ABSTRACT This study aimed to explore the extent of knowledge of tree species and their uses by agroforestry farmers in the Vale do Ribeira, Brazil, to verify whether gender and age are related to species knowledge in different use categories. The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews, guided tours, direct observation and collection and identification of botanical material. Analyses were based on the frequency with which plants were mentioned. Forty farmers (17 women and 23 men aged 18 to 78 years) were interviewed. There were significant differences in the species richness cited exclusively by each gender; the number of species mentioned by men (36 sp.) was higher than by women (11 sp.). Men exhibited a greater knowledge of such categories as construction, organic matter, fuel, animal feed, technology and beekeeping, whereas there were no significant differences for food, medical and other categories. Age was also a distinguishing factor; younger people mentioned the lowest number of species (74 sp.) compared to adults (163 sp.) and the elderly (150 sp.). The greater number of species mentioned exclusively by men may indicate the existence of specialized knowledge, whereas environmental constraints and the availability of plant resources may limit the knowledge of young people.

RESUMOCom objetivo de introdução de epífitas em manejo de restauração florestal, foi avaliado o efeito da aplicação de bioestimulante no desenvolvimento de três espécies epífitas sob condição de arboreto. Plantas das espécies Vriesea carinata Wawra (Bromeliaceae), Oncidium flexuosum Sims (Orchidaceae) e Rhipsalis paradoxa (Salm-Dyck ex Pfeiff.) Salm-Dyck (Cactaceae) foram pulverizadas, com o bioestimulante Stimulate® nas concentrações de 0,0, 4,0, 8,0 e 12,0 mL L-1. Estacas de Chorisia speciosaforam utilizadas como suporte e substrato para a fixação das plantas. As variáveis analisadas foram: qualidade da fixação, número de folhas, brotos e raízes e, matéria seca da parte aérea e raízes. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso constituído de quatro tratamentos (concentrações do bioestimulante) com três repetições de cinco plantas, totalizando 15 plantas por tratamento, para cada espécie. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e regressão. Os tratamentos 4 e 8 mL L-1 de bioestimulante proporcionou aumento da produção de folhas e do diâmetro do caule de V. carinata, enquanto que as demais variáveis analisadas, nas três espécies, não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos. Nas condições do experimento, o bioestimulante não apresentou respostas significativas quanto ao crescimento, desenvolvimento do sistema radicular e à qualidade da fixação para as espécies estudadas; estimulando, no entanto, o crescimento da parte aérea de V. carinata e O. flexuosum. A facilidade de aplicação do bioestimulante, proporcionando o crescimento da parte aérea e o baixo custo do produto, possibilita a sua utilização no estímulo do crescimento de plantas epífitas a serem utilizadas na restauração florestal.

ABSTRACTThe present study evaluated the effect of biostimulant (Cytokinin as kinetin 0.009%, Gibberellic acid 0.005%, and Indole-3-butyric acid 0.005%) on the development of three epiphyte species aiming their introduction on forest restoration management. Concentrations of 0, 4, 8, and 12 mL L-1 of bioestimulant Stimulate® were applied by leaf spray on Vriesea carinata Wawra (Bromeliaceae), Oncidium flexuosum Sims (Orchidaceae), and Rhipsalis paradoxa (Salm-Dyck ex Pfeiff.) Salm-Dyck (Cactaceae). Branches of Chorisia speciosa were used as phorophyte to support the plants. The parameters quality of anchorage, number of leaves, shoots, and roots, and dry matter of the roots and shoots were analyzed. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four treatments, three replications with five plants each, totalizing 15 plants per treatment for each species. Data were submitted to variance analysis and regression. The treatments 4 and 8 mL L-1 of biostimulant improved the number of leaves and plant diameter of V. carinata. The other parameters were not significant for the three species in all treatments evaluated. The bioestimulant on the experimental conditions had no significant responses on growth and development of roots and anchorage quality for the species, with stimulus of shoots growth on V. carinata and O. flexuosum. The growth stimulus of the shoot and the easy, fast, and low cost of the application of biostimulant, enable its use to optimize the transplanting of epiphytic plants for forest restoration.