Caracterização fitossanitária e potencial germinativo de sementes de Eugenia uniflora L.

Abstract

Eugenia uniflora L. (pitangueira) is a native fruit species in Brazil, with wide geographical distribution, has economic potential because its fruit marketed, can be recommended for planting in heterogeneous reforestation for the recovery of degraded areas and permanent preservation to be attractive to wildlife. The present study aimed to identify the species of insects associated with seed, assess the damage caused by insect predators, its consequences on viability and occurrence of fungi on seeds of Eugenia uniflora. The samples were collected in FEPAGRO located in Santa Maria, RS. The seeds were evaluated for the occurrence of posture, punching, number of insects per seed (conditioned in individual containers), percentage of predation and substrate consumption. Moreover, germination test was performed to evaluate the influence of predation on seed viability, the occurrence of insects that occasion and identification of fungal genera that occur in the seeds. Emerged from seeds two species of insects, Atractomerus pitangae (Marshall, 1925) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) and a new species of Paracrias sp. nov. (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae), parasitoid larvae of Curculionidae. Atractomerus pitangae and Paracrias sp. nov. are found associated with the seeds of Eugenia uniflora. The occurrence of A. pitangae tends to increase at advanced stages of maturation. The insects cause damage to seeds that attack, but the number of predated seeds is not expressive. There is a decrease in the percentage of normal seedlings as the frequency rises insects. The presence of insects is higher at the end of the fruiting period. The insects have a higher occurrence in the advanced stages of maturation. The most common fungal genera are Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Alternaria sp. and Aspergillus sp. and vary depending on fruit maturation.