Frederico Augusto Guimarães Guilherme

Breeding systems of Bromeliaceae species: evolution of selfing in the context of sympatric occurrence

Co-occurring congener plant species in the highly diverse Atlantic forests of southeastern Brazil may act as natural laboratories for evaluating evolution of reproductive shifts. We assessed the breeding systems in a sympatric assemblage of bromeliad species and compiled literature available for the family to compare our experiments with available information. We performed controlled experiments of autonomous selfing, self- and cross-pollination in 40 species of 11 genera of two subfamilies that, in general, overlap their blooming period and share the same pollination vectors. We also tested for differences between self-compatible (SC) and self-incompatible (SI) species with regard to ecological factors such as abundance, co-flowering and co-occurrence. Most species experimentally tested and surveyed in the literature (75%) were SC. Species from the subfamily Tillandsioideae were predominantly SC, while Bromelioideae showed greater variation in breeding systems. About 43% of the species studied set fruits spontaneously in the absence of pollinator vectors. We found that SC species were the more abundant, were more frequently associated with other relatives and overlapped their blooming period with other species more than SI species. Thus, our results suggest that self-compatibility is common for Bromeliaceae and do not support the traditional hypothesis of reproductive assurance used to explain the evolution of selfing. We discuss self-compatibility as a reproductive isolating mechanism in the presence of pollen flow among sympatric congener species.

Estrutura da vegetação arbórea de um remanescente ecotonal urbano floresta-savana no Parque do Sabiá, em Uberlândia, MG

The study evaluated the tree component structure of vegetation fragments consisted of semideciduous forest, two woody savannas (cerradao), inserted in an urban forest remnant, also consisting of a fragment of swamp forest. The survey comprised 1.32 hectares, where all trees with ≥ 5 cm perimeter at breast height were recorded. A total of 141 species distributed in 46 botanical families with Shannon diversity index of 3.99 were recorded. Fabaceae showed the greatest species richness in the survey, corroborating the pattern found in other studies on the Cerrado Biome. Maprounea guianensis had the largest density, frequency and dominance relative values in the remnant. The semideciduous forest presented the largest floristic richness and characteristic species of that formation when compared with other studies. Hirtella glandulosa showed the largest importance value in the cerradao 2, suggesting the existence of a dystrophic soil in this physiognomy. The similar structural characteristics between cerradao 2 and semideciduous forest, tree species diversity significantly larger in cerradao 2 than in cerradao 1, besides the presence of typical species of swamp forests and semideciduous forest in cerradao 2 confirm the occurrence of transition areas in the remnant. Few individuals were recorded in the smallest diameter classes in cerradao 1. Continuous and varied human disturbances probably are responsible for this, indicating the need for conservation and management preventive actions of this biological patrimony.

Vegetative and reproductive phenology of Butia purpurascens Glassman (Arecaceae) under the effects of leaf harvesting

Butia purpurascens is an endemic and threatened palm tree species that occurs in open areas of the Brazilian Cerrado, predominantly in southwestern Goiás. The leaves of this palm tree are harvested by local people to fabricate brooms. This study evaluated changes in vegetative and reproductive phenology in two different natural populations of this palm tree: one population with leaf harvesting and another non-harvested population. Twenty plants were monitored in each area for 23 months. The phenophases were related to the temperature and precipitation averages for a 30-year period. Leaf sprouting occurred throughout the year, with a slight reduction in periods of low temperatures and low rainfall. The first spathes emerged in March and flowering began during the dry season (June), continuing until January of the following year, concurrent with the period of most intense fruiting. Flowering and fruiting appear to be triggered by periods of drought, which are commonly observed in the Cerrado. The harvested sites produced significantly fewer leaves, spathes, inflorescences and infructescences than the non-harvested sites. Thus, the supply of resources to the local fauna is possibly reduced in sites under leaf exploitation, which in the long term can represent damage to the palm tree populations structure and dynamics. Other socioeconomic and ecological studies about the effects of leaf harvesting in B. purpurascens are necessary to enable strategies for sustainable use, devise management alternatives and conserve this threatened palm species.

Arborização urbana em quadras de diferentes padrões construtivos na cidade de Jataí

The study aimed to comparatively evaluate the quality and quantity of tree planting in the urban perimeter of Jatai city, Brazilian central region. To make comparisons possible, a georeferenced map of all blocks in the city was used. These were partitioned into three categories by the building parameters, denominated 1. high/medium, 2. simple and 3. precarious patterns. For each category the urban arborization of 60 blocks, randomly selected on the map, independent of the quarter was evaluated. The survey detected 114 different species and 1953 trees, distributed into 1853 exotic and 100 native species. Oiti (Licania tomentosa) was the more common species used in arborization, with 31% of all trees surveyed. The tree average number was significantly higher in high/medium and simple patterns than the precarious pattern. When considering the sidewalk position, the high/medium pattern showed the greatest adjustments in planting. Medium and small tree weight species and palm trees were more abundant in high/medium patterns. This study showed evident differences in urban arborization between categories compared to the streets of the Jatai city. Thus, the results can allow and technically instruct the prefecture, as well as the entire population of this city about forms of better planting, choices of appropriate seedlings and maintenance until maturity.

Checklist of host plants of insect galls in the state of Goiás in the Midwest Region of Brazil

Abstract Background Surveys of host plants of insect galls have been performed in different regions of Brazil. The knowledge of species of host plants of insect galls is fundamental to further studies of plant-galling insect interactions. However, a list of host plant species of gall-inducing insects has not yet been compiled for the flora of the Midwest Region of Brazil. New information We provide a compilation of the plant species reported to host insect galls in the Cerrado of the state of Goiás in the Midwest Region of Brazil. Altogether we found records for 181 species of 47 families of host plants, which hosted 365 distinct gall morphotypes.

Galling Insects in the Brazilian Cerrado: Ecological Patterns and Perspectives

In recent decades, there has been growing research interest in insect galls. Most of the processes and mechanisms related to ecological richness of galling insect-plant interactions have been investigated in the Cerrado. Therefore, several ecological hypotheses and patterns have been described in Cerrado. In this chapter we discuss: (a) a historical overview of studies with focus on insect galls from the Cerrado highlighting key studies and ecological issues; (b) galling insect richness and host plants, emphasizing especially the most representative taxa; (c) studies that have investigated the differential gall distribution between mesic and xeric environments, one of the most established and tested ecological hypotheses in the Cerrado; and finally (d) the main challenges and perspectives for future studies investigating patterns of galling insect richness in the Cerrado. We showed some mechanisms that are responsible by the high galling diversity in the Cerrado and discuss the main ecological hypothesis that explain these mechanisms.

Reproductive biology of endemic Solanum melissarum Bohs (Solanaceae) and updating of its current geographic distribution as the basis for its conservation in the Brazilian Cerrado

The genus Solanum (family Solanaceae) includes more than 1400 species and has buzz-pollinated flowers with poricidal anthers. The present study aimed to describe the distribution, breeding system and pollination mechanism of Solanum melissarum, a species endemic to Brazil. The study of breeding system was conducted in an urban forest fragment in Jataí, GO. Distribution data were gathered from floristic surveys and digital plant databases. The floral morphology and the pollination mechanism were studied on through field observations and preserved flowers. The breeding system was determined through hand pollination treatments. The species has a distribution only in the Brazilian Atlantic forest coastal, and this study provides the first records of S. melissarum for the state of Goiás. The pendulous flowers have poricidal anthers close to the stigma, with membranous thecae joined by a connective bearing osmophores that attract males of Euglossa cordata bees. As they collect fragrances, the bees press the thecae and pollen is released through a bellows mechanism. Based on the hand-pollination treatments, this species is self-incompatible. Isolated forest fragments may not include enough pollinators to ensure the pollination of plants with specialized systems. However, they are essential for the conservation of species with interesting phytogeographic patterns, such as the vicariance observed in S. melissarum, and for the conservation of regional diversity.

Plantas medicinais referenciadas por raizeiros no município de Jataí, estado de Goiás

This study aimed to research medicinal plants referenced by “raizeiros” from Jatai-GO, showing the Reported Use Value (RUV) and connection with current phylogenetic levels. With nearly 200 years of history, Jatai is located in the Central Plateau of Brazil, Southwest Goias (17°52’53 ‘’S and 51°42’52’’W), where the main source of income is agribusiness. For the “raizeiros” selection and data collection the snowball method and semi-structured interview techniques were applied. The ethnospecies, used part, usage, method of preparation for estimatedReported Value of Use (VU). There were 515 related ethnopharmacological citations of 112 ethnospecies, mainly Fabideas, Lamideas and Campanulideas. Pe-de-perdiz (Croton antisyphilliticus), Sangra-dagua (C. urucurana), Pau-terra-de-folha-larga (Qualea grandiflora), Erva-de-Santa Maria (Chenopodium album), Amaro-leite (Operculina alata), Algodaozinho-do-campo (Cochlospermum regium), Cavalinha (Equisetum hiemale) andJaborandi (Piper aduncum), Pau-terra-de-folha-larga (Qualea grandiflora), Erva-de-Santa Maria (Chenopodium album), Amaro-leite (Operculina alata), Algodaozinho-do-campo (Cochlospermum regium), Cavalinha (Equisetum hiemale) andJaborandi (Piper aduncum)highlightedmorethan10RUV. The most important bodily systems in the number of reported plants were respiratory, digestive, circulatory and integumentary. The most versatile, useful plant systems were Copaiba (Copaiferalangsdorffii), Pe-de-perdiz (Crotonantisyphiliticus), Cavalinha (Equisetumhiemale), Rosemary (Rosmarinusofficinalis) and Fruita-de-lobo (Solanumpaniculatum).The practice of traditional medicine in Jatai reveals the link between the choice of plants and derived phylogenetic levels. Many referenced species are used medicinally in the Cerrado, including some that are part of the national health care system’s list, for the realization of monographs, which strengthen the knowledge of these traditional medicine practices in Goias.

Thismia panamensis : first record of Thismiaceae for the Brazilian Cerrado in Goiás state

We describe the first occurrence of the family Thismiaceae in the Brazilian Cerrado and a new record of Thismia panamensis (Standl.) Jonker for Brazil. We found the species in an urban fragment of semideciduous forest, municipality of Jatai, southeastern Goias state, Central Plateau Brazil. The record of this achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophic monocot is important, improving the knowledge of the flora of Cerrado domains and giving a better understand of the biogeography of Brazilian mycoheterotrophic angiosperms.