Morphological characterization of fruits, endocarp, seed and seedlings of cajá-manga (Spondias dulcis)

Abstract

Morphological characterization of fruits, endocarp, seed and seedlings of cajá-manga (Spondias dulcis) 1The Cerrado biome has several species that can generate income, and the cajá-manga is one of these native species with great potential but with scarce information about its morphological characterization. Thus, this work aimed to characterize the fruit, endocarp, seeds, and seedlings of cajá-manga morphologically. The fruits were evaluated by the characteristics of the length, width, and diameter of the fruit, endocarp, and seeds, the number of loculi, and the weight of fruits and endocarp. The plantlets were evaluated for the number of seedlings per endocarp, number of leaflets, number of leaflets of the 3rd and 4th leaves, stem diameter, length of the shoot and root, root and shoot dry matter and data analyzed by descriptive analysis. The morphometric characteristics of the fruits, endocarp, and seeds were analyzed using the Scott-Knott test. The morphological characteristics of the fruits, the endocarps, the seeds, and the plantlets of cajá-manga varied within the mother plants. These results can be used as a basis for future selection of plants with desirable characteristics on breeding programs.

Unveiling the structure of umbu tree dispersal units through x-ray imaging

“…The seeds had a small integument, a straight embryo, a short hypocotyl-radicle axis, and slightly at-convex cotyledons, conforming to the shape of the seed. The number of locules is associated with the number of seeds per endocarp and can aid in the selection of fruits that yield more seeds for species propagation (Souza et al 2021).…”

“…The weight of endocarps is correlated with fruit weight, an important factor for the food industry. Morphological characterization results can serve as a basis for selecting plants with desirable traits in breeding programs and contribute to species conservation efforts (Souza et al 2021).…”