Morphology, structure, and histochemistry of the inflorescences, fruit, and seed of the Ramon nut, Brosimum alicastrum Sw. subsp. alicastrum CC Berg (Moraceae)
Por:
Enriqueta Brechu-Franco, Alicia, Francisco Larque-Saavedra, Alfonso, Laguna-Hernandez, Guillermo, Pasillas-Rodriguez, Karen, Espinosa-Matias, Silvia
Publicada:
1 jun 2021
Ahead of Print:
1 mar 2021
Categoría:
Plant science
Resumen:
Brosimum alicastrum Sw, known in Mexico as the Ramon nut, is a
sustainable resource in the economy of Yucatan, Mexico; the pulp and
seed are edible, and the latter is very nutritious when consumed whole
or ground into corn or wheat flour to make tortillas and bread. Because
the inflorescences are an essential source of Moraceae taxonomic traits,
the histochemistry of the floral parts, fruit, and seed of B. alicastrum
was studied to establish their structural characteristics and chemical
nature. Different developmental stages of the structures were studied
with anatomical and histochemical techniques and scanning electron
microscopy. The species presented three achlamydeous floral morphs: (a)
uniflorous, unisexual pistillate inflorescence, with the ovary embedded
in the receptacle, and exposing a style with bifurcate stigma; (b)
unisexual staminate inflorescence with flowers with one stamen, a
straight and thick filament, a bilocular peltate anther, with fused
theca and circumscissile dehiscence, characteristics that define it as
Brosimum alicastrum Sw. subsp. alicastrum CC Berg; and (c) bisexual
inflorescence with staminate flowers and a pistillate flower with an
atrophied ovule. The fleshy and sweet pulp is derived from the
receptacle containing glycoproteins and idioblasts. The endocarp, which
derives from the ovary wall, has a coriaceous consistency, so the fruit
is classified as a pome. Thick and unequal fleshy cotyledons with
laticifers, proteinoplasts, amyloplasts, and idioblasts; endosperm is
absent from the mature seed; a thin and lignified seed coat surrounds
them. The nutritional characteristics of the fruit and seed were
corroborated with positive reactions of histochemical techniques.
Filiaciones:
Enriqueta Brechu-Franco, Alicia:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ciencias, Lab Estruct & Fisiol Plantas, Av Univ 3000, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Francisco Larque-Saavedra, Alfonso:
Ctr Invest Cient Yucatan AC CICY, Unidad Recursos Nat, Calle 43,130 X 32 & 34, Merida 97205, Yucatan, Mexico
Laguna-Hernandez, Guillermo:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ciencias, Lab Estruct & Fisiol Plantas, Av Univ 3000, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Pasillas-Rodriguez, Karen:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Fac Ciencias, Lab Estruct & Fisiol Plantas, Av Univ 3000, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
Espinosa-Matias, Silvia:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Microscopia Elect Barrido, Fac Ciencias, Av Univ 3000, Mexico City 04510, DF, Mexico
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