Non-biotic factors determining plasticity of the prospective oil-rich macauba palm ( Acrocomia aculeata )

Although macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata) is a palm native to neotropics with wide distribution in Brazil and has significant potential for biofuel production, little is known regarding its variability and adaptability to environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of macauba palm phenotypes to soil attributes and other environmental factors. Macauba palms from 18 locations of three geomorphological provinces from the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, were evaluated regarding chemical, physical and morphological soil attributes and plant morphological attributes. Data were analyzed by uni- and multivariate statistics. Univariate statistical analysis showed that there is great variability of botanical components due to soil fertility, particle size distribution and drainage and to atmospheric climate conditions. Principal component analysis identified the botanical variables fruit weight and size and palm tree circumference at chest height, and the soil variables organic matter of A horizon contents of sand and clay, and exchangeable calcium, manganese, copper, potassium and phosphorus from subsurface horizons as those with the greatest contribution in distinguishing the studied environments. Redundancy analysis identified total sand—inversely associated to water retention—pH—directly influenced by exchangeable bases—and micronutrients Zn and Mn from subsurface horizons, together with soil organic matter from A horizon, as those most associated to the botanical variables fruit weight and size. These associations show that soil fertility and particle size distribution are determining factors for the productive potential of macauba palm.