Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the anatomy and ontogeny of Pterodon emarginatus seed using the usual techniques. The ovules are campilotropous, crassinucelate, and bitegmic. The following processes occur during integument development: anticlinal divisions and phenolic compound accumulations in the exotesta, whose cells become palisade; predominantly periclinal divisions and cell expansion in the mesotesta, where the rapheal bundle differentiates; differentiation of the hourglass-cell layer adjacent to the palisade; fusion of outer and inner integuments, which remain individualized structures only at the micropylar end; and intense pectin impregnation in the mesotesta thicker walls with lignification restricted to the xylem. At the hilar pole, the Faboideae seed characteristic structure develops, with double palisade layer, subhilar parenchyma, and tracheid bar. The younger nucellus shows thicker pectic cell walls and is consumed during seed formation. The endosperm is nuclear and, after cellularization, shows peripheral cells with dense lipid content; the seeds are albuminous. The axial embryo shows fleshy cotyledons, which accumulate lipid and protein reserves; starch is rare. Although the seed structure is characteristic of the Fabaceae, the inner integument coalesces into the outer integument without being reabsorbed.

Highlights

  • The Fabaceae family (= Leguminosae) consists of approximately 650 genera and 18,000 species; it is one of the largest Angiosperm families (Polhill et al, 1981; Judd et al, 1999)

  • Vogel fruit were collected from the Botucatu cerrado, São Paulo, Brazil

  • The studies by De Candolle (1825), following which leguminous embryo structure have been considered of major importance, resulted in the division of the Fabaceae into two great subfamilies based on embryo axis curvature (Curvembriae and Rectembriae)

Read more

Summary

Introduction

The Fabaceae family (= Leguminosae) consists of approximately 650 genera and 18,000 species; it is one of the largest Angiosperm families (Polhill et al, 1981; Judd et al, 1999). The Faboideae is the largest of the three Fabaceae subfamilies with about 440 genera and 12,000 species (Polhill, 1981a). Many species occur in tropical regions, and are a significant part of the Aeschynomeneae, Dalbergieae, Dipteryxeae, and Sophoreae tribes centered in Latin America (Raven & Polhill, 1981). The three Dipteryxeae genera occur only in Central and South America, mainly in the Amazon region (Polhill, 1981b). Of the Faboideae, the Dipteryxeae tribe is characterized by presenting a single subapical ovule in the ovary. Its seeds are oblong-fusiform to compressed-ovoid, with a short straight radicle, sometimes embedded in the cotyledons (Polhill, 1981b)

Objectives
Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call