RESUMEN

This chapter deals with the features of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in Araucaria angustifolia, an endangered and native conifer from south Brazil. In this species SE includes the induction and proliferation of embryogenic cultures composed of pro-embryogenic masses (PEMs), which precede somatic embryos development. A. angustifolia SE model encompasses induction, proliferation, pre-maturation, and maturation steps. Double-staining with acetocarmine and Evan's blue is useful to evaluate the embryonic somatic structures. In this chapter we describe A. angustifolia SE protocols and analyzes morphological features in the different SE developmental stages.

Asunto(s)

Desarrollo de la Planta/genética , Técnicas de Embriogénesis Somática de Plantas/métodos , Técnicas de Cultivo de Tejidos/métodos , Tracheophyta/crecimiento & desarrollo , Brasil , Flores/genética , Flores/crecimiento & desarrollo , Germinación/genética , Semillas/genética , Semillas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Tracheophyta/genética

RESUMEN

The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition, microstructure, and antioxidant capacity of king palm flour obtained from residues from organic king palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) processing. King palm flour exhibited high levels of dietary fibre (70.85%) and total ash (3.27%); low contents of protein (3.51%) and lipid (0.91%). Iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium contents were 7.31, 517.03, 801.33 and 1041.95 mg/100g, respectively. The high concentration of glucose, xylose and arabinose suggests the presence of some polysaccharides, such as cellulose and hemicelluloses (xyloglucans and arabinoxylans). Methanol and aqueous extracts of king palm flour showed 1.27 and 0.95 mg/g (Gallic Acid Equivalents) of total polyphenols, respectively. Methanol extract yielded the best antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH()) and 2,2'-azino-di(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate) (ABTS()(+)) methods. The micrographs of leaf sheath showed the presence of druses, which are characterized as calcium oxalate deposition, contributing to the calcium content in king palm flour. The presence of primary and secondary cell walls lignified in leaf sheath contributed to high levels of dietary fibre detected in king palm flour.

Asunto(s)

Antioxidantes/química , Fibras de la Dieta , Harina , Benzotiazoles/química , Compuestos de Bifenilo/química , Calcio/química , Pared Celular/química , Celulosa/química , Flavonoides/química , Alimentos , Glucanos/química , Metanol/química , Microscopía Fluorescente/métodos , Ciencias de la Nutrición , Fenoles/química , Picratos/química , Hojas de la Planta/metabolismo , Polifenoles , Ácidos Sulfónicos/química , Xilanos/química