Localization, morphology, anatomy and ultrastructure of osmophores in species of Rhamnaceae.

Although the presence of scent was described for several species of Rhamnaceae, localization, morphology and structure of osmophores were unknown. We studied different species of the tribes Rhamneae (Rhamnoids clade), Pomaderreae, Colletieae, Paliureae (Ziziphoids clade) and the species Alphitonia excelsa (unknown tribe, Ziziphoids clade). We expect to have a better comprehension of these structures and provide information on which morphological and anatomical characters may support the phylogeny of the family. We localized the osmophores in the margins and top of the sepals using neutral red. Histochemical tests were made on transverse hand-cut sections of fresh sepals. Observations were made with stereoscopic and bright field microscopes, scanning and transmission electron microscopes. Papillae were observed in the zones with positive reaction to reagents. Different kinds of hairs are present in the sepal epidermis besides papillae. Epidermal cells present a striate cuticle with canals and cavities. Druses are abundant in most species. The ultrastructure of epidermal and subepidermal cells shows high metabolic activity: there are vesicles, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, dictyosomes, plastids with lipids and starch. The vascularization is well developed and reaches the top of the sepal where the principal area of volatile components production is localized. The location and abundance of papillae are the most important traits that allow us recognize and characterize the osmophores in Rhamnaceae. There are no clear anatomical and morphological features exclusive of one clade or tribe. Therefore, in contrast to other sporophytic structures of this family, osmophores do not seem to have any systematic value.

Structure of the style and pollen tube pathway in the Ziziphoid and Rhamnoid clades of Rhamnaceae.

The ultrastructure of the style and pollen tube pathway before, during and after anthesis were studied in 13 species belonging to the tribes Pomaderreae, Paliureae, Colletieae and Gouanieae (Ziziphoid clade) and Rhamneae (Rhamnoid clade) using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The aim of this study is to provide new morphological characters useful for phylogenetic analysis at suprageneric level in Rhamnaceae. The patterns of pollen tube growth and the ultrastructural changes undergone by cells of the style were also described. Species of Rhamneae (Scutia buxifolia and Condalia buxifolia) have a solid style, with the transmitting tissue forming three independent strands (S. buxifolia) or a central, single horseshoe-shaped strand as seen in transversal section (C. buxifolia) which could derive from the fusion of formerly independent strands. In contrast, Pomaderreae, Gouanieae and Paliureae showed semi-solid styles, while in Colletieae, as previously reported, the style is hollow with two or three stylar canals. The style anatomy and the ultrastructure of the pollen tube pathway show that there is a tendency towards a solid style with a single strand of transmitting tissue within the family. The three-canalled hollow style could be the plesiomorphic state of the character "type of style" in the family, the semi-solid style the synapomorphic state and the solid style with three strands of transmitting tissue the apomorphic state, with the solid style with a single strand of transmitting tissue as the most derived state. Therefore, Colletieae would be the most basal tribe of the Ziziphoid clade.

Morphological aspects of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek / Aspectos morfológicos de frutos, sementes e plântulas de Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek

Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek is a species found in forests, especially in riparian forests. This medicinal species is commonly used to reduce itching of the gums in children at the onset of teething and contains several substances responsible for antiulcer activity. The aim of the present study was to describe the external and anatomical features of the seeds, fruits, and developmental stages of seedlings of R. elaeocarpum Reissek. The processing consisted of maceration in sieves to separate the seeds from the waste. To describe the fruit, external details of the pericarp were observed and for the seeds, the external structures of the integument and internal structures of the endosperm and embryonic axis were analyzed. The morphological aspects of the seeds, germination, and seedlings of Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek are homogenous in all phases. The fruit is simple, fleshy, indehiscent, and berry monospermic. The seed is exalbuminous and cream colored, with a thin and rough integument, the presence of tannin content, and an endosperm rich in starch, calcium oxalate crystals, and lipid content. Germination is hypogeal, and the seedling is cryptocotyledonary.(AU)

O Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek é uma espécie encontrada em formações florestais, especialmente em matas ciliares, sendo uma planta medicinal com properiedades antiúlcerativas e utilizada para reduzir o prurido das gengivas de crianças no início da dentição e. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se a descrição morfo-anatômica do fruto, da semente e das plântulas de R. elaeocarpum Reissek. O beneficiamento consistiu da maceração dos frutos em peneira, separando as sementes dos resíduos. Para a descrição dos frutos foram observados detalhes externos do pericarpo e para as sementes foram analisadas as estruturas externas do tegumento e internas do endosperma e do eixo embrionário. Os aspectos morfológicos das sementes, germinação, e plântulas de Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek são homogêneas em todas as fases. O fruto é simples, carnudo, indeiscente, do tipo baga monospérmica. A semente é exalbuminosa de coloração creme, com tegumento fino. No endosperma foi detectada a presença de taninos, grânulos de amido, cristais de oxalato de cálcio, e lípidos. A germinação é hipógea criptocotiledonar.(AU)

Predição de modelos sobre a cinética de secagem de folhas de Ziziphus joazeiro Mart / Prediction models in the kinetics of drying leaves of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart

RESUMO: Esta pesquisa objetivou estudar, experimentalmente, a cinética de secagem de folhas de juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.) sob camada delgada em estufa com circulação forçada de ar utilizando temperaturas de 40, 50 e 60 ºC e velocidade do ar de 0,5, 1,0 e 1,5 m.s-1 conforme planejamento fatorial (22 + 3) e posterior ajuste das equações matemáticas aos dados experimentais, verificando assim aquele que melhor representa o fenômeno de secagem. Foi determinado o teor de água inicial das folhas utilizando o método padrão da estufa, em triplicatas. Para cada tratamento de secagem foram utilizados em torno de 150 g de folhas. Para o ajuste utilizou-se análise de regressão não linear, pelo método Quasi-Newton, por meio do programa computacional Statistica 5.0®, em que os valores dos parâmetros das equações foram estimados em função da temperatura e da velocidade do ar de secagem. A equação que melhor representou o processo de secagem do juazeiro para a faixa de temperatura de 40 a 60 ºC foi a de Midilli. Os resultados mostraram que com o acréscimo da temperatura ocorre maior redução no tempo de secagem.

ABSTRACT: This research aimed to study experimentally the kinetics of drying leaves of Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. in thin layer in an oven with forced air using the temperatures of 40, 50 and 60 ºC and the air velocity of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m s-1 according to the factorial design (22 + 3) and subsequent adjustment of the experimental data in different models, and we select the one that best represents the phenomenon of drying. We determined the initial water content of the leaves by the standard oven method, in triplicates. For each drying treatment, we used approximately 150g of leaves. For adjustment, we used the non-linear regression analysis, through the Quasi-Newton method, using the software Statistica 5.0 ®, in which the parameter values of the equations were determined for the temperature and velocity of the drying air. The equation that best represented the drying process of the Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. for the temperature range of 40-60 ºC was the Midilli equation. The results showed that there is a greater reduction in drying time with increasing temperature.

Morphological aspects of fruits, seeds and seedlings of Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek / Aspectos morfológicos de frutos, sementes e plântulas de Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek

Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek is a species found in forests, especially in riparian forests. This medicinal species is commonly used to reduce itching of the gums in children at the onset of teething and contains several substances responsible for antiulcer activity. The aim of the present study was to describe the external and anatomical features of the seeds, fruits, and developmental stages of seedlings of R. elaeocarpum Reissek. The processing consisted of maceration in sieves to separate the seeds from the waste. To describe the fruit, external details of the pericarp were observed and for the seeds, the external structures of the integument and internal structures of the endosperm and embryonic axis were analyzed. The morphological aspects of the seeds, germination, and seedlings of Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek are homogenous in all phases. The fruit is simple, fleshy, indehiscent, and berry monospermic. The seed is exalbuminous and cream colored, with a thin and rough integument, the presence of tannin content, and an endosperm rich in starch, calcium oxalate crystals, and lipid content. Germination is hypogeal, and the seedling is cryptocotyledonary.

O Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek é uma espécie encontrada em formações florestais, especialmente em matas ciliares, sendo uma planta medicinal com properiedades antiúlcerativas e utilizada para reduzir o prurido das gengivas de crianças no início da dentição e. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se a descrição morfo-anatômica do fruto, da semente e das plântulas de R. elaeocarpum Reissek. O beneficiamento consistiu da maceração dos frutos em peneira, separando as sementes dos resíduos. Para a descrição dos frutos foram observados detalhes externos do pericarpo e para as sementes foram analisadas as estruturas externas do tegumento e internas do endosperma e do eixo embrionário. Os aspectos morfológicos das sementes, germinação, e plântulas de Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek são homogêneas em todas as fases. O fruto é simples, carnudo, indeiscente, do tipo baga monospérmica. A semente é exalbuminosa de coloração creme, com tegumento fino. No endosperma foi detectada a presença de taninos, grânulos de amido, cristais de oxalato de cálcio, e lípidos. A germinação é hipógea criptocotiledonar.

Anatomy, ultrastructure and chemical composition of food bodies of Hovenia dulcis (Rhamnaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Food bodies (FBs) are structures that promote mutualism between plants and ants, which help protect them against herbivores. The present study aims to describe the anatomical organization, ultrastructure and chemical composition of the FBs in Hovenia dulcis, which represent the first structures of this type described in Rhamnaceae. METHODS: Leaves in various stages of development were collected and fixed for examination under light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Samples of FBs were subjected to chemical analysis using thin-layer chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance of (1)H and (13)C. KEY RESULTS: The FBs vary from globose to conical and are restricted to the abaxial leaf surface, having a mixed origin, including epidermis and parenchyma. The FB epidermis is uniseriate, slightly pilose and has a thin cuticle. The epidermal cells are vacuolated and pigments or food reserves are absent. The parenchyma cells of immature FBs have dense cytoplasm showing mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and plastids. Mature FB cells store oils, which are free in the cytosol and occupy a large portion of the cell lumen. In these cells the plastids accumulate starch. CONCLUSIONS: The lipids present in FBs are glycerin esters characteristic of plant energy reserves. Ants were observed collecting these FBs, which allows us to infer that these structures mediate plant-ant interactions and can help protect the young plants against herbivores, as these structures are prevalent at this developmental stage.