Pericarp histogenesis and histochemistry during fruit development in Butia capitata (Arecaceae).

Palm fruits show great structural complexity, and in-depth studies of their development are still scarce. This work aimed to define the developmental stages of the fruit of the neotropical palm Butia capitata and to characterize the ontogenesis of its pericarp. Biometric, anatomical, and histochemical evaluations were performed on pistillate flowers and developing fruits. The whole fruit develops in three phases: (I) histogenesis (up to 42 days after anthesis - DAA), when the topographic regions of the pericarp are defined; (II) pyrene maturation (42 to 70 DAA), when the sclerified zone of the pericarp is established; and (III) mesocarp maturation (70 to 84 DAA), when reserve deposition is completed. During pericarp ontogenesis (i) the outer epidermis and the outer mesophyll of the ovary give origin to the exocarp (secretory epidermis, collenchyma, parenchyma, sclerenchyma, and vascular bundles); (ii) the median ovarian mesophyll develops into the mesocarp, with two distinct topographical regions; (iii) the inner ovarian epidermis originates the endocarp; and in the micropylar region, it differentiates into the germination pore plate, a structure that protects the embryo and controls germination. (iv) Most of the inner region of the mesocarp fuses with the endocarp and, both lignified, give rise to the stony pyrene; (v) in the other regions of the mesocarp, carbohydrates and lipids are accumulated in a parenchyma permeated with fiber and vascular bundles. The development of the B. capitata pericarp presents high complexity and a pattern not yet reported for Arecaceae, which supports the adoption of the Butia-type pyrenarium fruit class.

Hormonal profile and the role of cell expansion in the germination control of Cerrado biome palm seeds.

Little information is currently available concerning the mechanisms controlling palm seed germination. We compared the anatomical and physiological aspects of seeds of two neotropical palm species showing different levels of dormancy. The seeds of Attalea vitrivir and Butia capitata were evaluated for the endogenous contents of hormones (ABA, GAs, CKs, BRs, IAA, JA, SA and the ethylene precursor ACC) in their cotyledonary petiole and operculum (structures involved in germination control), the force necessary to displace the operculum, endo-ß-mannanase activities, and embryo cell elongation. The analyses were carried out on with intact dry and imbibed seeds as well as with seeds with the operculum mechanically removed, 2, 5 and 10 days after sowing. The germinabilities of the intact seeds of A. vitrivir and B. capitata were 68% and 3%, respectively; the removal of the operculum increased germination to more than 90% in both species. Reductions of ABA and increases in GAs contents coincided with cell elongation, although there is no evidence that hormonal balance and endo-ß-mannanase activity are involved in operculum weakening. The ratio between the embryo length and the force required for operculum displacement (EL/OF) was found to be 1.9 times greater in A. vitrivir than in B. capitata, which means that very small elongations in each cell would be sufficient to promote germination, resulting in a lower level of dormancy in the former species. EL/OF and cell growth control are therefore important for defining dormancy level in palm seeds.

Produção de porta-enxerto de limão cravo em resposta a adubação organomineral / Produced of rootstock of raugpur lime in response to organic-mineral fertilization

A adubação do substrato pode permitir a obtenção de porta-enxertos de alta qualidade de limão cravo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produção de porta-enxerto de limão cravo (Citrus limonia Osbeck), em resposta a aplicação em cobertura, de doses de um adubo organomineral, a base de turfa. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, sendo as sementes plantadas em tubetes de 50 mL, preenchidos por substrato comercial a base de casca de Pinus e turfa. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com 5 tratamentos, 5 repetições e 8 plantas por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos utilizados foram doses (0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; 2,0 mL) do produto comercial diluído em 1 litro de água, sendo aplicado 5 mL por tubete semanalmente. As adubações iniciaram aos 70 dias após a semeadura e aos 115 dias foram avaliadas as alturas da planta, número de folhas, diâmetro do caule e massa seca da parte aérea e da raiz e relação entre estas. Para a produção de portas-enxerto vigorosos de limão cravo pode ser aplicado, em cobertura no substrato, uma solução de 2,0 mL do adubo organomineral.

The fertilization of substrate can provided high quality of raugpur lime tree rootstock. This work has the objective to evaluate the production of the raugpur lime tree rootstock (Citrus limonia Osbeck), in response to broadcasting application to organic-mineral fertilizer of substrate. The experiment was developed in a greenhouse conditions in pots filled with commercial substratum based on Pinus rind and turf. The completely randomized experimental design with 5 treatments and, 5 replications and 8 plants per pot was use. The treatments were doses (0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 mL) of a dilute commercial fertilizer in 1 liter of water, being applied 5 mL in each pot weekly. Fertilizations started 70 days after sowing and 115 days evaluations were perfomed which consisted of plant height, leaf number, diameter stem, weight of the root and shoot dry matter and relationship between these. For the production of vigorous rangpur lime tree rootstock can be applied in brodcasting the substrate, a solution of 2.0 mL of organic mineral fertilizer

Biometria de frutos e sementes de Butia capitata (Mart.) Beccari (Arecaceae), em vegetação natural no Norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil / Fruit and seed biometry of Butia capitata (Mart.) Beccari (Arecaceae), in the natural vegetation of the North of Minas Gerais, Brazil

O fruto do coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata (Mart.) Beccari) possui grande importância social e econômica para as comunidades que estão localizadas próximas a áreas de sua ocorrência. Características biométricas de frutos e sementes são importantes para a distinção de espécies, para a formação de lotes mais uniformes de sementes, para estudos de dispersão e de estabelecimento de plântulas. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar e correlacionar as principais características biométricas dos frutos e sementes de coquinho-azedo, para que possa gerar informações das potencialidades produtivas e econômicas dessa espécie. Para a condução deste experimento, foram utilizados 2.050 frutos maduros de coquinho-azedo, coletados em 41 plantas. As características avaliadas foram: o diâmetro longitudinal e o diâmetro equatorial dos frutos, a massa fresca média do fruto, a massa fresca, seca e a umidade média da polpa (epicarpo + mesocarpo), a massa fresca do pirênio (endocarpo+semente), o número de sementes por fruto, além da percentagem de polpa e pirênio do fruto. Obteve-se em média um diâmetro longitudinal de 26,87 mm (± 2,77), um diâmetro equatorial de 21,10 mm (± 1,67) e uma massa fresca média do fruto de 8,02 g (± 1,73). A polpa do fruto representa, em massa, aproximadamente 80 por cento do fruto. Observaram-se correlações positivas e significativas da massa e diâmetros do fruto com a maioria das características avaliadas, o que sugere que frutos de tamanho e massa maiores possuem tanto polpa como o pirênio mais pesados e maior número sementes por fruto. Em 99 por cento dos frutos analisados ocorreu somente uma semente não sendo observados frutos paternocárpicos ou com mais de duas sementes.

The fruit "coquinho-azedo" (Butia capitata (Mart.) Beccari), has a great social and economic importance to the communities located close to its distribution areas. Biometric characteristics of fruit and seed are important for the distinction of species, for the formation of more uniform seed lots, for the studies of dispersion and seedling establishing. Thus, the aim of this work was to determine and correlate main fruit and seed biometrical characteristics of the "coquinho-azedo" in order to provide information on the productive and economic potentialities of this species. In this experiment, 2.050 mature "coquinho-azedo" fruits were collected at 41 plants. The evaluated characteristics had been: the longitudinal diameter and the equatorial diameter of the fruits, the average the fresh mass of the fruit, the fresh and dry mass and the average humidity of the pulp (epicarp + mesocarp), the fresh mass of the pyrene (endocarp + seed), the number of seeds, and also the percentage of pulp e pyrene of the fruit. An average longitudinal diameter of 26,87 mm (± 2,77), an equatorial diameter of 21,10 mm (± 1,67) and an fresh average fruit mass of 8,02 g (± 1,73) were obtained. The fruit pulp represents, in mass, approximately 80 percent of the fruit. The mass and diameter of the fruit showed significant and positive correlations with most valued characteristics, suggesting that fruits of bigger size and mass have heavier pulp and pyrene and more seeds per fruit. In 99 percent of the fruit examined only one seed was not is observed parthenocarpic fruits or more than two seeds fruits.

Qualidade sanitária de sementes de coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata) no Norte de Minas Gerais / Health quality of Butia capitata seeds in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil

O coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata Mart. Becc.) é uma palmeira nativa dos cerrados brasileiros e seus frutos são fonte de alimento para seres humanos e animais. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar e quantificar os microorganismos nas sementes dessa espécie, utilizando análises "blotter test" e meio Batata-dextrose-ágar (BDA). Amostras foram colhidas em Abóboras, distrito de Montes Claros, Minas Gerais (MG) e, em um esquema fatorial 2 x 2, as sementes com e sem endocarpo foram analisadas pelo "blotter test" e BDA, empregando-se o delineamento inteiramente casualisado, com 10 repetições. Essas sementes apresentaram microflora diversificada e a retirada do endocarpo não interferiu na análise microbiológica do coquinho-azedo. Mais espécies de microorganismos foram recuperadas na análise no meio BDA, com predominância de fungos Fusarium spp. e Penicillium spp., independentemente da análise. Portanto, a maior parte da microflora identificada nesse trabalho foi fúngica e o melhor teste foi o crescimento em BDA.

Coquinho-azedo (Butia capitata Mart. Becc.) is a Brazilian Cerrado native palm tree. Its fruit is used as food to human and animals. This record aim was to identify the microorganisms in the seeds of this species, using the "blotter test" and potato-dextrose-agar (PDA) medium. Samples were collected in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais State. In a factorial scheme 2 x 2, seeds with or without endocarp, were analysed by blotter test" and BDA, using a randomly designed with ten replications. These seeds presented a diversified microorganism population and endocarp removing did not interfere in coquinho-azedo microbiological analysis. Greater numbers of microorganism species were recovered in PDA medium, and mostly were Fusarium spp. and Penicillium spp. This study concluded that predominantly B. capitata microorganism population was fungus and PDA was better medium.