The role of root buds in the regeneration of Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae) in the cerrado, São Carlos, São Paulo state, Brazil

Abstract

-(The role of root buds in the regeneration of Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae) in the Cerrado, São Carlos, São Paulo State, Brazil). The present work describes the fire effects on the population structure of Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae). Diameter and height structure as well as spatial distribution patterns of the root sprouts were analyzed pre-and post-fire. The morphology and anatomy of the underground system were also analyzed in order to investigate the nature and origin of sprouts from this system. In this study, a 10-ha of Cerrado area was sampled from February to November 2006; in August, a fire burned roughly 80% of the study area, allowing us to compare the data collected pre-and post-fire. Our findings show that the underground systems consisted of specialized roots and buds originated close to the vascular cambium. The spatial distribution of the root sprouts became clustered pre-and post-fire and most of the root sprouts were concentrated in the first size class, indicating that the sprouts from roots play an important role in the recovery of this species in burnt areas. Keywords: Cerrado, natural fires, sprouting, vegetative reproduction RESUMO -(A função de raízes gemíferas na regeneração de Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae) no Cerrado, São Carlos, SP, Brasil). Este artigo descreve os efeitos de incêndio na estrutura populacional de Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae). Foram analisados a estrutura de diâmetro e altura e o padrão de distribuição espacial antes e após o fogo. Além disso, foi realizada a caracterização morfológica e anatômica do sistema subterrâneo para determinar a natureza e origem dos brotos oriundos desse sistema. Neste estudo foram amostrados 10 ha de fevereiro a novembro de 2006, em agosto, um incêndio queimou cerca de 80% da área de estudo, permitindo a comparação de dados coletados antes e após este evento. Foram verificados que os sistemas subterrâneos gemíferos são de natureza radicular e que os brotos se originam próximo ao câmbio vascular. A distribuição espacial dos brotos de raiz tornou-se agregada após o incêndio e houve maior concentração de brotos de raiz na primeira classe de tamanho indicando que esses brotos são responsáveis pela recomposição dessa espécie em áreas queimadas. Palavras-chave: brotamento, Cerrado, incêndios naturais, reprodução vegetativa

Irradiance availability and growth of leguminous trees of cerrado

“…These results are consistent with other works on young woody species of Cerrado vegetation in which biomass allocation privileged roots (FRANCO, 2002;HOFFMANN;RONQUIM et al 2009). The coarse roots of woody Cerrado species are suitable for storing carbohydrates and nutrients; they also facilitate vegetative propagation (IMATOMI et al 2014) and greater rooting depth, which permits access to water during dry periods (RAWITSCHER et al, 1943;RIZZINI;HERINGER, 1962). Therefore, the shaded environment predominantly limits the underground accumulation of biomass, resulting in low values of root/shoot ratio.…”

The impacts of recurrent fires on diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies in a south-eastern Amazon forest

“…Also in the case of Z. itys , its larval host plant Casearia sp. (Beccaloni et al 2008) is known to have the above-ground portion killed by fire (Imatomi et al 2014), with probable impacts on larval distribution and development.…”