Comparative morphobiometry of ×Butyagrus nabonnandii (Arecaceae) and its parents, Syagrus romanzoffiana and Butia odorata, in natural vegetation of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Abstract

The worldwide cultivation of palm trees has sparked the interest of researchers and the population in general due to their economic, ecosystemic, food, and landscape potential in their areas of occurrence. Among the species of this family in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil, ×Butyagrus nabonnandii and its parents, Syagrus romanzoffiana and Butia odorata, stand out. Until recently, ×B. nabonnandii was considered sterile due to the lack of records on seed germination. However, our group recently demonstrated the germination of the hybrids’ seeds from three natural populations in RS, indicating that it is fertile. The present study assessed the vegetative and reproductive morphology and biometry of ×B. nabonnandii and its parents in four natural populations in RS. The hybrid had characteristics common to both parents, in addition to unique ones. The comparative morphological characterization of individuals in natural environments and their parents is necessary to understand patterns of phenotypic variability and distribution of genetic diversity between and within populations and support programs aiming to recover, maintain, and sustainably use these resources.

Key words:
comparative morphometry; intergeneric hybrid; mule palm; palm trees