EFEITO DA HERBIVORIA SIMULADA NO CRESCIMENTO FOLIAR DE JATOBÁ (Hymenaea courbaril L.)

Abstract

Studies on herbivory seek to evaluate the most different approaches regarding their effects on plant development, and it is known that the loss of leaf area causes damage that extends to the reproductive value of plants. The plant response to a stress, such as herbivory, involves mechanisms that manifest morphologically, for instance in the leaf growth. In this study we investigated whether leaves subjected to simulated herbivory showed responses such as increased leaf growth to compensate for herbivory. Studies with simulated herbivory offer advantages when compared to studies carried out in the field, such as the control of background variables that can influence the results. The plant used was Hymenaea courbaril L. (Fabaceae), the jatobá, and, based on previous literature, we expected (hypothesis) that the leaves submitted to herbivory would present greater leaf growth than the leaves of the control group, as a form of compensation for the loss of leaf area. The study was carried out in a greenhouse using seedlings sown under the same environmental conditions and receiving similar irrigation. The simulated herbivory consisted of a round hole made in each leaflet, using a paper punch for binders. Leaf growth was compared in control and simulated herbivory seedlings. We did not find significant differences in leaf growth between the two groups of plants. We can conclude that the jatobá presents tolerance to herbivory, and that this biotic stress does not affect leaf growth.