Diversidad de rasgos morfológicos en semillas de especies leñosas en un bosque seco de la provincia de Guayas – Ecuador

Abstract

Studying the diversity of morphological features in seeds allows us to know more about the functionality of seeds in plant communities and their relationship as adaptation mechanisms. The objectives of this thesis were: To measure and evaluate external and internal morphological traits of seeds in woody species of a dry forest, to determine the variation of seed size in the species under study. Fruit samples were collected with seeds of tropical dry forest located in Guayas, of 20 species belonging to 18 trees, and 2 shrubs. Quantitative, qualitative, internal and external traits were evaluated, being the ones of greater variability the mass and the volume. Seed length ranged from 2.35 ± 0.40 mm in G. ulmifolia to 31.73 ± 6.01 mm in M. peruiferum. The mass had the general average of 0.26 ± 0.41 g ranging from 0.01g (G. ulmifolia) to 1.23g (S. saponaria). The trend was hard-tailed and oval-shaped seeds. We determined that the high variability and heterogeneity presented by the measured traits are an adaptation strategy for the seeds to remain viable in arid conditions