Storage sites in seeds of Caesalpinia echinata and C. ferrea (Leguminosae) with considerations on nutrients flow

Author(s)

Simone de Pádua Teixeira ^[1] ; Sílvia Rodrigues Machado ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto. Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas - Brasil

^[2] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Botânica - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology; v. 51, n. 1, p. 127-136, 2008-02-00.

Abstract

The seeds of Caesalpinia echinata and C. ferrea behaved as typical endospermic seeds, despite their different morphological classification (exendospermic seeds were described for C. echinata and endospermic seeds for C. ferrea). Then, the aim of this work was to compare, under ultrastructural and histochemical terms, the nature of the storage substances and their accumulation sites, as well as the nutrient flow in seeds of these species. Cotyledons in C. echinata accumulate carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, which are mobilized from the outer to the inner parts as revealed by the position of plasmodesmata. Endosperm in C. ferrea accumulates carbohydrates and in C. echinata accumulates substances during the initial embryogenic phases. Such tissue develops a chalazal haustorium that is responsible for the transport of substances into the endosperm itself and from it into the embryo, confirmed by the presence of transference cells. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 00/06422-4 - Caesalpinia echinata Lam. (Brazil-wood): from seed to wood, a model for studies on tropical Brazilian trees
• Grantee: Rita de Cassia Leone Figueiredo Ribeiro
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants