RESUMO Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a diversidade genética de 80 plantas matrizes de Hymenaea martiana Hayne através da avaliação de características físicas de frutos e sementes, e determinar a correlação dessas características e sua importância no estudo da variabilidade entre as matrizes. A coleta dos frutos foi realizada de diferentes plantas matrizes, localizadas no município de Areia-PB, cujas análises físicas foram: comprimento, largura, espessura e peso dos frutos e das sementes, bem como o número de sementes por frutos. Os dados físicos dos frutos e sementes foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva, análise de variância pelo teste F, sendo as médias agrupadas por meio do teste de Scott-Knott a 5% de probabilidade. Posteriormente, foi realizada a correlação de Spearman para todas as combinações entre as variáveis e a análise de componentes principais. O comprimento, largura, espessura e peso dos frutos variaram de 27,00 a 186,00 mm; 8,00 a 94,00 mm; 8,20 a 66,32 mm e 3,72 a 222,92 g, respectivamente. As matrizes 88 e 117 apresentaram frutos de maiores dimensões. O número de sementes por fruto foi de 0 a 15, enquanto para as sementes a variação foi de 10,03 a 38,00 mm, 5,30 a 32,39 mm, 1,84 a 35,36 mm e 0,52 a 9,99 g para o comprimento, largura, espessura e peso, respectivamente. As variáveis que mais contribuíram para o componente principal 1 foram as características referentes ao fruto - comprimento (16,4%), largura (16,9%) e peso (19,9%), sendo responsáveis por 53,2% da variação total do componente 1. Enquanto que o número de sementes por fruto (23,5%), espessura da semente (34,7%) e peso da semente (19%) contribuíram com 77,2% da variação total do componente 2. Na população natural de H. martiana, do município de Areia-PB, há divergência em relação às características fenotípicas de frutos e sementes. Das nove características avaliadas, seis têm maior contribuição para a variação total, destacando-se comprimento, largura e peso dos frutos, número de sementes por fruto, espessura e peso da semente.

The biometric differences between fruits and seeds are useful characteristics that can provide important data for the investigation and preservation of the species and may be linked to environmental and genetic influences. In this sense, considering the importance of this species and the need for conservation, the objective was to carry out physical characterization of the fruits and seeds of Hymenaea martiana as well as to determine the seed imbibition curve. The experiment was conducted at the Seed Analysis Laboratory at the Agricultural Sciences Center at the Federal University of Paraíba in Areia, PB. The evaluations carried out were as follows: biometry of fruits and seeds, number of seeds per fruit, colorimetry of fruits and seeds, percentage of damaged seeds, weight of a thousand seeds, seed water content, mass and imbibition curve. The biometric data were subjected to descriptive analysis to determine the minimum, maximum, average value, standard deviation, asymmetry, and kurtosis of the fruits and seeds. In terms of the biometric characteristics of the fruits and seeds of H. martiana, there was a marked variation, with average fruit lengths of 90.28 mm, widths of 46.83 mm, thicknesses of 34.69 mm, weights of 65.86 g and four seeds per fruit. The average length, width, thickness and weight of the seeds were 23.75 mm, 18.34 mm, 12.71 g and 4.13 g, respectively. The fruits were darker than the seeds, and both the fruits and seeds had red tones. Compared with nonscarified seeds, scarified seeds absorb a greater amount of water.

Hymenaea martiana is a species native to Brazil. It has ecological value, contributes to forest restoration, and is economically important because of the use of its wood and fruits. However, it is frequently exploited. Therefore, understanding genetic diversity becomes essential for guiding conservation strategies as well as ecological restoration actions in the face of climate change and anthropogenic pressures. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the intraspecific diversity of 160 H. martiana mother plants on the basis of morphological descriptors of fruits and seeds and physiological indicators of seed quality, identifying the most discriminating characters. Eighteen traits were analyzed and subjected to analysis of variance and the Scott–Knott test (p < 0.05), with estimates of heritability and the ratio between genetic and environmental coefficients of variation. Phenotypic divergence was obtained via the Mahalanobis distance (D²) and grouped via UPGMA, whereas the relative contribution of the traits was estimated via the Singh method. The results revealed that seed length and weight, emergence speed index, and shoot dry mass were the most effective descriptors for discriminating parent plants. Multivariate analysis revealed the formation of eleven phenotypically distinct groups, demonstrating high variability. These findings support the selection of superior genotypes and representative seed collection, as well as practical initiatives such as the formation of germplasm banks, the selection of breeding stock for forest nurseries, and reintroduction programs. Thus, the data obtained offer technical and scientific support for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem recovery in the semiarid region of Brazil.

Hymenaea martiana is of ecological, socioeconomic and folk medicine importance. However, information on how climatic conditions influence the production and quality of its seeds in natural populations is still limited. Influenced by interannual environmental variations. Considering the context of global environmental changes and the need to support collection, management, and conservation practices, this study aimed to analyze whether interannual variations in environmental conditions affect the physical and physiological quality of H. martiana seeds among different individuals of the remaining natural population of the Atlantic Forest in the municipality of Areia, Paraíba. Fruits were collected from 15 mother plants in 2021 and 2022, and the physical characteristics of the seeds, as well as characteristics related to emergence and initial seedling development, were analyzed. A completely randomized design was used, with a 2 × 15 factorial scheme (years and mother plants), with univariate and multivariate analyses being applied. The physical and physiological characteristics of H. martiana seeds are influenced by interannual environmental conditions and genetic variability among parent plants. Among the characteristics evaluated, final emergence was the most sensitive to environmental changes. Therefore, adopting strategies that consider these factors is essential to ensure the production of high-quality seeds, directly influencing the success of forest restoration, conservation, and sustainable use programs for this species.

The aim of this study was to assess phenotypic variation and its implications for genetic diversity in natural populations of Spondias tuberosa. Fruits were harvested from 38 mother plants from three natural populations, and the physical traits of the fruits, endocarps, and physiological quality of the seeds were evaluated in a completely randomized design with four replicates of 25 fruits per genotype. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, and the means were grouped via the Scott–Knott method. Genetic diversity was evaluated via UPGMA and Tocher clustering methods, which are based on the Mahalanobis distance (D²) and canonical variables, whereas the relative importance of the characters was evaluated via the Singh method. The results indicated high phenotypic variability, with fruit length was the main discriminant trait among genotypes. The groupings formed six (UPGMA) and 12 groups (Tocher), indicating greater divergence within populations. The analysis of phenotypic data provides a solid basis for understanding the ecological dynamics of and supporting sustainable management practices for S. tuberosa, in line with bioeconomic objectives. This study highlights the importance of preserving phenotypic variability in populations, which is essential for the adaptation of species to environmental changes and for improving local bioeconomies.

Species like Crateva tapia, valued for its ecological and nutritional importance, with discontinuous flowering and fruiting, make it challenging to anticipate the harvest time of fruits and determine the physiological maturity of seeds due to the variety of maturation stages on a single plant. Thus, the objective in this study was to determine the physiological maturity of C. tapia seeds. A completely randomized design was used, in a split plot scheme with four replicates. In the plots was evaluated the production cycles 2020-2021 (cycle I) and 2021-2022 (cycle II), and in the split plot was evaluated the maturation stages: 25, 40, 55, 70, 85, 100, 115, 130, 145, 160, and 175 days after anthesis. The evaluated characteristics included the physical (fruit and seeds) and physiological (seeds) traits throughout their development. As the fruits matured, their color changed from deep green to yellow, while the seeds transitioned from pink to dark brown. The seeds reached maximum germination capacity and vigor at 153 and 126 days in cycle I, respectively, and at 149 and 136 days after anthesis in cycle II, respectively. C. tapia seeds reach physiological maturity between 142 and 150 days after anthesis. Morphological aspects of the fruits, such as green coloration with small yellow traces, indicate the physiological maturation of the seeds. The development of C. tapia seeds involves morphological and physiological changes that affect their quality and germination capacity. Climatic conditions (temperature and precipitation) during seed formation influence the germination process and vigor.