Floral morphology in Eugenia (Myrtaceae): evaluation of colleters as a support for the delimitation of morphological groups of Eugenia species

• Grant number: 24/00154-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2024
• End date: July 11, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Taxonomy
• Principal Investigator: Fiorella Fernanda Mazine Capelo
• Grantee: Vinícius Luvizotto Denardi
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/20258-7 - Floral morphology in Eugenia (Myrtaceae): evaluation of colleters in Eugenia sect. Jossinia and Eugenia sect. Umbellatae as a contribution to the delimitation of morphological groups., BE.EP.IC

Abstract

In Brazil, Myrtaceae is represented by 29 genera and ca. 1,200 species, with Eugenia L. being the most abundant genus among Angiosperms in the country, with 414 species. This genus has an infrageneric taxonomy divided into sections, which are recognized by a set of morphological characters, and it is desirable to find more characters that aid in recognition. Studies have shown the existence of colleters in several groups in Myrtaceae, especially in vegetative parts. There are few studies that refer to colleters in the reproductive parts of species in general. The present project aims to contribute to the understanding of the taxonomy of Eugenia species, through the morphological analysis of colleters in reproductive parts of species of the genus, mainly those occurring in the state of São Paulo. The project will seek to evaluate the presence/absence of colleters in the floral buds of the species, their different associations with the reproductive phases of the plant (flower bud, flower and fruit), seeking to evaluate their importance as a taxonomic character. The project will be based on sample materials deposited in herbaria in the State of São Paulo, especially the Herbarium SORO, where most of the activities will be developed. Specimens from different representatives of the sections will be examined, focusing on Eugenia section Umbellatae, which contains more than half of the Eugenia species. The specimens will be examined for morphometry, such as maximum and minimum width and length of the colleters, as well as the quantity present, if present, in each specimen and its location. The morphology of the colleters will also be analyzed through the use of magnifying glasses, stereo microscopes and the scanning microscopy (SEM). It is expected that the morphological information obtained will be informative for identifying species (or groups of species) of the genus.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERNANDES, THIAGO; BRAGA, JOAO MARCELO ALVARENGA; VALDEMARIN, KARINNE SAMPAIO; DENARDI, VINICIUS L. U. V. I. Z. O. T. T. O.; PRIETO, PABLO VIANY; MAZINE, FIORELLA F.. Revisiting the endemic Eugenia grandifolia (Myrtaceae), a rare species from the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro: extended description and conservation. PHYTOTAXA, v. 682, n. 2, p. 9-pg., 2025-01-21. (24/00154-2)

DA SILVA, EVERTON DIEGO CORREA; MARUYAMA, ADRIANO DA SILVA DE CICCO; VALDEMARIN, KARINNE SAMPAIO; DENARDI, VINICIUS L. U. V. I. Z. O. T. T. O.; CINOSI, LINA PASTOR; MAZINE, FIORELLA FERNANDA. Eugenia pulcherrima (Myrteae, Myrtaceae) in southeastern Brazil: extended description, lectotypification and geographical notes. PHYTOTAXA, v. 672, n. 1, p. 10-pg., 2024-11-19. (24/00154-2)