Physical Characteristics and Productive Performance of Pequiá Fruit Under the Influence of Natural Vegetation

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the physical characteristics of pequiá fruits in the Cerrado areas of Nova Xavantina-MT, and to determine the influence of native vegetation on fruit biometry and productivity. The research question was whether proximity to fragments of native vegetation increases the productivity of pequiá fruit. In 2017 and 2018, 40 ripe fruits that had fallen to the ground were collected from three locations, two of which were close to native vegetation and one of which was close to crops and pastures. The highest values were observed in fruits collected in 2018, when there was more rainfall, and in fruits from the locations close to native vegetation, indicating that the presence of native vegetation can provide ecosystem services that promote the productivity of pequiá fruits. These findings have important implications for the conservation and management of Cerrado ecosystems.