Growth dynamics of Centrolobium robustum (Vell.) Mart. ex Benth. (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in the Atlantic Forest

Abstract

Knowledge about growth rhythm and longevity of tropical trees is essential to understand life strategies of native species, and consequently, of forest remnants. This study aims to investigate the growth dynamics of Centrolobium robustum, a representative species from Atlantic Forest. For this purpose, radial growth was examined through tree rings and cambium analysis, from macroscopical, anatomical, and ultrastructural perspectives. The apical and radial stem growth was evaluated through leaf and cambium phenology, respectively. Leaf and cambium behaviors were associated with environmental seasonality. The results showed that the period of cell production and cambial development occurred in association with leaf expansion and during the wet, warm, and long-day season. Seasonality of cambial and leaf phenology in response to the environment determined the annual formation of tree rings, and it allowed to evaluate C. robustum growth rates and longevity. Species seasonality also responded to abnormal climatic events during the study period, which shows its sensitivity to environmental changes and represents a factor to be considered in the forest management programs.

Assessment of the dendrochronological potential of Licaria bahiana Kurz, an endemic laurel of lowland Atlantic forests in Brazil

“…D. Microscopic detail of an abrupt transition between two growth-rings, from latewood thick-walled cells in the former ring to earlywood thin-walled cells in the latter. (Callado et al 2001;2014;Lisi et al 2008;Oliveira et al 2009;Brandes et al 2015;Vasconcellos et al 2016).…”

“…This is because it is assumed that the low fluctuation of the annual temperature is unable to trigger physiological responses in tropical trees. In spite of that, currently, more studies have tested the relationship between growth and temperature, demonstrating the influence of this climatic variable on the radial growth of the tropical trees (e.g., López & Villalba 2011;Vlam et al 2014;Fétéké et al 2016;Locosselli et al 2016a;b;Vasconcellos et al 2016;Pereira et al 2018;Rahman et al 2018).…”

Duration of cambial activity is determined by water availability while cambial stimulus is day-length dependent in a Neotropical evergreen species

“…Initial axial parenchyma bands occur in the tropical deciduous trees Cedrela odorata (Dunisch et al, 2002), Schizolobium parahyba (Marcati et al, 2008), and Centrolobium robustum (de Vasconcellos et al, 2016), and in a tropical liana Tynanthus cognatus (Lima et al, 2010). The initial axial parenchyma bands represent a minimal investment of photosynthates in cell wall material at a growing season because there is much more investment in cell wall material (and therefore photosynthates) in latewood than in earlywood (Carlquist, 1980).…”