Abstract

PEREZ, Virginia; SCANDALIARIS, Melina; ARIAS, Claudia  and  PERISSA©, Patricia. Morpho-anatomical characterization of seeds and seedlings of Passiflora caerulea, P. mooreana and P. morifolia (Passifloraceae). Lilloa [online]. 2022, vol.59, n.2, pp.247-267. ISSN 0075-9481.  http://dx.doi.org/https://doi.org/10.30550/j.lil/2022.59.2/2022.10.31.

Nine native species of Passiflora with attractive ornamental value, edible fruits and medicinal use grow in Córdoba, Argentina. The aim of this work was to characterize the seed and seedling morpho-anatomy of P. caerulea, P. mooreana and P. morifolia. Seeds were collected from natural plant populations and seedlings were obtained from germination tests. The analysis of the different structures was performed by conventional stereoscopic, optical and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The three species presented the seeds completely surrounded by a funicular aril that grows towards the chalaza and that differed by their shape and color. The seed coat was characterized by the reticulate-foveate pattern and includes three layers in both the testa and tegmen. The exotesta and mesotesta are formed by parenchymatous cells and the endotesta with lignified internal face cells. The exotegmen has macrosclereids in a sinuous pattern; mesotegmen and endotegmen have radially flattened cells. The analyzed species presented spatulate embryo in axial position immersed in a conspicuous ruminated endosperm. The germination of the three species is epigeal, phanerocotylar and the seedlings showed similar anatomical features; in contrast, the morphology of their nomophylls, extrafloral nectaries, stipules, stomata placement and the presence of trichomes varies considerably from each species. The described morpho-anatomical characteristics allow differentiating seeds and seedlings among the studied species, and provide important differential features to complete the characterization of Passiflora.

Keywords : Aryl; episperm; germination; nomophiles; Passifloraceae.

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