Biochar improves growth and physiology of Swietenia macrophylla king in contaminated soil by copper.

The production of açaí seed waste from the commercial and extractive exploitation of the Euterpe oleraceae palm tree is a serious problem that contributes to environmental contamination and production of greenhouse gases, a fact that suggests the need for an environmentally correct destination for this waste produced on a large scale. To this end, this study was conducted to evaluate the potential of acaí seed biochar (BCA) in mitigating the toxic effects of copper in Brazilian mahogany plants, analyzing biometrics and gas exchange. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five blocks, in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, corresponding to the control (without Cu) and three concentration of Cu (200, 400, and 600 mg Cu kg-1) and three levels of BCA (0%, 5% and 10%) proportional to the amount of soil in the pots, totaling sixty experimental units. The use of 5% BCA in soils contaminated with up to 200 mg kg-1 Cu promoted biometric increase (height, diameter, number of leaves), maintaining gas exchange (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration, internal carbon and internal/external carbon), and consequently, maintaining water use efficiency in plants under abiotic stress, resulting in plant growth. The findings of this study allow us to indicate the use of biochar in remediating and improving the growth of plants grown in copper-contaminated soils. The production of biochar from açaí seeds is an ecologically sustainable alternative, because it reduces its accumulation on public roads and contributes to reducing soil pollution. In the context of public policies, biochar production could be a source of income in the context of the bioeconomy and circular economy practiced in the Amazon, because it is produced in large quantities.

Effect of cadmium on young plants of Virola surinamensis.

The steady increase in cadmium (Cd) levels in the environment from anthropogenic actions has contributed to environmental degradation. Virola surinamensis is a forest species that has desirable characteristics such as deep and dense roots, relatively rapid growth and high biomass production to remedy contaminated environments by Cd. The aim of this study was to assess the physiological responses and the phytoextraction and tolerance capacity of young plants of V. surinamensis submitted to Cd concentrations. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with five Cd concentrations (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 mg L-1) for 60 days. Leaf water potential (Ψpd), stomatal conductance (gs) and transpiration (E) reduced in plants exposed to Cd. Lower values of maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), electron transport rate (ETR) and photochemical quenching coefficient (qP) were accompanied by reduction of photosynthesis (A) with increasing concentrations of Cd, although the non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) showed increase. Instantaneous water-use efficiency (A/E), net photosynthesis to intercellular CO2 concentration ratio (A/Ci) and total chlorophyll (Chl) reduced with increasing levels of Cd. Cadmium concentrations increased in different plant tissues (root > stem > leaf). The tolerance index (TI) indicated that V. surinamensis presented medium and high tolerance to Cd. The results of bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF) showed low plant efficacy in Cd phytoextraction and suggest that V. surinamensis may be promising for phytostabilization of Cd.

Biometria de frutos e sementes e germinação e curupixá (Micropholis cf. venulosa Mart. & Eichler - Sapotaceae) / Fruit and seed biometry and germination of Micropholis cf. venulosa Mart. & Eichler (Sapotaceae)

Micropholis cf. venulosa Mart. & Eichler, conhecida como curupixá, é uma espécie arbórea que vem sendo explorada pelas industrias madeireiras do Estado do Pará. O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar as características biométricas de frutos e sementes de curupixá e avaliar o efeito do dessecamento na germinação das sementes. Determinou-se o comprimento e o diâmetro dos frutos, o número de sementes por frutos, a porcentagem de sementes danificadas por insetos e o comprimento, a largura e a espessura das sementes. No controle (sementes frescas) e nas sementes submetidas ao dessecamento em sílica gel durante 72 e 96 horas, foram quantificadas as porcentagens de germinação, de plântulas anormais, de sementes mortas, tempo médio de germinação e o número de dias para iniciar a germinação. A semeadura foi realizada em substrato de areia e serragem curtida (1:1), em quatro repetições de 50 sementes. O fruto de curupixá é uma baga oblonga cujo comprimento e diâmetro dos frutos variaram de 32,5 a 72,9 mm e de 29,1 a 58,0 mm, respectivamente. O número de sementes por fruto variou de um a três, com 53,3 por cento delas danificadas por insetos. O comprimento, a largura e a espessura das sementes variaram de 15,5 a 41,4 mm, de 8,0 a 18,7 mm e de 4,7 a 12,6 mm, respectivamente. Nas sementes frescas observou-se que a germinação foi lenta e com acentuada desuniformidade, iniciando 24 dias após a semeadura e atingindo a germinação final de 55 por cento aos 96 dias após a semeadura. Registrou-se reduções significativas na germinação das sementes submetidas ao dessecamento e, aumento no número de dias para iniciar a germinação e na porcentagem de sementes mortas. A redução do grau de umidade de 42,6 por cento para 28,9 por cento reduziu a germinação de 55 por cento para 24,7 por cento e aumentou a porcentagem de sementes mortas de 40,5 por cento para 70 por cento, indicando que sementes dessa espécie apresentam sensibilidade ao dessecamento.

Micropholis cf. venulosa Mart. & Eichler, knwon as curupixá, is a tree largely used in forest exploitation in the State of Pará. The objective was to study the biometrics features of fruit and seeds and the effect of desiccation on seed germination. It was measured the length and diameter of fruits, number of seeds per fruits, percentage of seeds damaged by insects, length, width and thickness of seeds. For control (fresh seeds) and desiccated seeds, the percentage of germination, of abnormal seedlings, of dead seeds, mean time germination and number of days to first germination were also measured. Seeds were desiccated by storage on silica gel for 72 and 96 hours. Sowing was carried out on a substrate containing sand and sawdust (1:1), in four replicates of 50 seeds. Length and diameter of the fruits ranged from 32.5 to 72.9 mm and 29.1 to 58.0 mm, respectively. Fruits had one to three seeds, and 53.3 percent of them were damaged by insects. The M. cf. venulosa fruit is a bacca with length, width and thickness of seeds ranged from 15.5 to 41.1 mm, 8.0 to 18.7 mm and 4.7 to 12.6 mm, respectively. For control seeds germination was slow and non-uniform, and started 24 days after sowing. Total germination (55 percent) was recorded 96 days after sowing. It was observed a significant reduction on germination of desiccated seed and an increase on the number days to first germination and on the percentage the dead seeds. Moisture reduction in seeds from 42.6 percent to 28.9 percent reduced germination to 24.7 percent and increased the percentage of dead seeds to70 percent, indicating that seeds of this species are sensitive to desiccation.

Biometria de frutos e germinação de sementes de Couratari stellata A C Smith (Lecythidaceae) / Fruit biometry and seed germination of Couratari stellata A C Smith (Lecythidaceae)

Estudou-se as características biométricas de frutos e quantificou-se a germinação em Couratari stellata, espécie cuja altura varia de 30 a 40 m e ocorre em solos de terra firme das Guianas até a região central e oeste da Amazônia. Determinou-se o comprimento e o número de sementes por fruto; número de sementes completamente formadas e de sementes vazias; o grau de umidade; a massa de 100 sementes; a percentagem de germinação, de plântulas anormais e de sementes mortas; e o tempo médio de germinação. A semeadura foi realizada em substrato de areia e serragem na proporção de 1:1, em quatro repetições de 50 sementes. Comprimento e número de sementes por fruto variaram de 59,0 a 97,0 mm e de cinco a 26 sementes. As percentagens de sementes completamente formadas e de sementes vazias foram de 93,3 por cento e 6,7 por cento, respectivamente. A massa de 100 sementes foi de 10,7 g com 56,8 por cento de umidade. A germinação foi lenta e desuniforme iniciando-se aos 29 dias após a semeadura, atingindo a germinação de 82,5 por cento aos 65 dias. O tempo médio de germinação foi de 45,5 dias. A percentagem de sementes mortas e de plântulas anormais foi de 17,0 por cento e 0,5 por cento, respectivamente. Não houve relação entre tamanho de frutos e número de sementes por fruto. Observou-se também que sementes de C. stellata apresentam dormência.

This study evaluated the biometric characteristics of fruits and quantified seed germination of Couratari stellata, a 30-40 m tree species occurring on non-inundated soil from the Guianas to central western-Amazonia. The fruit length, number of seeds per fruit, number of completely formed and empty seeds, seed moisture, mass of 100 seeds, percentage of seed germination, mean time of germination, dead seeds and abnormal seedlings were evaluated. The seeds were sown in a substrate containing sand and sawdust (1:1), in four replications of 50 seeds. Fruit length ranged from 59 to 97 mm with five to 26 seeds. The percentage of completely formed seeds was 93.3 percent and empty seeds was 6.7 percent. One hundred seeds weighed 10.7 g, with 56.8 percent humidity. Germination was slow and not uniform, starting 29 days after sowing. Maximum germination, 82.5 percent, was recorded 65 days after sowing. Mean time of germination was 45.5 days. Percentage of dead seeds and abnormal plants was 17.0 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. No relation was found between length of fruits and seed number per fruit. The seeds of C. stellata present dormancy.