Produção de Frutos de Urucurizeiros, Attalea excelsa Mart. (Arecaceae), em Floresta de Várzea no Estuário do Rio Amazonas

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of fruits of Attalea excelsa to facilitate the definition of\rstocks available to generate management strategies and conservation of the species. The study was developed in\restuarine floodplain forest of the Embrapa Amapá Experimental Field, located in the Mazagão-AP, as part of the\rFlorestam project. An inventory was conducted of all individuals with CAP 30 cm in area of 56 ha, in 2011. From 213\rindividuals inventoried, 36 were randomly selected for monitoring fruit production. Measures of length, diameter and\rweight were taken from the bunches. All fruit bunches were quantified and determined the fresh and dry weight. Were\robtained biometric measurements of fruits and characterization of income (percentage) of its constituent parts (bract,\rendocarp, mesocarp and pyrene). Analysis of clusters, correlations and descriptive statistics of the variables related to\rproduction were performed. The average production was 1.5 bunches, ranging 1-4 bunches / urucuri palm. A bunch\rproduces on average 415 ± 222 fruits, ranging 96-1102 fruits / bunch. The fruits are elongated, as have an average\rlength (72.5 mm) larger than the diameter (45.5). The mesocarp showed a low income percentage (24.8%), with similar\rvalues to the endocarp (24.2%). The pyrene has a high percentage of income (45.1%). A urucuri palm produces on\raverage 629 ± 387 fruits, with high variation in production. Cluster analysis on the basis of attributes of bunches and fruits\rrevealed of five to seven distinct groups of matrices, allowing the selection of matrices with higher production.