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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2006; 8(1): 112-119
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865964
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

Variability in Fruit and Seed Morphology Among and Within Populations of Plathymenia (Leguminosae - Mimosoideae) in Areas of the Cerrado, the Atlantic Forest, and Transitional Sites

M. Figueiredo Goulart1 , J. Pires Lemos Filho2 , M. B. Lovato1
  • 1Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
  • 2Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-010, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
Further Information

Publication History

Received: February 24, 2005

Accepted: July 18, 2005

Publication Date:
22 December 2005 (online)

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Abstract

Plathymenia reticulata is a tree species that occurs in two different Brazilian biomes, the Cerrado (a savannah environment), and the Atlantic Forest. In the present study, we evaluated morphological variation within and among five populations located in these vegetation types and in transitional sites in order to test the hypothesis that habitat selective pressures, being different in the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest, would cause adaptive differences in morphological traits in individuals occurring under these different circumstances. Thirteen morphological traits of fruits, seeds, and of the membranous endocarp were obtained from 30 fruits and 20 seeds from each of nine to 10 individuals per population. Significant variation was found for all traits while comparing individuals within populations, and most traits varied significantly among populations as well. Some traits differed significantly between forest and Cerrado populations, while transition sites showed intermediate patterns and higher within-population variation. Contrary to our hypothesis, variation in seed size and mass among populations from different habitats was not significant. However, as predicted, the membranous endocarp was shorter for the seeds from Cerrado populations than from the Atlantic Forest. These data suggest the existence of P. reticulata ecotypes from Cerrado and Atlantic Forest; the relevance to Plathymenia evolution and to its wide ecological distribution is discussed.

Key words

Atlantic Forest - Cerrado - ecotypes - membranous endocarp - Plathymenia foliolosa - Plathymenia reticulata - seed dispersal.

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M. B. Lovato

Departamento de Biologia Geral
Instituto de Ciências Biológicas
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Av. Antônio Carlos 6627

31270-010, Belo Horizonte, MG

Brasil

Email: lovatomb@icb.ufmg.br

Editor: H. de Kroon