Development of Eugenia dysenterica (Mart.) DC. seedlings in the Cerrado, Brazil

Abstract

Eugenia dysenterica (Mart.) DC. is a native tree of the Cerrado, a Brazilian ecosystem similar to the savannas. It has various uses such as food, medicinal, timber, ornamental and reforestation. Its fruits can be eaten raw or processed for the preparation of juices, liquors, cakes and ice cream. However, their exploitation has been made of extraction and often predatory manner. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phenology, plant biometrics and survival of a collection of Cagaiteiras trees in the initial phase of development located in the Cerrado, in Goiânia municipality. We collected fruits of 25 natural subpopulations of 5 states of the Brazilian Cerrado (Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, and Tocantins). Within each subpopulation, six trees (mother plant) were sampled (with exceptions the subpopulations 2, 12, and 21 that were sampled five, four and five, respectively), and five fruits of each mother plant were collected. The collection was established in November 2013; the evaluations occurred between March and October 2014. We conducted an initial assessment, and another monthly between April and October 2014. The progenies manifested differently for the traits, being observed high variability among traits.