Key factors affecting seed germination of Copaifera langsdorffii, a Neotropical tree

Abstract

In natural conditions biotic and abiotic factors interact, synergistically affecting seed germination. In this study, we experimentally simulated natural conditions that occur during seed dispersal that can affect the germination of Copaifera langsdorffii. Specifically we evaluated the effect of aril removal by different dispersal agents (birds and ants) and fire on germination. The seeds were submitted to the following treatments: Control (seeds placed to germinate with aril intact); Acid (simulation of passage through the digestive tract of a bird); Aril removal (simulation of aril removed by ants); Fire (seeds exposed to fire). Germination percentage and time varied among treatments (X²=89.735, P<0.001; X²=16.225, P<0.001, respectively). None of the control seeds (intact aril) germinated. Treatments that simulated dispersal (Acid, Aril removal) did not differ in germination percentage, with about 50% of the seeds germinating, however, the acid treatment accelerated seed germination. Fire also had a positive effect on seed germination with about 80% of the seeds germinating. Our results demonstrate the importance of dispersal agents to the population dynamics of C. langsdorffii. Furthermore, the capacity of seeds of C. langsdorffii to tolerate high temperatures is an important attribute for the occurrence of this species in the Cerrado.

Keywords

• Cerrado
• Copaifera langsdorffii
• fire
• plant-disperser interaction
• seed germination