DENDROCHRONOLOGY OF Schizolobium parahyba (Vell.) S. F. Blake TREES FROM TINGUA BIOLOGICAL RESERVE - RJ

The Schizolobium parahyba, popularly known as guapuruvu, has distinct growth rings evidenced by increased thickening of the walls in the late wood and the presence of marginal parenchyma bands. In this context, the aim of this study was to construct a chronology of the growth rings of S. parahyba trees, occurring in Biological Reserve Tingua, RJ, in order to generate knowledge about the growth dynamic of the species, as well as the sensitivity of the formation of growth rings by climatic factors. From the 30 selected trees, four radial trunk samples were collected using a Pressler borer. The samples suffered mechanical polishing for better visualization of the growth rings and subsequent delineation and measurement of the width of these rings. The statistical program COFECHA was used to check the synchronization of the width of growth rings and generate a series of master chronology of the specie. The species has a great dendrochronological potential, which was confirmed by a high correlation of the width of growth rings within and between trees. Moreover, the species has a high average sensitivity coefficient, which shows a response to environmental variations. The growth of the species is correlated with precipitation in the dry season.