RESUMO -O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de obter informações sobre a influência do estádio de desenvolvimento do fruto (época de coleta) e do tipo de congelamento sobre os componentes nutricionais e de textura da polpa de pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.). Os frutos foram coletados na árvore, antes da queda natural; no chão, após a queda natural, e após a queda natural, mantidos três dias em condição ambiente. Em cada época de coleta, após a retirada da casca dos frutos, um grupo de putamens foi congelado diretamente em freezer, e outro, congelado em nitrogênio líquido, antes do congelamento em freezer. Após seis meses, foi retirada a polpa dos putamens para a análise dos teores de carotenóides totais, ß -caroteno, licopeno, vitamina A, proteínas e lipídios; teor de celulose, hemicelulose, pectinas total, cálcio ligado à parede celular e total, atividade da pectinametilesterase e poligalacturonase. Os resultados indicaram que os teores de pigmentos, lipídios, proteínas e atividade da PG aumentaram com o avanço do estádio de maturação dos frutos. Por outro lado, houve diminuição no teor da celulose com avanço do estádio de maturação, enquanto os teores de hemicelulose e cálcio não foram influenciados pela idade do fruto. O tipo de congelamento interferiu nos teores de pigmentos, maiores na polpa congelada em nitrogênio líquido, e na atividade da PG, maior na polpa congelada apenas em freezer. Por último, os resultados mostraram que os frutos coletados na árvore são nutricionalmente inferiores aos coletados após a queda natural. Termos adicionais para indexação: época de colheita, carotenóides totais, ß -caroteno, licopeno, vitamina A, proteínas, lipídios, parede celular. MATURITY STAGE OF FRUITS AND FACTORS RELATED TO NUTRITIVE AND TEXTURE CHARACTERS OF PEQUI (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) PULPABSTRACT -The experiment was carried out with the purpose to obtain information about changes in the constituents responsible for nutritive and texture traits of pequi pulp related with harvest time and types of freezing. Fruits were collected in the tree before natural fall, in the ground after natural fall and in the ground three days after natural fall. In each harvest time, while one batch of the putamens was frozen in liquid nitrogen and afterwards stored in a freezer, another batch was frozen directly in the freezer. After six months the following analyses were performed in the pulp: contents of proteins, total carotenoid, b-carotene, licopene, vitamin A and lipids (nutritive characters); content of cellulose, hemicelluloses, total pectin, total and bound calcium, activity of polygalacturonase (PG) and pectinmethilesterase (PME) of the cell wall. The contents of pigments, lipids, proteins and activity of PG were the highest in the most advanced stages of maturation of fruits. On the other hand the content of cellulose decreased with the advanced stages of maturation whiles the content of hemicelluloses, total and bound calcium were not affected at the stages of maturation of the fruits. The types of freezing...

No abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of the seed structures on the dormancy of the palms Attalea vitrivir Zona, Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc. and Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart., which are found in the cerrado biome (Brazilian savanna). The effects of seed structures on the imbibition and effects of the operculum on germination were evaluated. The effects of the collection area on the seed biometric characteristics and influence of the embryo mass and length on their germination capacity and vigour were also evaluated. The operculum was anatomically characterised, and the effects of the operculum thickness on seed germination were evaluated. The seed structures partially restricted water absorption by the embryos, but this did not affect germination; however, removing the operculum promoted germination. The mass of A. vitrivir and A. aculeata embryos positively influenced their germination capacity and vigour, and the thicknesses of the opercular seed coat and operculum negatively controlled the germination capacity of B. capitata. The greater thickness and rigidity of the operculum of A. aculeata increased the intensity of seed dormancy and possibly contributed to the wider distribution pattern of this species. The interaction between the embryo and operculum structures modulate the dormancy and possibly influence the distribution patterns of the palms in the cerrado biome.

No abstract

The anatomy of the pericarp of the macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata) was followed during development. Ovaries of flowers collected at anthesis of the bracts as well as pericarps were evaluated at different development phases using traditional plant anatomy techniques. The ovary wall has two meristematic regions, one adjacent to the external epidermis and the other surrounding the seminal cavity. The external meristematic region gives rise to the woody exocarp, and the internal meristematic region is responsible for thickening of the oily/fibrous mesocarp as well as the hard endocarp. Sclerification of the exocarp and endocarp occurs approximately 70 days after anthesis and defines the final fruit volume. Lignification of the exocarp cell layers is incomplete, lending porosity to the structure. Numerous canals develop in the mesocarp that are formed by the fusion of raphide-containing idioblasts. Lignification of the sclereids and their generally random arrangement confers impermeability and rigidity to the endocarp. In mature fruits, lipidic reserves are observed in parenchymatic cells of the mesocarp, and the germination pore in the endocarp is composed of parenchymatic cells.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract