Seed morphology of Vriesea friburgensis var. paludosa L.B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae)

Abstract

-(Seed morphology of Vriesea friburgensis var. paludosa L.B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae)). The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot, and bromeliads are omnipresent in this biome. This study was aimed at characterizing both morphological and histochemical aspects of Vriesea friburgensis var. paludosa L.B. Sm. seeds. The seeds are filiform with a brown seed coat and yellowish-colored plumose appendages. Seeds are typically 4.4 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, and 1000 seeds weigh 683.8 mg. The seed coat presents phenolic compounds. Starch represents the main reserve compound in the endosperm; however, it is also present in smaller amounts in the embryo. The embryo occupies one-third of the seed and has a zone of constriction in the hypocotyl-radicle axis. The results of this work will contribute to the overall biology of V. friburgensis var. paludosa, as well as its taxonomic delimitation. Keywords: anatomy, embryo, endosperm, histochemistry, seed coat RESUMO -(Morfologia da semente de Vriesea friburgensis var. paludosa L.B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae)). A Mata Atlântica é um hotspot de biodiversidade, e as bromélias são um grupo taxonômico bastante comum presente neste bioma. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os aspectos morfológicos e histoquímicos das sementes Vriesea friburgensis var paludosa L.B. Sm. As sementes são filiformes, com tegumento marrom e apêndices plumosos amarelados. Têm valores médios de 4,4 mm de comprimento, 0,5 mm de largura, e peso de 1.000 sementes de 683,8 mg. O tegumento apresenta compostos fenólicos. O amido é o principal componente de reserva no endosperma, porém ele também se apresenta em menores quantidades no embrião. O embrião ocupa um terço da semente e apresenta uma zona de constrição no eixo hipocotilo-radicula. Os resultados do presente trabalho contribuem na biologia e na delimitação taxonomia de V. friburgensis var. paludosa.

Ananas ananassoides (Baker) L.B.Sm. a bromeliad from the savanna: seed morpho-anatomy and histochemistry

“…In Bromelia genus, an aleurone layer made up of three cell strata has also been observed, but these can appear surrounding the embryo or the rest of the endosperm (Martelo-Solorzano et al, 2022). Studies with others genera of bromeliads also indicated the presence of this layer, which can appear made up only of a cell stratum (Cecchifiordi et al, 2001;Palací et al, 2004;Prado et al, 2014;Martelo-Solorzano et al, 2022). Magalhães and Mariath (2012), suggested that the presence/ absence of the aleurone layer in the region in contact with the embryo provides an anatomical character that can help distinguish Vriesea and Tillandsia genera.…”

“…We observed that the ridges in the endotegmen of A. ananassoides are more pronounced than in A. comosus. On the other hand, several studies have reported the presence of polysaccharides and phenolic compounds in the seed coat of bromeliad (Prado et al, 2014;Magalhães and Mariath, 2012;Chilpa-Galván et al, 2018;Silva et al, 2020a;Martelo-Solorzano et al, 2022).…”

“…However, the space occupied by the endosperm in bromeliads varies according to the genus. In Ananas and Bromelia genera, it has been reported that the endosperm occupies more than 90% of the seed (Rao and Wee, 1979;Martelo-Solorzano et al, 2022), in Vriesea occupies about 70% (Magalhães and Mariath, 2012;Prado et al, 2014), and in Tillandsia it may occupy up to 60% of the seed interior or be completely consumed (Magalhães and Mariath, 2012;Chilpa-Galván et al, 2018;Martelo-Solorzano et al, 2022).…”

“…Given the ecological and economic importance of the representatives of the Bromeliaceae, studies with these approaches have been carried out on the seeds of some species of this family (Cecchi et al, 1996;Cecchifiordi et al, 2001;Morra et al, 2002;Palací et al, 2004;Magalhães and Mariath, 2012;Prado et al, 2014;Chilpa-Galván et al, 2018;Mendes et al, 2018, Silva et al, 2020aMartelo-Solorzano et al, 2022;Mendes et al, 2021;Silva et al, 2021). However, for the species A. ananassoides, few studies have focused on these reproductive structures.…”

Two new records for Bromeliaceae in the central-west region of Brazil: Vriesea friburgensis and Tillandsia polystachia

“…The connection between the Cerrado gallery forests and the Atlantic Forest domain in a northwest-southeast route (Oliveira-Filho & Ratter 1995) and the floristic similarity between this phytophysiognomy and the Atlantic Forest (Felfili et al 2001), could explain the occurrence of this species in the Cerrado. Some characteristics of the seeds of this species may also have contributed to its establishment in the Cerrado: feathery appendages for anemochoric dispersal and the presence of phenolic compounds to withstand harsh micro-habitats for the establishment of seedlings (Prado et al 2014).…”