Bactris gasipaes H. B. K. (Pfirsichpalme): Besonderheiten der Morphologie und Anatomie der Wurzeln

Abstract

The peach palm multipurpose crop Bactris gasipaes H. B. K. found throughout tropical South and Central America is known to produce palmito, starch and oil-rich fruits. Despite the low nutrient availability in most tropical soils biomass production of Bactris gasipaes is high. It must be assumed that Bactris gasipaes has a high nutrient acquisition efficiency. The morphology and anatomy of the roots of Bactris gasipaes were examined here as these parameters may play an important role in nutrient acquisition. It was observed that the roots of Bactris gasipaes form a dense layer in the upper soil horizon (0 ... 30 cm) are coarse and form laterals up to the third order. Along the entire root length, the rhizodermis consists of globular cells with a diameter up to 100 pm and these cells do not form root hairs but form a large surface area which may explain the high nutrient acquisition efficiency of Bactris gasipaes.