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Structural evaluations of zygotic embryos and seedlings of the macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata, Arecaceae) during in vitro germination

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Abstract

Acrocomia aculeata is an oil producing tropical palm tree with exceptional potential for producing biofuel. As the propagation of this species is often difficult because of its pronounced seed dormancy, the present work examined the morphology and the anatomy of zygotic embryos and seedlings during in vitro germination. Embryos were put in MS media supplemented with organic compounds and cultivated in the dark at 30°C for 20 days. The dry weights, lengths, and diameters of the cotyledonary petioles, haustoria, roots, ligules, and leaf sheaths of embryos obtained from mature seeds and seedlings removed from culture were measured every 2 days; anatomical and histochemical evaluations were performed on embryos and seedlings removed from culture after 2, 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15 days. Elongation of the embryo axis was observed to initiate after 2 days. Elongation of the cotyledonary petiole was observed starting on the fifth day; this is a morphological indication of germination that is associated with the formation of starch and raphides as well as the differentiation of tracheary elements. The growth of the cotyledon is due to increases in cell volumes as well as the development of a meristematic band peripheral to the haustorium. In spite of the fact that the radicle is less differentiated than the plumule, radicular development is precocious and the root emerges first, indicating the absence of morphological dormancy. Atrophy of the haustorium and the accumulation of phenolic compounds in subepidermal cell layers occur due to culturing conditions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank FAPEMIG for the PCRH grant to L.M. Ribeiro, and CNPq for the financial support (MCT/CNPq, process number 560812/2010-8) and research grants to D.M.T. Oliveira and Q.S. Garcia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil

    Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro

  2. Departamento de Biologia Geral, Unimontes, Campus Prof. Darcy Ribeiro, Vila Mauricéia, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, 39401-089, Brazil

    Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro

  3. Departamento de Botânica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil

    Denise Maria Trombert Oliveira & Queila de Souza Garcia

Authors
  1. Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro
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  2. Denise Maria Trombert Oliveira
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  3. Queila de Souza Garcia
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Correspondence to Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro.

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Communicated by M. Shane.

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Ribeiro, L.M., Oliveira, D.M.T. & Garcia, Q.S. Structural evaluations of zygotic embryos and seedlings of the macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata, Arecaceae) during in vitro germination. Trees 26, 851–863 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0659-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0659-2

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