Description of Platonia insignis, a fruitful Amazon, by histochemistry test, leaf anatomy and flow cytometry

Abstract

Bacuri, the fruit of the Amazonian bacurizeiro tree (Platonia insignis), shows great economic potential for widespread use. It can represent an excellent new addition to the exotic fruit market. Little is known about the anatomy of P. insignis, the types of reserves contained in the seeds and the DNA content of species of the family Annonaceae. The aimed was to characterize seeds and seedlings histochemically and anatomically and to determine the DNA content of bacurizeiro leaves. Seedlings were obtained from seeds collected in the Amazon region by Embrapa Roraima and sent to the Federal University of Lavras. The fruits were pulped and their seeds washed and sown in trays of 48 cells containing a sawdust substrate. The seeds remained in a growth chamber at 30 °C for 90 days. The samples were subjected to a histochemical analysis, an anatomical characterization and a determination of the DNA content. The The seeds of Platonia insignis contain lipid as the primary reserve material, with smaller amounts of starch. The cross sections of the leaf blade show a dorsiventral type of hypostomatic organization, with the stomata paracytic and, to a lesser extent, anomocytic. Several secretory channels were identified in the leaf mesophyll and midrib. The sheets of P. insignis contain, on average, 13.30 pg of DNA. RESUMO: O bacuri evidencia grande potencial econômico pelas amplas possibilidades de uso, podendo transformar-se em nova e excelente alternativa para o mercado de frutas exóticas. Pouco se conhece a respeito da anatomia da planta e do tipo de reserva da semente, como também do conteúdo de DNA de espécies da família anonáceas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar histoquimicamente as sementes e anatomicamente a plântula, além de determinar o conteúdo de DNA de bacurizeiro (Platonia insignis). As plântulas foram obtidas de sementes coletadas na Região Amazônica pela Embrapa Roraima e enviadas à Universidade Federal de Lavras. Os frutos foram despolpados e suas sementes foram previamente lavadas e semeadas em bandejas de 48 células contendo como substrato pó de serragem, permanecendo em câmara de germinação a 30 °C por 90 dias. Nas plantas obtidas, procedeu-se a análise histoquímica, caracterização anatômica e determinação do conteúdo de DNA. As sementes da Platonia insignis apresentam reserva principal lipídica e, em menor quantidade, de amido. As secções transversais da lâmina foliar indicam organização dorsiventral, do tipo hipoestomática, com estômatos paracíticos e, em menor proporção, anomocíticos. Foram identificados diversos canais secretores pelo mesofilo foliar e pela nervura central. As folhas de bacurizeiro apresentam, em média, 13,30 pg de DNA. Description of Platonia insignis, a fruitful Amazon, by histochemistry test, leaf anatomy and flow cytometry Descrição de Platonia insignis, uma frutífera da Amazônia, por testes histoquímicos, anatomia foliar e citometria de fluxo

Nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites reveal high genetic diversity and structure in Platonia insignis Mart., an endangered species native to the Brazilian Amazon

“…Despite the large offer of bacuri in the producing regions, few efforts have been made by the government and research institutions to learn more about the bacurizeiro, which justifies the scarcity of research aiming at the elaboration of conservation strategies, and, consequently, present a better use of the genetic variability of the species by current and future generations (Lima 2007;Soares et al 2013). The fact is that currently the accelerated process of genetic erosion caused by indiscriminate deforestation and growth of urban areas in areas where this species occur, has probably led to the loss of much of the genetic variability existing in the bacurizeiro (Santos et al 2017).…”