Understanding the Temperature Range for Foliar Development of Neotropical Forest Species during the Seedling Stage: Implications for Biology and Ecology

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to estimate the cardinal temperatures for the foliar development of seedlings from four forest species native to Brazilian biomes: Handroanthus heptaphyllus, Tabebuia roseoalba, Ceiba speciosa, and Schinus terebinthifolia. An experiment was conducted with ten sowing times between December 2019 and April 2021. Seven methods were employed to estimate the inferior cardinal temperature, the phyllochron concept for the optimal temperature, and mathematical models for the superior temperature. The results indicated significant variations in the inferior cardinal temperatures among the four species, ranging from 9.8°C to 11.5°C, as well as distinct optimal temperatures ranging from 22.7°C to 25.7°C. Furthermore, disparities were observed between species and sowing times concerning the determination of the phyllochron, with Ceiba speciosa exhibiting an average phyllochron ranging from 75.6 to 246.2 ºday-1. These findings offer valuable insights into the biological and ecological aspects of native forest species and enhance our understanding of key parameters for modeling vegetal growth. However, the limited availability of species-specific information in the Brazilian biome raises concerns regarding the applicability of these models. In conclusion, this study successfully estimates the cardinal temperatures (inferior, optimal, and superior) for foliar development of four important forest species native to Brazilian biomes, thereby contributing to the knowledge base of forestry research.