Phenolic Compounds Influence Seed Dormancy of Palicourea rigida H.B.K.(Rubiaceae),a Medicinal Plant of the Brazilian Savannah

作     者：Marielle C.Inácio Rita Maria Moraes Patrícia C.Mendonca Lucas J.F.Morel Suzelei C.Franca Bianca W.Bertoni Ana M.S.Pereira 

作者机构：Departamento de HorticulturaUniversidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita FilhoBotucatuBrazil National Center for Natu-ral Products ResearchSchool of PharmacyThe University of MississippiOxfordUSA Center for Water and Wetland ResourcesThe University of MississippiAbbevilleUSA Departamento de Biotecnologia de Plantas MedicinaisUniversidade de Ribeirao PretoRibeirao PretoBrazil 

出 版 物：《American Journal of Plant Sciences》 (美国植物学期刊（英文）)

年 卷 期：2013年第4卷第1期

页      面：129-133页

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100214[医学-肿瘤学] 10[医学] 

基　　金：funded by a grant of Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo(FAPESP)2007/58503-7 

主　　题：Cerrado Douradinha Medicinal Plant Conservation 

摘      要：Palicourea rigida H.B.K. (Rubiaceae), a medicinal species commonly known as douradinha, has wide distribution across ecosystems in Central and South America. This species exhibits seed dormancy delaying germination until optimal conditions for seedling growth and development are in place. While dormancy ensures species survival, it also presents a technical problem for developing P. rigida’s plant production program. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate if secondary metabolites present in seeds influence the seed dormancy of P. rigida. Mature fruits were harvested from the native habitat, in the savanna region of the State of Minas Gerais during February 2009, 2010 and 2011. The content of phenolic compounds in the seed of P. rigida was measured, and the allelopathic effects were assessed using the germination of lettuces as model to detect phytotoxicity. The P. rigida seeds geminated at rates varying between 7% and 31% with a Seed Germination Index (SGI) of 0.09. Data suggest that the phenolic compounds present in the seeds may be responsible for seed dormancy.