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Ontogenesis of the pseudomonomerous fruits of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae): a new approach to the development of pyrenarium fruits

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The formation of an oleaginous palm fruit was described by anatomical and physiological evaluations that allowed us to correlate and associate pericarp and seed ontogenesis and define the developmental phases.

Abstract

The pseudomonomerous pyrenarium fruits of Arecaceae demonstrate complex and slow development pathways, and accumulate large quantities of energy reserves, making them of economic interest. Very little is known about the association between pericarp and seed development in this family. We characterize here the ontogenesis of Acrocomia aculeata fruits, a neotropical oleaginous palm, define their developmental phases, investigate the relationship between embryogenesis and fruit development, and describe the formation of structures related to dormancy and reserve accumulation. The development of the pistillate flowers and fruit structures were accompanied over time and evaluated biometrically, anatomically, and through histochemical tests. Bromatological evaluations were performed on the mesocarp and seeds during their reserve accumulation phases. A. aculeata flowers are tricarpellate and syncarpous, although normally only a single ovule develops; the other ovules degenerate and become incorporated into the pyrene. The seed is pachychalazal and embryogenesis is precocious in relation to fruit development. The exocarp is the first pericarp structure to attain maturity, while the pyrene undergoes significant lignification, except for the region near the abscission zone and acquires a petrous consistency. The development of the endocarp is restricted to the germination pore plate and seed operculum, and is associated with dormancy restrictions. The accumulation of lipids in the mesocarp occurs near the time of abscission. A. aculeata fruits require approximately one year for full development, which occurs in three phases: the histo-differentiation of the pericarp; seed maturation; and mesocarp maturation.

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Author contribution statement

Hellen Cássia Mazzottini-dos-Santos: Collection and processing of plant material. Preparation and analysis of histological slides. Development of anatomical plates. Preparation of the initial text. Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro: Proposition of the work. Physiological analysis and interpretation of biometric data. Contribution to the anatomical assessment. Drafting of the final text. Maria Olívia Mercadante-Simões: Histochemical and bromatological analyzes. Photographic records and contribution to the writing of the final text. Bruno Francisco Sant’Anna-Santos: Anatomical evaluation and drafting of the final text.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Petrobras for the grant conceded to the first author and financially supporting this research project, as well as Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for the BIPDT grants awarded to L.M. Ribeiro and M.O. Mercadante-Simões.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Universitária, 1000, CEP: 39.404-006, Montes Claros, Brazil

    Hellen Cássia Mazzottini-dos-Santos & Bruno Francisco Sant’Anna-Santos

  2. Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CEP: 39401-089, Montes Claros, Brazil

    Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro & Maria Olívia Mercadante-Simões

Authors
  1. Hellen Cássia Mazzottini-dos-Santos
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  2. Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro
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  3. Maria Olívia Mercadante-Simões
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  4. Bruno Francisco Sant’Anna-Santos
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Correspondence to Leonardo Monteiro Ribeiro.

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Communicated by J. Lin.

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Mazzottini-dos-Santos, H.C., Ribeiro, L.M., Mercadante-Simões, M.O. et al. Ontogenesis of the pseudomonomerous fruits of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae): a new approach to the development of pyrenarium fruits. Trees 29, 199–214 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1104-0

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