Efeito do bálsamo de copaíba (Copaitéra reticulata ducke) sobre a Germinação de esporos de Fusarium

The germinative capacity of spores of Fusarium was studied in the presence of copahiba balsam (5 to 100%). The culture was carried out in Erlenmeyer flasks with 50ml of ICI medium and 1 ml of the pre-inoculated fungus. In some specific cases, 1 ml of copahiba balsam was added to the medium. The development of spores was significantly reduced in the presence of copahiba balsam. Sensibility to copahiba balsam varied with the different strains of Fusarium.

Frugivoria e dispersão de sementes de Talauma ovata (Magnoliaceae) no sudeste brasileiro

Some plants are widely distributed, ranging in different vegetation types. Since bird distribution can be directly associated to vegetational cover, we expect that seed dispersers can also vary following phytophysiognomy for some ornithochorous plants. The purpose of this paper was to describe potential seed disperser birds of Talauma ovata (Magnoliaceae) in semideciduous Atlantic forest and cerrado fragments in south-east Brazil. In 79 h of focal observations we recorded 1085 visits of 25 different bird species consuming T. ovata diaspores. Although most bird species observed consuming T. ovata diaspores present generalist habits, they were potential seed dispersers, presenting high visits rate and do not staying a long time on the plants, favoring seed dispersal efficiency. Fruit consumption was not different between species in the study sites and the time spending on the plants was not different between species in semideciduous forest, but was different in cerrado. Agonistic encounters were observed mainly in the end of fruiting season, but was not relevant to decrease the number of seeds dispersed by birds. The occurrence of different potential seed dispersers between areas, such as Cyanocorax cristatellus (Corvidae), Schistochlamys ruficapillus (Emberizidae) and Mimus saturninus (Mimidae), which are endemic from the cerrado ecosystem and could rarely be found in semideciduous forest, suggests that seed dispersers can vary according to phytophysiognomy characteristics. Our results also indicate that the evolution of a generalist seed dispersal system such as observed for T. ovata can make possible the colonization of different ambients. Furthermore, the high number of visits recorded for both areas suggests that the fleshy arils of T. ovata are important feeding resources for birds.

Uso e conservação de Piper cernuum Vell. (Piperaceae) na Mata Atlântica: I. Fenologia reprodutiva e dispersão de sementes

The pariparoba (Piper cernuum Vell.), a native plant from the Atlantic Tropical Forest (ATF), has been commonly used in folk medicine. Works seeking the exploitation of P. cernuum natural populations need to be accomplished, seeking compatibility in obtaining income rates and preservation of ATF. The present work aimed to study the reproductive phenology and seed dispersal in P. cernuum natural population in the counties of Sete Barras/SP (Parque Estadual Intervales - PEI). The population of P. cernuum studied in PEI presented continuously bud-inflorescences, green-infrutescences and bud-inflorescence emission, with variation among individuals. Fruit-set average was of 9.1%, varying among individuals. Shading and foliar damage presented negative effect on the fruit-set. Three species of bats were identified as potential dispersors of the P. cernuum seeds: Carollia perspicillata, Anoura geoffroyi and Artibeus sp. The foragement strategy observed was the withdrawal of some seeds per infrutescence per flight. This strategy increases the potential in establishing new plants as well as in increase the potential of gene flow in comparison with the entire infrutescence plant eaten at the night perches. In consequence, the results of reproductive phenology and seed dispersal ecology presented in this work can help to establish management and conservation strategies of P. cernuum natural populations in the ATF.