MORPHOMETRIC STUDIES AND ANALYSES OF GERMINABILITY IN CENOSTIGMA MACROPHYLLUM TUL. IN AN URBAN-RURAL GRADIENT IN TERESINA-PI, BRAZIL

Mateus Henrique Freire Faria; André Bastos da Silva; Aníbal Silva Cantalice; Maria Jaislanny Lacerda e Medeiros; Clarissa Gomes Reis Lopes

doi:10.5327/Z2176-947820180369

Authors

Mateus Henrique Freire Faria Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5901-2530
André Bastos da Silva Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8414-6407
Aníbal Silva Cantalice Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0205-5219
Maria Jaislanny Lacerda e Medeiros Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3912-5073
Clarissa Gomes Reis Lopes Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7290-4576

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/Z2176-947820180369

Keywords:

ecophysiology; semideciduous seasonal forests; caneleiro.

Abstract

Urbanization can alter environmental factors that affect the morphological
and germinative characteristics of seeds. We evaluated the influence of an
urban-rural gradient on the morphometrics of the fruits and seeds of
Cenostigma macrophyllum Tul. (Fabaceae) and on seed germinability in the
region near Teresina, Piaui State, Brazil. One hundred fruits were collected
in the urban zone and 100 in the rural area, and the lengths, widths,
thicknesses, and weights of both the fruits and seeds were measured,
as well as the numbers of seeds per fruit. The seeds were then used in
greenhouse germination experiments (during two months) to calculate the
percentages of emergence (E%) and survival (S%), the emergence rate index
(ERI), synchronization index (Z), and Timson’s index (T). The results showed
significant statistical differences between the two areas in terms of the
biometric patterns of the fruits and seeds as well as seed germination, with
higher values in the urban zone. As such, urbanization was found to affect
the morphologies and germination processes of plant species.