ABSTRACT. Dimorphandra mollis (Leguminosae), known as faveiro and fava d'anta, is a tree that is widely distributed throughout the Brazilian Cerrado (a savanna-like biome). This species is economically valuable and has been extensively exploited because its fruits contain the flavonoid rutin, which is used to produce medications for human circulatory diseases. Knowledge about its genetic diversity is needed to guide decisions about the conservation and rational use of this species in order to maintain its diversity. DNA extraction is an essential step for obtaining good results in a molecular analysis. However, DNA isolation from plants is usually compromised by excessive contamination by secondary metabolites. DNA extraction of D. mollis, mainly from mature leaves, results in a highly viscous mass that is difficult to handle and use in techniques that require pure DNA. We tested four protocols for plant DNA extraction that can be used to minimize problems such as contamination by polysaccharides, which is more pronounced in material from mature leaves. The protocol that produced the best DNA quality initially utilizes a sorbitol buffer to remove mucilaginous polysaccharides. The macerated leaf material is washed with this buffer until there is no visible mucilage in the sample. This protocol is adequate Isolation of high-quality DNA of Dimorphandra mollis for DNA extraction both from young and mature leaves, and could be useful not only for D. mollis but also for other species that have high levels of polysaccharide contamination during the extraction process.

The Cerrado is the largest South American savanna and encompasses substantial species diversity and environmental variation. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the influence of the environment on population divergence of Cerrado species. Here, we searched for climatic drivers of genetic (nuclear microsatellites) and leaf trait divergence in Annona crassiflora, a widespread tree in the Cerrado. The sampling encompassed all phytogeographic provinces of the continuous area of the Cerrado and included 397 individuals belonging to 21 populations. Populations showed substantial genetic and leaf trait divergence across the species' range. Our data revealed three spatially defined genetic groups (eastern, western and southern) and two morphologically distinct groups (eastern and western only). The east-west split in both the morphological and genetic data closely mirrors previously described phylogeographic patterns of Cerrado species. Generalized linear mixed effects models and multiple regression analyses revealed several climatic factors associated with both genetic and leaf trait divergence among populations of A. crassiflora. Isolation by environment (IBE) was mainly due to temperature seasonality and precipitation of the warmest quarter. Populations that experienced lower precipitation summers and hotter winters had heavier leaves and lower specific leaf area. The southwestern area of the Cerrado had the highest genetic diversity of A. crassiflora, suggesting that this region may have been climatically stable. Overall, we demonstrate that a combination of current climate and past climatic changes have shaped the population divergence and spatial structure of A. crassiflora. However, the genetic structure of A. crassiflora reflects the biogeographic history of the species more strongly than leaf traits, which are more related to current climate.

Chrestas capigera (Less.) Gardner is an important medicinal herb which, however, has been poorly studied for its biology and ecology. This study aimed to investigate its phenology, floral biology, reproductive biology (self-pollination tests), spatial distribution and correlations between phenophases and climatic data in two sites (Cerrado stricto sensu and Campo rupestre) in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. From August of 2012 to August of 2013, we monitored phenophase occurrence for 70 individuals: emission of new leaves, flowering, production of immature fruits, and mature fruits. Floral anthesis occurred during daytime and remained all day until fruit formation. Peak leaf emergence was observed in April, correlating with minimum monthly temperature and mean monthly precipitation. Flowering and green fruit peaked in May and June, respectively, and correlated negatively with all climatic variables. Mature fruits peaked in June, but did not correlate significantly with any of the climatic variables. However, no difference was found between the two sites regarding the timing of phenophases. The spatial distribution pattern of individuals within sites was random. The self-pollination tests showed that the individuals pollinated and fertilized themselves. Our findings allow us to conclude that the phenology of C. scapigera has pronounced phenological seasonality with reproductive peak activities in the drier and colder season, which is congruent with the self-pollination and anemochoric dispersion strategy.