Functional fruit trees in the Atlantic Forest: phenotypic and molecular diversity, hormonal, nutritional and antioxidant composition in Lecythis pisonis and Lecythis lanceolata
Name: CAROLINE PALACIO DE ARAUJO
Publication date: 21/02/2020
Advisor:
Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| RODRIGO SOBREIRA ALEXANDRE | Advisor * |
Examining board:
| Name |
Role |
|---|---|
| ADÉSIO FERREIRA | External Examiner * |
| JOSÉ CARLOS LOPES | Co advisor * |
| RODRIGO SOBREIRA ALEXANDRE | Advisor * |
Summary: The species Lecythis pisonis Cambess. and Lecythis lanceolata Poir. (Lecythidaceae), are chestnut trees native to the Atlantic Forest, whose seeds are food sources for fauna and humans. To study the biometric, hormonal and chemical characteristics of seeds, their effects on seedling emergence and vigor, as well as seedling phenotyping and molecular diversity between L. pisonis and L. lanceolata matrices. In the first study, the biometry and hormonal levels of the seeds, emergence and vigor seedling, seedling phenotyping, molecular analysis and genetic divergence were analyzed from each matrix. The statistical analyzes consisted of a Tukey test (p>0.05), generalized Mahalanobis distance (D2), molecular diversity, correlation and genetic diversity by the UPGMA method (Unweighted Pair-Group Method using Arithmetic). The L. pisonis species, the Lp1 and Lp2 matrices, reached the highest percentages of emergence and annual fruit production (200 and 300 fruits) and the Lp2 reached the highest mass of endosperm. L. lanceolata trees have a smaller size, facilitating fruit harvesting, a lower AIA/ZT ratio in the seed endosperm and a high capacity for seedling sprouting. The Ll6 matrix achieved a high fruit production (126 fruits) and Ll3 the highest mass of the endosperm. MeJA was negatively correlated with seedling growth and dry matter accumulation and there was also an antagonistic action between ZTe and ABAt for L. lanceolata. The seed tegument of both species accumulates high concentrations of ABA. There is a high genetic variability between the species studied, and a low genetic variability within the species. In the second study, the nutritional levels in chestnuts, leaves and soil (20 and 40 cm) and total phenolics, condensed tannins, anthocyanins, flavonols and antioxidant potential 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) were analyzed in tegument and endosperm of chestnuts, consisting of three triplicates. The statistics consisted of a descriptive analysis (Box Plot), Scott-Knott average cluster test, correlation by the UPGMA method and analysis of main components for the nutritional elements of the chestnut, soil and leaf. Chestnuts (endosperm) of the species L. pisonis and L. lanceolata are rich sources of macronutrients and micronutrients, with the antioxidant power of the seeds being higher in the tegument when compared to the endosperm. The matrices Lp1, Lp2, Lp3, Lp4 and Lp6 of L. pisonis and Ll1, Ll2, Ll4, Ll6 of L. lanceolata have adequate concentrations of selenium that allow the consumption of a chestnut day-1. For L. pisonis the antioxidant power (DPPHe) of the endosperm (edible part) is mainly related to the contents of FTe. For L. lanceolata the antioxidant power of the tegument (DPPHt) increases due to the presence of TCt.
Keywords: sapucaia, plant hormones, germination, diversity, seedling phenotyping.
