Abstract Stevia rebaudiana belongs to the Asteraceae family with high economic and medicinal potential. This article describes and illustrates morphological and histological aspects of leaves and reproductive organs, and the germination process, to provide detailed information on this species and to contribute to taxonomic, phylogenetic and pharmacobotanical projects. The fruit is a cypsela, small, simple, dry, indehiscent, monospermic, light or dark colored, with aristate pappus, and the seed presents a spatulate axile embryo. Germination is phaneroepigeal with a pivotal root system and many absorbing root hairs. The leaves are simple, elliptical to obovate, with two types of trichomes (glandular and tector), with a short petiole, exhibiting an opposite decussate phyllotaxy. Our results showed 37.5% germination after 12 days, only in the dark cypsela, the light colored being considered unviable. The inflorescence is paniculate and the florets are grouped in capitula with isomorphic ends, monoclinous (bisexual), dichlamydeous, heterochlamydeous, pentamerous calyx and corolla, gamossepalous and gamopetalous. The androecium is gamostemone comprised of five stamens with free filaments, isodynamous and epipetalous stamens, synandrous and rimose anthers. The flower presents an inferior ovary, bicarpelar, unilocular and ovules with a basal placentation. The pollen grains are small, isopolar, radial symmetry, tricolporate, with echinate ornamentation.

Abstract To elucidate the factors which control the flower phenotypic plasticity of Catasetum fimbriatum, studies focusing the floral development of the species were performed. The treatments were: high light intensity (1613 μmol.m-2.s-1); low light intensity (454 μmol.m-2.s-1) and mean light intensity (827 μmol.m-2.s-1). The floral morphology and anatomy were analyzed to evaluate of the sequence of tissue development involved in the sexual differentiation. We found the presence of cell cluster with meristematic features in the ovaries and gynostemium of the male and female diclinous flowers. These are responsible for the definition of the sexual expression of the species, in the dependence of the environmental stimulus, related to the endogenous concentration of ethylene, allowing, consequently, the dedifferentiation and re-differentiation of those clusters in the sexual determination of the flowers. There were no anatomical differences in floral tissues in different treatments.

RESUMO: Com o intuito de avaliar os efeitos da antibioticoterapia no crescimento de plantas micropropagadas de abacaxizeiros, bem como na comunidade bacteriana endofítica da espécie, realizaram-se análises moleculares. Verificou-se a presença de endófitos no interior das microplantas, mesmo após 30 dias de cultivo em meio de cultura MS, suplementado com diferentes antibióticos, e analisou-se o crescimento da parte aérea e radicular das microplantas. Decorrido o período de 30 dias de cultivo, constatou-se ainda a presença de bactérias endofíticas, no entanto, as microplantas apresentaram acentuada redução no crescimento da parte aérea e radicular, evidenciando assim a influência da microbiota endofítica no crescimento das microplantas in vitro e a importância da manutenção do equilíbrio endofítos/microplanta.

ABSTRACT: This research aimed to evaluate the antibiotic therapy effects in the growing of micropropagated pineapple plants as well as in the community of the endophytic bacterial of the species. It was performed molecular analyzes and verified the presence of endophytes within microplants even after 30 days of culture on MS medium supplemented with different antibiotics and analyzed the development growth of shoots and roots of microplants. After the period of 30 days of cultivation, even being checked the presence of endophytic bacteria, it was verified that the microplants showed reduction of the growing of shoots and roots, thereby demonstrating the influence of in vitro endophytic microorganisms in the development of microplants, and the importance of maintaining it in equilibrium with endophytes/ microplants.

Objetivou-se avaliar os teores foliares nutricionais de minicepas de Eucalyptus benthamii em relação a diferentes concentrações de Zn e B ao longo de sucessivas coletas de brotações. As brotações foram oriundas de minicepas fertirrigadas com soluções nutritivas variando nas concentrações de Zn e B (S1 - isento de Zn e B, S2 - 0,5 mg L-1 de Zn, S3 - 0,5 mg L-1 de B, S4 - 0,5 mg L-1 de Zn e B, S5 - 1,0 mg L-1 de Zn e B, S6 - 2,0 mg L-1 de Zn e B), sendo realizadas oito coletas de brotações do minijardim clonal. Ao longo do experimento foram determinados o teor nutricional foliar de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn. Considerou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com três repetições. Os teores foliares de macro e micronutrientes variaram significativamente em relação aos tratamentos avaliados, sendo que as soluções S5 e S6 apresentaram as melhores respostas.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the foliar nutrient content in Eucalyptus benthamii mini-stumps treated with different Zn and B concentrations during successive shoot collections. Shoots were collected from mini-stumps fertigated with nutrient solutions containing different concentrations of Zn and B (S1 - free of Zn and B; S2 - 0.5 mg L-1 Zn; S3 - 0.5 mg L-1 B; S4 - 0.5 mg L-1 Zn and B; S5 - 1.0 mg L-1 Zn and B; S6 - 2.0 mg L-1 Zn and B). Eight shoot collections from the clonal mini-garden were performed. For each shoot collection, the nutritional content of the leaf was determined (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn). The experiment was conducted using a randomized design with a split plot and included three replications. The foliar macro and micronutrient contents varied significantly in relation to the treatments, and the S5 and S6 nutritive solutions presented the best responses.

Xenia, the transmission of traits from the pollinizer to the female's tissues, is a phenomenon hitherto unknown in tomatoes. Here, we describe xenia effects on the seeds and fruits of Solanum lycopersicum, the tomato, elicited by S. galapagense. The wild tomatoes, such as S. galapagense, have highly pilose fruit surface and minute seeds, unlike the domesticated species. Crossings between S. galapagense (pollinizer) and two large-seeded, glabrous cultivars of S. lycopersicum (females) tested the former's ability to raise the trichome density and trichome-to-1000-cell ratio and to reduce the seed weight in the latter's fruits. Selfed fruits of the two cultivars, Micro-Tom and Pusa Ruby, were compared to the crossed fruits. The pollen of S. galapagense was able to raise pilosity and to reduce seed weight in the crossed fruits of both cultivars, but with different magnitudes: seed reduction was more intense in Pusa Ruby, while pilosity increase was greater in Micro-Tom, both of which characterize xenia. Pilosity increase is not completely dependent on variation in epidermal cell density, which displayed no xenia effect. The difference between the maternal cultivars in the magnitude of pilosity increase may be due to the higher dilution of a putative male chemical signal (either hormone or RNA) in the larger fruits of Pusa Ruby. However, one cannot use the signal diffusion hypothesis to explain the xenia effects on seed weight.

A organogênese in vitro de espécies lenhosas caracteriza-se como fator fundamental para a obtenção de mudas com interesse comercial, gerando aplicações práticas na área do melhoramento florestal. Adicionalmente, a nutrição mineral desempenha papel importante nas respostas de indução organogênica. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do boro e cálcio na organogênese de segmentos nodais oriundos de plântulas de Eucalyptus grandis germinadas in vitro. Segmentos nodais com 45 dias após a germinação foram utilizados como explantes. Os explantes foram submetidos a combinações de boro e cálcio em meio de cultura MS, visando induzir diferentes respostas organogênicas. Ao final de 60 dias de cultivo in vitro foram avaliados a matéria fresca, a matéria seca, relação entre matéria fresca e matéria seca, conteúdo relativo de água e conteúdo relativo de matéria acumulada pelos explantes. As concentrações de boro e cálcio no meio de cultura influenciaram o controle organogênico in vitro de Eucalyptus grandis. Combinações reduzidas de boro e cálcio induziram a formação de calo e acúmulo de matéria nos explantes. A concentração de 100% (1,10 mg L-1) de boro combinada com 100% (119,950 mg L-1) e 200% (239,900 mg L-1) de cálcio e, 200% (2,20 mg L-1) de boro combinado com 100% (119,950 mg L-1) de cálcio favoreceram a indução de gemas com desenvolvimento normal, podendo ser utilizadas para a regeneração de microplântulas.

The in vitro organogenesis of woody species plays an essential role in the improvement of forest products by providing saplings with high commercial value. Furthermore, mineral nutrition plays an important role in the induction of organogenic responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of boron and calcium in the organogenesis of nodal segments from seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis growing under in vitro conditions. The concentration of boron and calcium in MS medium was modified to induce organogenic responses in 45-day-old nodal segments used as explants. After 60 days, the fresh weight, dry weight, ratio of fresh and dry weight, relative water content and relative matter content accumulated by the explants were evaluated. The concentrations of boron and calcium in the culture medium influenced the in vitro organogenic control of Eucalyptus grandis. Reduced combinations of boron and calcium induced callus formation and dry matter accumulation in the explants. A boron concentration of 100% (1.10 mg L-1) combined with 100% (119.950 mg L-1) and 200% (239.900 mg L-1) of calcium, and 200% (2.20 mg L-1) of boron combined with 100% (119.950 mg L-1) of calcium allowed the induction of well-developed buds, which can be used for the regeneration of micro-plants.

The present work characterized and compared the anatomical structures of the leaves of Bactris gasipaes (Arecaceae) plants grown under different cultivation conditions (in vitro, ex vitro and in vivo) with the goal of identifying the origins of the difficulties encountered in acclimatizing micro-plants. The Quant program was used to determine leaf tissue thicknesses and areas, and histochemical tests were performed on leaf sections and analyzed using light microscopy. Stomatal and trichome densities were determined using the epidermal impression method and by scanning electronic microscopy. Our results indicated that there were no discernible alterations of the anatomical characteristics of the leaves of micro-plants cultivated under differing conditions and that the thickening of the mesophyll and the vascular fibers indicated adaptive responses to ex vitro conditions. As such, the observed difficulties in acclimatizing peach palm micro-plants to ex vitro conditions cannot be attributed to plant anatomical characteristics acquired during in vitro cultivation.

Dos mecanismos com potencial valor adaptativo em resposta ao estresse hídrico merece destaque o apresentado por Eugenia glazioviana Kiaersk cuja perda de turgescência foliar e consequente curvatura do limbo da posição horizontal para a vertical, sem a abscisão das folhas, que estão associados à redução da superfície foliar exposta à luz solar. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo a caracterização histológica da folha da espécie, visando compreender melhor esse mecanismo de resposta ao estresse hídrico. Para tanto foram realizados cortes transversais e paradérmicos da lâmina foliar, bem como, cortes transversais do pecíolo, sendo estes analisados e as imagens capturadas em microscópio de luz. Os resultados permitem, entre outras coisas, afirmar que E. glazioviania possui características tipicamente xerofíticas, sendo elas: cutícula espessa em ambas as superfícies, folha hipoestomática, com muitos tricomas tectores na face abaxial, além de uma característica que pode ser exclusiva da espécie e que possivelmente justifique tal resposta, a qual relaciona-se a presença de ductos glandulares, que percorrem toda a extensão do pecíolo, em continuidade com a lâmina foliar.

In response to hydrous stress, the adaptive mechanisms with a potential adaptive value presented by Eugenia glazioviana Kiaersk is notable, whose leaf turgidity loss and the blade consequent curvature from the horizontal to vertical position, without the leaves abscission, are associated with the reduction of the leaf surface exposed to sunlight. This study aimed to characterize histological leaf species to better understand the mechanism in response to hidrous stress. Therefore, we performed transverse and paradermal cuts from the leaf blade and petiole cross-sections. They were analyzed and the images were captured under light microscope. Among other things, the results allowed to state that E. glazioviana has typically xerophytic characteristics, namely: "thick cuticle on both surfaces, hypostomatic leaves with many trichomes on the abaxial side", and a characteristic that may be unique to that species and possibly justify such response, which is related to the glandular ducts presence, running the petiole length in continuity with the leaf blade.

A pupunheira tem se mostrado boa alternativa à exploração extrativista de espécies como juçara e açaí. Porém, quando produzida via sementes apresenta plantio heterogêneo, o que torna a micropropagação ótima alternativa para seu cultivo em larga escala. O experimento objetivou avaliar a influência da interação entre nitrato de amônio e nitrato de potássio no enraizamento de microplantas obtidas a partir do desenvolvimento in vitro de embriões somáticos de pupunheiras, visando otimizar seu protocolo de micropropagação. Os embriões foram inoculados em meio MS com diferentes concentrações de NH4NO3 e KNO3. Aos 120 e 240 dias de cultivo, foram avaliados parâmetros morfofisiológicos do desenvolvimento radicular. Aos 120 dias, nas concentrações mais baixas de nitrogênio, houve estímulo ao crescimento das raízes e a maior ramificação radicular ocorreu com baixas concentrações de NH4NO3 e altas de KNO3. Aos 240 dias, notou-se redução do crescimento radicular e raízes finas prevalecentes. Conclui-se que até 120 dias as microplantas devem ser mantidas em meio com concentrações menores de NH4NO3 e maiores de KNO3 que as empregadas no meio MS, voltando para as concentrações usuais após esse período.

Pejibaye is a good alternative for the extractive exploration of species such as juçara and açaí. However, when it is produced by seeds its planting is heterogeneous, which makes micropropagation a good alternative for cultivation in large scale. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the interaction between ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate on peach palm somatic embryos rooting in vitro cultivated, for optimization of the micropropagation protocol. The embryos were inoculated in MS medium with different concentrations of NH4NO3 and KNO3. Morphophisyologic parameters of root development were measured at 120 and 240 days of cultivation. At 120 days, at lower nitrogen concentrations, roots were stimulated to grow and major root branching occurred at low concentrations of NH4NO3 and high concentrations of KNO3. At 240 days, there was a reduction of the root growing, with more percentage of thin roots. It was concluded that up to 120 days, the microplants should be cultivated in culture medium with lower concentrations of NH4NO3 and higher concentrations of KNO3 than those recommended by MS medium, and after this period they should be cultivated at the recommended doses.

Plantas micropropagadas geralmente apresentam dificuldades de adaptação ao meio ex vitro, sendo muitas vezes submetidas a processos de rustificação para minimizar os impactos decorrentes da mudança de ambiente. Uma vez que a folha e seus anexos destacam-se como importantes indicativos das estratégias adaptativas das plantas a ambientes adversos, este trabalho teve por objetivo comparar a anatomia foliar de plantas de abacaxi cv. IAC "Gomo-de-mel" cultivadas in vitro com microplantas aclimatizadas em diferentes condições de luminosidade, sob telado com 50% de sombreamento e em pleno sol para verificar a necessidade do processo de rustificação para este cultivar. Avaliações por meio de microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura da epiderme foliar, demonstraram aumento na densidade de escamas em ambas as superfícies das folhas, em microplantas dos ambientes ex vitro, principalmente em relação às que foram expostas diretamente ao sol. Observou-se ainda, aumento no espessamento da cutícula, na sinuosidade das células epidérmicas, e na distribuição e quantidade de fibras no mesofilo evidenciando a interferência das condições de luminosidade nas características morfológicas das microplantas. Essas alterações não prejudicaram o desenvolvimento das microplantas, indicando que não são necessárias etapas de rustificação para a aclimatização deste cultivar.

Microprapagated plants usually show difficulties to adapt to ex vitro conditions, and many times are submitted to the rustication process to aim the reduction of all the impacts resulting from the environmental changes. Once the leaf and its annexes are important indicators of adaptability strategies of the plants to adverse environmental conditions, the objective of this work was to compare the leaf anatomy of pineapple cv. IAC "Gomo-de-mel" in vitro cultivated plants with microplants acclimatized in different conditions of luminosity, under mesh, with 50 % of shading and directly exposed to sunlight, to verify the needed of rustication process on this cultivar. Evaluations of the leaf epidermis using light and electronic scanning microscopy showed an increase on scale density in both leaves surfaces of the ex vitro microplants, mainly related to the ones directly exposed to sunlight. Subsequent observations showed an increase on cuticle thickness, on wavy contours of epidermal cells, and on the distribution and quantity of mesophyll fibers, evidencing the light conditions interference in morphological characteristics of these microplants. These alterations had not harmed microplant development, showing that are not need of rustication stages on the acclimatization process of this cultivar.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do estímulo com benzilaminopurina (BAP) na multiplicação in vitro de Eucalyptus grandis. Foram avaliadas as interações entre concentrações de BAP (0, 200, 400 e 600 mg L-1), tempo de exposição (1, 2 e 3 horas), pH (3 e 5,8) da solução e alterações morfológicas dos explantes. Semanalmente, foi determinada a massa da matéria fresca dos explantes. Aos 21 dias de cultura, foram avaliados: o número de brotações por tratamento, o número de brotações obtidas por explante (taxa de multiplicação), e foi realizado o resgate das plântulas para avaliação histológica. O pH não apresentou interação com os demais fatores estudados. Os tratamentos com BAP a 200 mg L-1, durante 1 e 2 horas, apresentaram-se como os mais indicados na multiplicação do E. grandis. Houve intensificação da divisão celular, no parênquima cortical e no procâmbio, representada pelo surgimento de meristemóides, em resposta aos tratamentos com 200 mg L-1 de BAP, durante 1 e 2 horas. O estímulo com BAP na multiplicação in vitro de E. grandis é viável.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of pulse on in vitro multiplication of Eucalyptus grandis. Interactions were evaluated among BAP concentrations (0, 200, 400 and 600 mg L-1), exposure time (1, 2 and 3 hours), pH values (3 and 5.8), and explant morphological changes. Fresh weight of the explants was determined weekly. At 21 days of culture, valuations were made of the number of shootings per treatment, number of shootings obtained per explant (multiplication rate), and seedlings rescue was accomplished for histological analysis. The pH values did not present any interaction with the other factors. The most significant treatments on E. grandis shoot multiplications were 200 mg L-1 of 6-BAP during 1 and 2 hours. There was an intensification of cell division in the cortical parenchyma and procambium, represented by the arising of meristems in response to 200 mg L-1 of BAP treatment, during 1 and 2 hours. The use of the pulse on in vitro multiplication of E. grandis is feasible.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar um protocolo de regeneração de plantas por meio de embriões somáticos, obtidos a partir de primórdios foliares de pupunheiras adultas e identificar a origem histológica dos embriões e descrever as etapas morfogenéticas. Os explantes foram cultivados em meio MS modificado. Células parenquimáticas do mesofilo originaram meristemóides com BAP (7,1 µM) nos dois primeiros períodos de subcultura. A polarização das estruturas ocorreu com ANA (12,9 µM) e BAP (3,55 µM) no terceiro período de subcultura. Meristemóides se desenvolveram em embriões somáticos, regenerando plantas normais. As células parenquimáticas do mesofilo apresentam elevada capacidade de resposta direta à auxina e à citocinina.

The aim of this work was to evaluate a protocol for plant regeneration by means of somatic embryos obtained from isolated adult pejibaye leaf primordia, and to describe histological origin of embryos and morphogenetic response. Explants were cultivated in modified MS medium. Mesophyll parenchymatous cells originated meristemoids (preembryonic complex formation) induced with 7.1 µM BAP in the first two subculture periods. After polarized structures with 12.9 µM NAA and 3.55 µM BAP were formed in the third subculture, somatic embryos developed and regenerated normal plants. The mesophyll parenchymatous cells display high capacity of direct response to the auxin and cytokinin.

A jabuticabeira é considerada uma das fruteiras mais típicas do Brasil. Entretanto, há poucos estudos sobre esta planta na literatura, e mesmo sua classificação botânica é muito controvertida. Este trabalho faz comparações entre as espécies de jabuticabeiras, usando as técnicas de marcadores morfológicos (organografia) e moleculares RAPD. As características morfológicas das plantas, usadas como marcadores morfológicos, foram comparadas com espécimes presentes nos herbários dos Estados de São Paulo e Minas Gerais e com as descrições obtidas em revisão de literatura especializada. As diferenças moleculares entre as espécies foram determinadas por meio do uso de marcadores RAPD. O experimento foi realizado nas cidades de Piracicaba, Jaboticabal e Ituverava do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Diferenças morfológicas e moleculares entre as plantas estudadas foram identificadas, e quatro grupos distintos de espécies foram definidos: Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg, M. coronata Mattos, M. jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg. e M. phytrantha (Kiaersk.) Mattos. A técnica de marcadores moleculares, aliada à técnica de marcadores morfológicos, mostrou ser uma ferramenta importante na identificação de espécies de jabuticabeiras.

The jabuticaba tree is considered one of the most typical Brazilian fruit trees. However, few studies of this plant are found in the literature and even its botanical classification is very controversial. The present research reports some comparisons between jabuticaba species, using morphologic (organography) and molecular markers techniques. The morphologic characteristics of the plant used as markers were compared with specimens of the herbaria from São Paulo and Minas Gerais States and with the descriptions reported in the literature. Molecular differences between the species were identified by the use of RAPD markers. The experiment was made in Piracicaba, Jaboticabal and Ituverava municipal districts in São Paulo State, Brazil. Morphologic and molecular differences between the studied plants were identified and four groups of species were defined: Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg, M. coronata Mattos, M. jaboticaba (Vell.) O. Berg. and Myrciaria phytrantha (Kiaersk.) Mattos. Both molecular and morphologic markers techniques showed to be important tools for the identification of jabuticaba tree species.

A perda de plantas micropropagadas ocorre, principalmente, pela presença de microrganismos, responsáveis pela morte das plantas no início da cultura ou em seu estabelecimento no campo. O trabalho teve como objetivo a identificação, por taxonomia clássica, e por meio de técnicas moleculares, de fungos presentes nos ápices caulinares de pupunheiras sadias, cultivadas no campo, e a comparação com os fungos isolados, em plantas micropropagadas há dois anos. Os isolados da microbiota fúngica endofítica, das plantas cultivadas in vitro, foram: Fusarium oxysporum, Neotyphodium sp. e Epicoccum nigrum; e das plantas in vivo, foram: Fusarium sp., F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum, Colletotrichum sp., Alternaria gaisen, Neotyphodium sp. e Epicoccum nigrum. As sete espécies de fungos foram reintroduzidas in vitro na planta hospedeira, demonstrando diferentes comportamentos. Neotyphodium sp. e E. nigrum estabeleceram uma interação endofítica com a planta, e as demais comportaram-se como patógenos, diminuindo o desenvolvimento das plântulas em relação às plantas sem inoculação. As espécies endofíticas apresentam potencial para o uso no controle biológico de patógenos de pupunha.

Losses of micropropagated plants occur in its majority due to presence of microorganisms responsible for plant death both in culture beginning and plant establishment in field. Two years in vitro cultivated pejibaye shoot tips, showed the presence of fungi colonies after transference for new culture medium. This paper aimed at identifying fungi, by classical taxonomy and by molecular methods, present in shoot tip of healthy pejibaye plants, cultivated in the field, and to compare them with isolated ones of in vitro plants. The isolates of endophytic fungi community of the in vitro plants were Fusarium oxysporum, Neotyphodium sp. and Epicoccum nigrum; from the in vivo plants were Fusarium sp., F. proliferatum, F. oxysporum, Colletotrichum sp., Alternaria gaisen, Neotyphodium sp. and E. nigrum. The seven species of fungi were reinoculated in host plant, revealing different behaviour. Neotyphodium sp. and E. nigrum established an endophytic interaction with the host; the other fungi acted as pathogens causing decrease in seedlings development when compared to the non-inoculated plants. Species acting as endophytes present a potential use in biocontrol of pejibaye pathogens.

Como tentativa de elucidar os fatores ambientais que controlam a plasticidade fenotípica floral de Catasetum fimbriatum Lindley, iniciaram-se estudos climáticos da espécie, com o acompanhamento de 45 indivíduos divididos em três tratamentos, com quinze indivíduos cada um. O primeiro tratamento foi instalado em casa-de-vegetação, onde predominou intensa luminosidade (1300 a 1900 µmol/m²s), altas temperaturas (38ºC) e baixa umidade relativa do ar (35%). O segundo tratamento foi instalado em ripado e submetido à baixa intensidade luminosa (400 a 650 µmol/m²s), menor temperatura (17ºC) e a uma umidade relativa do ar mais elevada em relação ao primeiro (85%). O terceiro tratamento foi mantido nas condições ambientais naturais (intensidade luminosa entre 500 a 800 µmol/m²s, temperaturas de 23ºC e umidade relativa do ar de 65%). Ao final do experimento, pôde-se constatar a grande adaptabilidade da espécie aos diferenciados ambientes, mediante formação de ecótipos.

As attempt of elucidating the environmental factors that they control the plasticity floral fenotipic of Catasetum fimbriatum Lindley, climatics studies of the species began, through of the accompaniment of 45 individuals divided in three installed treatments. The first fifteen individuals, they were conditioned at green house where intense brightness prevailed (1300 at 1900 µmol/m²s), high temperatures (38ºC) and it lowers relative humidity of the air (35%). Such treatment was entitled treatment 1. The other collected individuals that were put in the pot, and that they constituted the treatment 2, they were submitted the low luminous intensity (400 at 650 µmol/m²s), to a smaller temperature (17ºC) and a relative humidity of the highest air (85%). The last fifteen individuals, presented the natural conditions of survival of the species, and they constituted in that way, the treatment 3 (luminous intensity between 500 at 800 µmol/m²s, temperature of 23ºC and a relative humidity of the highest air of 65%). At the end of the experiment, the great adaptability could be verified of the species to the differentiated environments, through the ecotipes formation.