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3123953 
Journal Article 
Ontogenesis of the pseudomonomerous fruits of Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae): a new approach to the development of pyrenarium fruits 
Mazzottini-Dos-Santos, HC; Ribeiro, LM; Mercadante-Simoes, MO; Sant'Anna-Santos, BF 
2015 
1 
Trees
ISSN: 0931-1890
EISSN: 1432-2285 
Springer Verlag 
HEIDELBERG 
29 
1 
199-214 
English 
WOS:000348451800018 
Key message: 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. ct: 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. © 2014, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. 
Fruit ontogenesis; Embryogenesis; Pyrene; Oleaginous plants; Palms