ANÁLISE BIOMÉTRICA DE FRUTOS E SEMENTES DE CURRIOLA (Pouteria ramiflora (Mart.) Radlk), NATIVA DO CERRADO

Abstract

The Cerrado biome harbors vast plant diversity, including Pouteria ramiflora, a native species widely distributed throughout the region and popularly known as "curriola", "grão-de-galo", or "figo-do-cerrado". Fruit and seed biometrics involve measuring physical aspects such as length, width, thickness, and mass, providing essential data for interspecific differentiation, genetic studies, and environmental conservation efforts. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the biometrics of P. ramiflora fruits and seeds from matrices at the IF Goiano - Campus Posse experimental farm. Fruits were collected in a legal reserve area and measured at the Multi-user Natural Sciences Laboratory for subsequent statistical analysis. The analysis revealed wide variability among the evaluated matrices. The Kruskal–Wallis test indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) for all variables, confirmed by the DSCF test, with matrices PR1, PR2, and PR7 showing distinct morphometric characteristics. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) explained 88.5% of the total variance, with PC1 (72.5%) associated with biomass and linear dimensions, while PC2 (16%) was strongly influenced by rind thickness. The correlation matrix confirmed a strong association between mass and size variables, reflecting the combined influence of genetic and environmental factors on fruit variability in the Cerrado.