Pericarp ontogeny and structure of Prestonia riedelii (Mull. Arg.) Markgr. (Apocynaceae)

(Pericarp ontogeny and structure of Prestonia riedelii (Mull. Arg.) Markgr. (Apocynaceae)). The aim of this work was to describe the morphology, and ontogeny of P. riedelii fruits to aid in taxonomic, ecological and phylogenetic studies in Apocynaceae. Fruits were fixed in FAA, embedded in plastic resin, sectioned at 10 im and stained with toluidine blue, for structural analysis. The fruit of P. riedelli is a follicarium, with two follicular fruitlets. The epicarp is one-cell-layered, with trichomes and thick cuticle. The mesocarp, originating from fundamental ovary tissue, is parenchymatous with laticifers, non-lignified fibers and vascular bundles. The endocarp sensu lato is two-cell-layered of crossed sclereids, originating front the inner ovary epidermis and from a single layer of parenchyma cells of fundamental ovary tissue. Follicle dehiscence is lateral and the dehiscence process involves anatomical characteristics such as a dehiscence zone with thin-walled cells. non-lignified fibers in the mesocarp and crossed sclereids in the endocarp.23372973

Microscopic features, mechanical and thermal properties of osmotically dehydrated guavas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The effects of an osmotic dehydration process using sucrose and maltose solutions at 40 and 60 degrees Brix on microscopic features and some mechanical and thermal properties of guava tissue were studied. Also the addition of calcium lactate to the sugar solutions, aiming at preserving the structure of the processed fruits, was investigated. The guava texture (stress at failure) and the structure as observed by light microscopy were both evaluated, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to verify the in; teraction between calcium ions and cell wall pectin in the guava tissue. The calcium content of the differently treated samples was also related to microscopic features, mechanical and thermal properties of guavas. The osmotic process using sucrose and maltose solutions caused severe structural damage to the guava tissue, and this effect was intensified at higher sugar concentrations and by the use of sucrose solutions. The addition of calcium lactate promoted maintenance of the guava structure, showing turgid cells with well-defined cellular contours, resulting in an increase in hardness and indicating bonding between the Ca(2+) and cell wall pectin, which was confirmed by the DSC experiments. (c) 2008 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.421378384Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Morphoanatomy of the flower of Syagrus inajai (SPRUCE) Becc. (Arecaceae- Arecoideae- Attaleinae), Amazon

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The occurrence of Syagrus inajai (Spruce) Becc., popularly known as pupunha palm, among other names, has been registered in the Guianas and in the North of Brazil in areas of terra firme (non-flooding) and gallery forests. In order to characterize the inflorescence and further knowledge of this family, a morphoanatomical study was carried out of the palm S. inajai in a green area of the Campus of the Federal University of Amazonas - UFAM, Manaus, Amazonas. The inflorescences are branched to one order, pedunculate, and interfoliar, measuring 62-82 cm in length, with woody bracts with longitudinal grooves on the external surface, and flowers in triads. The number of flowers to each inflorescence varies from 5,904 to 17,316 for staminate flowers, and from 180 to 3,528 for pistillate flowers. Staminate flowers with six anthers and one vascular bundle each; three-lobed pistillodium, vascularized pistillodium. Its pistillate flowers have six staminodia joined to form a circle, syncarpic, tricarpellary, trilocular gynoecium, one ovule to each locule, synascidiate in the ovary, and plicated above. Tripartite stigma, apical and sessile, with epidermis composed of elongated papillary cells, pattern of epidermis that is maintained throughout the stylar canal. Bitegmented, anatrope, pachychalazal ovule.733649661Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Evidence of trimonoecy in Phyllanthaceae: Phyllanthus acidus

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Pollen from staminate flowers and pistillate flowers with "staminodes" of Phyllanthus acidus Skeels were analyzed under scanning electron microscopy, and tests of pollen viability and in vitro germination were carried out to verify possible similarities between the three types of flowers. The results show that pistillate flowers with "staminodes" are bisexual, indicating the occurrence of trimonoecy in this species.29641732283286Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [05/59543-7

Structural Changes, Mechanical Properties and Sensory Preference of Osmodehydrated Melon Pieces with Sucrose and Calcium Lactate Solutions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)The effect of calcium lactate on the cellular structure and mechanical properties of osmodehydrated melon pieces with sucrose solutions was studied. Samples were treated with sucrose solutions (40 or 60 degrees Brix) containing calcium lactate (0 to 20 g kg-1). The salt had a remarkable effect on the stress at failure and the cellular structure of fruits, resulting in structural preservation when used at concentrations of up to 10 g kg-1. Salt concentrations above 15 g kg-1 as well as the treatment performed with sucrose solution alone promoted cytoplasm plasmolysis and cell wall damages. Fruits processed with sucrose solutions at 60 degrees Brix with or without calcium lactate showed good sensory acceptance, while fruits treated with sucrose solutions at 40 degrees Brix presented statistically significant lower scores at calcium concentrations above 15 g kg-1.131112130Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Fruit and seed ontogeny related to the seed behaviour of two tropical species of Caesalpinia (Leguminosae)

Caesalpinia echinata and C ferrea var. ferrea have different seed behaviours and seed and fruit types. Comparison of the seed ontogeny and anatomy partly explained the differences in seed behaviour between these two species of Brazilian legumes; some differences were also related to fruit development. The seed coat in C. ferrea consisted of two layers of osteosclereids, as well as macrosclereids and fibres, to form a typical legume seed coat, whereas C. echinata had only macrosclereids and fibres. In C. echinata, the developing seed coat had paracytic stomata, a feature rarely found in legume seeds. These seed coat features may account for the low longevity of C. echinata seeds. The embryogeny was similar in both species, with no differences in the relationship between embryo growth and seed growth. The seeds of both species behaved as typical endospermic seeds, despite their different morphological classification (exendospermic orthodox seeds were described for C. echinata and endospermic orthodox seeds for C. ferrea). Embryo growth in C. ferrea accelerated when the sclerenchyma of the pericarp was developing, whereas embryonic growth in C. echinata was associated with the conclusion of spine and secretory reservoir development in the pericarp. Other features observed included an endothelial layer that secreted mucilage in both species, a nucellar summit, which grew up into the micropyle, and a placental obturator that connected the ovarian tissue to the ovule in C. ferrea. (C) 2004 The Linnean Society of London.1461577

The biology of Oncideres humeralis thorms (Coleoptera : Cerambycidae : Lamiinae) and new Cerambycidae-Melastomataceae host-plant associations

Beetles in the genus Oncideres (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) are girdlers and borers that can cause plant mortality and alterations in the recruitment and age structure of their host-plant populations. Host-plant association, oviposition behavior, development and insect associates of Oncideres humeralis were studied in southeastern Brazil. Oncideres humeralis Thorms used four species of Melastomataceae as host plants. Females oviposited in forks of branches and their larvae fed on the parenchyma tissue of the forks. Histological analyses showed that these sites were the softest parts of the branches and provided an entrance for newly hatched larvae. Females prepared their oviposition sites with their mandibles, and inserted their ovipositors into the slits to deposit one to three eggs under the bark. We found about six oviposition slits per branch and a mean of eight eggs per branch. The larvae bored into and grew inside the girdled branches. Larval development took 10-12 months. Another cerambycid, Temnopsis megracephala Germ, developed in the thinner sections of branches that had been girdled by O. humeralis and was thus considered a secondary colonizer.41322723