid content and composition

Fatty acids (FAs) stored as triacylglycerols (TAGs) are an important source of carbon and energy for germination and seedling development, particularly for plants with small wind-dispersed seeds, allowing greater efficiency in storing both energy and carbon. These plants should be under strong selection to produce seeds rich in FAs and with large amounts of saturated FAs. Their closely packed single-chain configuration allows greater packing, more carbon and energy per unit mass, and are less costly to produce. Efficient carbon storage would be less crucial for zoochorous species, which can reach much larger seed sizes (mass). We analysed the transesterified FA profile from seeds of 22 anemochorous and zoochorous tree species from the Cerrado savannas of Central Brazil. We tested if seed FA content covaried with seed mass and if anemochorous and zoochorous seeds differed in FA contents and distribution. Fatty acids were an important seed source of carbon and energy for most species. Fifteen different FAs were identified. Oleic, linoleic and linolenic tended to be the predominant unsaturated FAs. Oleic acid corresponded to more than 60 % of the total transesterified FAs in seeds of Kielmeyera coriacea, Qualea dichotoma and Triplaris americana. Linoleic acid corresponded to more than 50 % of total FA in Dalbergia miscolobium, Parkia platycephala and Ferdinandusa elliptica while linolenic acid was the dominant component in Inga cylindrica. Across species, palmitic and stearic were the dominant saturated FAs. The only exception was lauric acid (68 % of total FA) in seeds of Qualea grandiflora. On a log10 scale, as the seed increased in mass, accumulation of FAs tends to proceed at a faster rate in anemochorous species than in zoochorous species. They also became increasingly richer in saturated FAs. Zoochorous species had seed TAGs with higher proportion of polyunsaturated FAs.Instituto de Ciências Biológicas (IB)Departamento de Botânica (IB BOT)Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas (IB CFS