Registro de ocorrência e estudo da germinação e armazenamento de sementes de Calea asclepiifolia Hassl.- Asteraceae

Abstract

Altitude fields are phytophysiognomies inserted in the Atlantic Forest biome. Currently, there are few studies that support the protection and recovery of native areas of this type of vegetation. The species Calea asclepiifolia Hassl. - Asteraceae, occurs naturally in high altitude fields, areas that are under pressure from mining activity and real estate expansion in municipalities such as Poços de Caldas, south of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The present work aimed, in Chapter 1, to collect data on the species and record the occurrence of Calea asclepiifolia in areas of urban expansion in the municipality of Poços de Caldas, from the occurrence database of the species provided by the Jardim Botânico de Poços de Caldas and field trips, close to urban areas. In Chapter 2, conditions for germination and storage of Calea asclepiifolia Hassl. seeds were studied. Regarding the study of seeds, they were submitted to different temperatures and substrates in the process of seed germination, using four replications of 50 seeds each, for each germination temperature (15°C, 20°C, 25° C and 30°C) and two substrates (vermiculite and filter paper). The seeds were stored at temperatures of -5°C, +5°C and +15°C for a period of 6 months. Finally, using the temperature and substrate that provided the best results in the initial germination, the stored seeds were germinated. It is hoped with this study to elucidate processes related to the germination and storage conditions of Calea asclepiifolia seeds, in order to enable their propagation and use in the recovery of degraded areas in high altitude fields. It also seeks to contribute to the database of species occurrence records, in order to inform the presence of the species in the south of Minas Gerais and assist with information regarding the level of threat that the species is.