Morpho-anatomical aspects of fruit, seeds post-seminal development and seedling emergence of mari (Poraqueiba paraensis Ducke)

Abstract

Poraqueiba paraensis Ducke, known as “mari”, is an Amazonian fruit tree used for urban forestry. Basic information on floristic identification, seed production technology, biology and the production of mari seedlings are incipient. The objective of the present work was to describe the morphology of the fruit and seeds, the post-seminal development and evaluate the seedling emergence of P. paraensis. The evaluations were examined by stereo and optical microscopy and electron microscopy scanning for the morphoanatomical description. The fruits are drupaceous, oblong to elliptical, monospermic, succulent, indehiscent and with non-articulated peduncle. The fruit dimensions are approximately 7.0 cm in length, 4.0 cm in width and 69.5 g of fresh mass. The seeds are albuminous, oblong-elliptical with smooth tegument, brown color, membrane-cartaceous, with longitudinally visible raphe, circular micropyle and circular hilum. The seed dimensions are approximately 6.9 cm in length, 3.5 cm in width and 53.4 g of fresh mass. The germination is epigaeous phanerocotylar, with opposite foliaceous cotyledons, paracitic stomata in the abaxial face of the leaves and rare tricome in the limb nervure. Removing the epicarp and mesocarp of the fruit does not influence the emergence of Poraqueiba paraensis Ducke seedlings.