Programmed cell death in Argania spinosa fruit endocarp development

Abstract

Argania spinosa, belongs to the family Sapotaceae is endemic to the South western Algeria in northen Tindouf. This species plays essential local ecologi-cal and economical roles. The fruit seeds are used to produce precious oil that is, mainly used in cooking and believed to have medicinal properties (antiproliferative, Hypolipidemic, hypocholesterolemic, antiatherogenic, an-tiradical). However, this valorization of the argan trees raises a problem. The major challenge for current territory planning is to enhance the propagation of argan trees in natural conditions. Natural seeds propagation is scarce. The argan endocarp is hard and thick, resulting in an obstacle to germination. In this study, we have carried out in-depth anatomical investigation of endo-carp of A. spinosa using Electron Microscopy to clarify the exogenous dor-mancy observed in argan seeds. This study demonstrated that the cell walls of sclerenchyma cells, before the cell dies, frequently undergo secondary modifications, such as lignification. Sclerenchyma cells are dead because thick cell walls perform the mechanical function. It’s constituted of characte-ristic cells with thick lignified layer, with a porous structure. It’s protects seed against desiccation. The protoplast is no longer needed, there for its eliminated. The sclerenchyma cells appear to have a cell death program, in which the coupled. Physical or chemical treatments can be recommended to effectively eliminate integumentary inhibition of A. spinosa in areas in which biodiversity is threatened.