Abstract
Abstract: Elaeis oleifera is an oleaginous palm tree native to America. The fruit contains unsaturated fatty acid extracted from the mesocarp. The species is mainly used in breeding programs of E. guineensis in development of interspecific hybrids with higher oil yield and resistance to lethal yellowing. E. oleifera is propagated by seed, which requires the adoption of methods for breaking dormancy and increasing the germination rate. However, there are no studies on the morphology and anatomy of the seed and its ergastic substances; knowing its structure makes it possible to improve planting methods and make them more effective. The aim of the present study was to describe the morpho-anatomy and histochemistry of the seed, characterizing it and contributing information that assists in understanding dormancy. In seeds collected in the experimental area of Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental (Amazonas), morpho-anatomical and histochemical analysis was conducted to detect metabolites (starch, protein, lipids, carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds). The seeds vary in shape, oblong and ovate. The embryo has an oblique embryonic axis, composed of root apical meristem and shoot apical meristem with three leaf primordia. Phenolic compounds were found throughout the seed coat; there are lipids, protein, and pectin in the embryo and endosperm.
Highlights
Palm trees are among the most diversified groups of plants; there are more than 150 species, with extraordinary variations in geographic distributions, regional patterns of abundance, and growth forms, and palm trees provide countless ecosystem services (Balslev et al, 2019)
Palm oils are widely used in the food, cosmetics, and medication industries (Oliveira and Rios, 2014)
The seeds had a mean length of 14.15 mm, apical diameter of 10.12 mm, basal diameter of 10.75 mm, and 0.93 g of fresh matter (Table 1). These measurements are near those of another palm tree of the same genus, Elaeis guineensis, which had mean diameter of 0.93 mm and weight of 0.99 g – mean values observed by Camillo et al (2014) upon analyzing the biometry of seeds from eighteen bunches from different plants
Summary
Palm trees are among the most diversified groups of plants; there are more than 150 species, with extraordinary variations in geographic distributions, regional patterns of abundance, and growth forms, and palm trees provide countless ecosystem services (Balslev et al, 2019). They are important for maintaining native fauna and flora; they interact with other plant species and serve as food and shelter for animals (Oliveira et al, 2010). In Brazil, it more frequently occurs in the central region of the state of Amazonas, in wet and higher locations on firm soil (Oliveira and Rios, 2014)
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