Evaluation of biometric characteristics and predation of reproductive structures on ax handle (Aspidosperma discolor)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biometric features and the rate of predation of fruits and seeds of Aspidosperma discolor A. DC, species of Apocynaceae family, occurring in lowland Atlantic Forest in the State of Pernambuco. To perform the analysis, reproductive units were collected in two fragments of Atlantic Forest in the cities of Recife and Camaragibe respectively. In the evaluation it was determined length, width, thickness, weight, fresh weight and number of seeds and fruits per kilogram; while the seed diameter, thickness, weight of fresh mass and percentage predation by insects were obtained. It was found that the average length and thickness of fruits and diameter of seeds coming Camaragibe were significantly higher, by Mann-Whitney test at 5% probability. The averages of the widths of the fruits, the seeds of thicknesses, the weights of fresh weight of the fruits and seeds and number of seeds per fruit and per kilogram showed no statistical differences between the provenances. We observed a high percentage of reproductive structures predated by larvae of lepidoptera Lamprosema dorisalis Walker and Diaphania Emeralda Hampson, from the studied fragments.