Storage Compounds of Anthurium spp. Seeds

The Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry sustains a collection of Brazilian anthuriums with an ornamental potential. Although essential for genetic improvement and commercial exploitation, the biological knowledge of these species is still insufficient. For instance, data about the storage mechanisms and mobilization of nutrients in seeds are fundamental to obtain more resistant plants. This work aims to characterize the morphology and seed storage composition of four accessions from Embrapa Anthuriums Germoplasm Collection, with great ornamental value for cut foliage. In order to perform the morphological analysis, the seeds were transversally cut, fixed into Karnovisky, dehydrated through a growing ethanolic series, filled up with Historesin and cut using an automatic microtome. The slices obtained were stained with Xylidine Ponceau (XP) at pH 2.5 or allowed to react with acid Periodic and Schiff (PAS). The samples were also macerated and characterized regarding total protein content, carbohydrates, starch and lipids using the following methods: Bradford, anthron a, enzymatic reaction and hexane extraction, respectively. According to chemical and morphological analysis, the seeds of the studied entries present as storage compounds: lipids (from 25 to 45%), proteins (from 13,95 to 18,387%) and starch (from 11.43 to 13,5%). In all entries the carbohydrate level was spurious (between zero and 0.61%). Staining with XP, an anionic dye that identifies compounds with free positive charge, allowed us to observe the presence of protein globules in the cytosol of cotyledons and endosperm cells. Additionally, PAS reaction indicated granules in the cytosol, which were identified as starch through Lugol reaction. In conclusion, the main storage content of the analyzed anthuriums seeds is lipids, proteins and starch.