-The objectives of this study were to morphologically characterize fruits of the babassu palm tree (Attalea vitrivir) and to estimate their productivity in the north of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Twenty mature fruits were collected from 10 plants in three different areas in Januária, Minas Gerais. Eighteen biometric parameters of the fruits were measured, the oil contents of the seeds was determined, the adherence to normal distribution was evaluated, distribution frequencies were evaluated and the effects of individuals and areas on the variables and the correlations between them were analyzed. The production of fruit bunches per plant and the number of fruits per bunch from 10 plants were quantified in three areas and the potential production under both natural harvesting and cultivation conditions were estimated. Significant differences were found among all of the biometric parameters examined between the different individuals and the different areas, which shows wide morphological variability in the fruits. The average oil content was 45.7%, but with significant differences among individuals. The observed variability favors the selection of productive individuals in genetic improvement programs. The potential productivity of endocarps and oil based on a density of 400/plants per hectare would be respectively 6.4 and 1.2 tons/ha, which indicates the possibility of using A. vitrivir for producing charcoal, bio fuels, and for carbon fixation.Keywords: Attalea vitrivir; Fruit biometry; Oil content. MORFOLOGIA DOS FRUTOS E PRODUTIVIDADE DE BABAÇU NO NORTE DE MINAS GERAIS, BRASILRESUMO -Os objetivos deste trabalho foram caracterizar morfologicamente os frutos de babaçu e estimar a sua produtividade (Attalea vitrivir) no Norte de Minas Gerais. Foram coletados 20 frutos maduros de 10 plantas em três áreas, no Município de Januária, MG. Mensuraram-se 18 parâmetros biométricos dos frutos, determinou-se o teor de óleo das sementes e avaliaram-se a aderência à distribuição normal, a distribuição de frequência e a correlação entre as variáveis e o efeito do indivíduo e da área. Quantificou-se a produção de cachos por planta e de frutos por cacho em 10 plantas, nas três áreas, e estimou-se a produtividade potencial em condição de extrativismo e de cultivo. Em todas as variáveis biométricas estudadas, houve diferença significativa entre os indivíduos e áreas, evidenciando-se grande variabilidade na morfologia dos frutos. O teor médio de óleo foi de 45,7%, com diferença significativa entre os indivíduos. A grande variabilidade encontrada favorece, em programas de melhoramento, a seleção de indivíduos mais produtivos. A produtividade potencial de endocarpo e óleo em densidade de 400 plantas/ha é de 6,4 e 1,2 t/ha, respectivamente, o que amplia a possibilidade de uso de A. vitrivir na produção de carvão, na indústria de biocombustíveis e na fixação de carbono.Palavras-chave: Attalea vitrivir; Biometria de frutos; Teor de óleo.

Seed predation is a natural phenomenon that can occur either before or after dispersal and can signifi cantly reduce the economic value and reproductive potential of plants. Th e babassu palm (Attalea vitrivir, Arecaceae) is important to rural communities that extract oil from its fruits for a wide variety of uses. We evaluated the predation and germination of A. vitrivirseeds in Pandeiros River Environmental Protection Area (EPA-Pandeiros) in Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Sixty individual plants were evaluated to determine their fruiting patterns. Seed predation and germination were evaluated in the natural environment for eight months for fruits divided into two treatments: scarifi ed and intact. Germination of fruits submitted to these same treatments was also evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Our results indicated that fruiting is continuous in this species and that fruit morphology does not infl uence either germination or predation. Likewise, fruit scarifi cation did not infl uence seed germination. Pachymerus cardo (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) preferentially oviposited on scarifi ed fruits, but only after their dispersal. Th e predation rate in the natural environment was 14.6%. Germination was not observed under natural conditions, but reached 33.05% under greenhouse conditions.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the gains from diversification in the global stock market in times of economic growth and in times of crisis, identifying these periods in which this strategy would become more favorable for investment. In this analysis, Harry Markowitz technique was applied using the method of the efficient frontier. We evaluate the gains from diversification considering the whole period and the entire sample, grouped in developed and emerging countries; and finally separating in periods of crisis and periods of economic growth. The results showed that the group of emerging countries offered better results for diversification when compared to developed countries. Only in times of crisis, there is some value added by the inclusion of stock indexes of developed countries.