Among the many effects caused by fires on native species of the Cerrado, the change in fruit production has been highlighted, since it results directly in the maintenance of local populations. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a prescribed burning on fruit set of Qualea parviflora Mart. in a cerrado sensu stricto area in Brasília-DF. Two areas of cerrado were studied, one submitted to biennial prescribed burnings in August (burned) and one fire protected for 14 years (control). In each area, 10 reproductive individuals were selected and their production of flower buds, flowers and fruits was monitored for 22 months. Two months after the prescribed fire on August 26, 2008, the production of reproductive structures was higher in the burned than in the control area. However, the proportion of flower buds that develop flowers and fruits (fruit set) was the same in both areas. One year after the fire, there was no inflorescence production in the burned area. However, in the control area the yield was higher than in the previous period. The absence of flower production in individuals of the burned area one year after the fire suggest that Q. parviflora may need more than a year to return to a normal cycle of reproduction, indicating that medium and long term effects of fire should be considered when using fire as a management tool to reduce fuel in areas of Cerrado.
Qualea parviflora; Fruit set"; Fire
