Formação de ecótipos e potencial plástico de Eugenia calycina camb, (Myrtaceae) em uma área de transição cerrado vereda

Abstract

The aims of this work were to verify the incidence of ecotypes and the plastic potential of Eugenia calycina in a transitional savanna/palm swamp area. Ecotypes were characterized by seed weight, number of seeds per fruit and number of flowers per plant. Moreover, density of occurrence and fruits parasitism rate by a Diptera Tephritidade larvae on each area were signifícant difíerent. Asynchrony of the flowering period, being later for the savanna area was also observed. A genetic quantitative model was used to measure phenotypic plasticity based on a reciprocai transplantation experiment of sibling-seeds into soils deriving from each area. Three aspects of plastic potential were evaluated: height of stem and number and width of the seedlings leaves. Obseved differences in these characters were attributed not only by genetic divergences but also by phenotypic plasticity. The individuais showed different plastic responses, diverging in their ability to respond to environmental influences. The data confirm the role of phenotypic plasticity in the adaptive and evolutionary process involved in ecotype formation in savanna/palm swamp transitional vegetation.