Diversidade de Descritores Morfológicos de Sementes de Angico Branco (Anadenanthera colubrina)

Angico Branco (Anadenanthera colubrina) is a species of the Fabaceae family widely distributed across the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes, naturally occurring in the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, and South regions of Brazil. It is used in environmental recovery programs due to being a native species well-adapted to diverse climatic conditions. The species can be propagated by seeds, which highlights the importance of understanding the phenological stages of this tree species, as seed collection is fundamental for its propagation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and homogeneity of Angico Branco seeds based on their morphological characteristics. The experiment was conducted at the Plant Ecophysiology Laboratory of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul – UEMS, using a completely randomized design (CRD). The Angico Branco pods were collected in the rural area of Sud Mennucci - SP. Collections took place between August and October, selecting mature pods for subsequent analysis. The variables analyzed included seed diameter, seed thickness, number of seeds per pod, seed weight, and total seed weight. The seeds were removed and divided into three samples or groups (G1, G2, and G3). No statistical differences were observed for any of the variables evaluated, indicating that this species shows little variation in seed-associated attributes. These results underscore the importance of considering morphological seed descriptors as a relevant parameter for genetic diversity studies of forest species described in the Brazilian Cerrado.