Teste de tetrazólio para avaliação da qualidade de sementes de Tabebuia roseoalba (Ridl.) Sandwith - bignoniaceae, submetidas ao armazenamento

The species of Tabebuia are propagated sexually, and the use of high-quality seeds is crucial to achieving success in restoration of degraded areas, timber and medicinal production. Thus, the use of rapid tests in programs to control seed quality is an essential tool for the assessment of their physiological quality. The objectives of the present study were to establish the methodology for conducting the tetrazolium test in seeds of T. roseoalba and verify seed viability as a function of storage time, evaluating germination parameters and comparing them with the results of the tetrazolium test. The fruits were manually harvested at the opening, and fresh seeds and seeds stored up to 24 months were evaluated by tetrazolium test, germination, emergence, length and dry weight of seedlings. The tetrazolium at a concentration of 0.05% at 36 ° C for 24 hours is indicated to assess the viability of T. roseoalba, and during storage germination, length and dry weight of the seedlings are reduced and the germination in nursery is sharply reduced with seed storage in 24 months.

Etnobotânica de Leguminosae entre agricultores agroecológicos na Floresta Atlântica, Araponga, Minas Gerais, Brasil

This study describes the richness of Leguminosae used by 21 traditional farmers in coffee agroforestry systems (AFS) and forest fragments of the Atlantic Forest, in the municipality of Araponga, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It also presents the use categories, relative importance and the species similarity between the AFSs. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and participant observation, between August 2005 and November 2006, directed during random walks in seven AFSs and forest fragments surrounding the State Park of Serra do Brigadeiro. The farmers cited 59 species of Leguminosae, of which 86% are native to the Atlantic Forest and used in ancient cultural practices, such as to make bullock carts. Twelve categories of use were established, among them the most important were fertilizer and firewood (21 spp each); in the AFSs, species used for soil fertilization (18 spp) are the most utilized, and in the forest, the species for firewood and technology (17 spp.) The relative importance index showed that in the forest, Piptadenia gonoacantha showed 83% of agreement for the use as wood for fencing pastures, while in the AFSs, Inga edulis scored 100% as food. The AFSs studied show little similarity of species (0.42 of the Sorensen scale), due to the selection promoted by the farmers, thus, providing room for the conservation of useful species of Leguminosae.