Flávia Maria Leme

Seed shape, dimensions, surface texture, sculpture, hilum shape, and position were recorded for five Aeschynomene L. species (Fabaceae): A. denticulata, A. fluminensis, A. histrix, A. rudis, and A. sensitiva from Pantanal, Brazil, using a scanning electron microscope. The five species shared similar seed characteristics such as shape, color, surface, apex and base, face and side, hilar fissure, hilar sculpture and color, aril sculpture and color, micropylar pore position, and testa sculpture. Seed species differed in measurements (seed length and width, hilum length and width, and aril elevation). The hilum exhibited the position, shape, microsculpture, periclinal wall, and secondary sculpture of the testa, which are typical of some species. Two patterns were recognized based on the hilum shape, hilar area, and five hilum microsculpture surface patterns. Four patterns were recognized based on the testa periclinal wall, and three patterns were recognized based on the testa secondary sculpture. The results proved the potential taxonomic value of the recorded characteristics, as indicated by the richness of variation recorded in a limited sample of Aeschynomene species in the Pantanal wetland.

A preocupação com uma alimentação mais saudável e com a conservação do ambiente aumenta a cada ano global e localmente. Os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) são a marca dessa preocupação, com várias metas que incluem ações relacionadas ao bem-estar e ao desenvolvimento sustentável. O incentivo à produção e comercialização de produtos orgânicos é um importante passo de órgãos governamentais, instituições e empresas na implementação dos ODS. Assim, a presente pesquisa realizou um levantamento no banco de dados do Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária de produtores de alimentos orgânicos no Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Espera-se trazer informações sobre as perspectivas futuras relacionadas à produção de produtos orgânicos no estado. Foram realizadas pesquisas bibliográfica e documental, a partir do Cadastro Nacional de Produtores Orgânicos (CNPO), do Ministério de Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA), e, como estudo de caso, foi selecionada a Agrovila do Polo Empresarial de Campo Grande, que agrega produtores de alimentos orgânicos. O Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul apresentou significativa diminuição no número de estabelecimentos cadastrados de 2014 a 2024, de 175 para 31 estabelecimentos, sendo 27 de produção primária processada de origem vegetal e quatro de produção primária ou processada de origem animal. Dos 79 municípios do estado, apenas 15 possuem algum estabelecimento cadastrado. A análise da cadeia produtiva de alimentos orgânicos em Mato Grosso do Sul demonstra a dificuldade dos estabelecimentos em manter a certificação ao longo dos anos.

Over the last two decades, the circumscription of Celtis iguanaea has been questioned due to the difference between the current characterization and others drawn up from specimens native to Curaçao, the type locality. This problem affects the species richness of the genus, as different species are mistakenly identified as C. iguanaea. Besides taxonomic challenges, this misinterpretation harms other anatomy, morphology, ontogeny and other study fields. To mitigate this problem, this article presents the first morpho-anatomical description of the leaves of C. iguanaea, based on specimens native to Curaçao. Herborized leaves were processed for analysis using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The study identified the presence of multicellular and unicellular trichomes - the first secretory and the last non-secretory, anomocytic-type stomata, large cystoliths of silica on both leaf surfaces with apex projected beyond the epidermal surface, and dorsiventral mesophyll. Mucilaginous cells were widely distributed in the epidermis and in the cortical region of the midrib and petiole. The vascular system had collateral-type bundles. The petiole had a concave-convex shape and a single arch-shaped vascular bundle. These results can help to elucidate taxonomic problems related to C. iguanaea delimitation, and its congeners.

Personal Hygiene is the set of behaviors for disease prevention and health promotion. With the inclusion of hygienic habits in our daily routine, there is a decrease in the probability of the individual contracting pathologies correlated to poor personal hygiene. The present report is the result of the experience of the Personal Hygiene workshop of the extension project “Ferramentas Socioambientais em Prol da Saúde” da Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS). In order to create a link with the target audience, recreational activities were carried out, and later people were able to question the team with their doubts about the topic, as well as receive body hygiene kits. The realization of the workshop proved to be of great importance for the academics who formed the team and the population that received the informations on the subject since they both learned from the exchange of experience.

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the anatomy and histochemistry of Trema micrantha fruit to correlate the data with its wide distribution in urban areas. Theoretical framework: T. micrantha is a native tree species belonging to the Cannabaceae family and grows widely in urban areas, riparian forests, and environmental recovery areas in Brazil. The fruit is of the drupe type and is mainly consumed by avifauna, however, reports on its anatomy and chemical composition are lacking, and the relationship between fruit structure and dispersion syndromes has not been studied. Method: The mature fruits were fixed, dehydrated, embedded, polymerized in methacrylate, and sectioned using a rotating microtome. The slides were mounted, stained, and analyzed under a light microscope. Surface analysis was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results and conclusion: The pericarp consisted of an exocarp, a mesocarp, and an endocarp. The exocarp is uniseriate and contained papillae, stomata, and a cuticle. The mesocarp is parenchymatic and subdivided into three regions: external, middle, and internal. The endocarp is uniseriate and contains sclerified cells. Histochemical tests revealed the presence of lipids, proteins, starch grains, phenolic compounds, and alkaloids in the mesocarp. Research implications: The presence of lipids, proteins, and starch increases the nutritional value of the fruit, indicating its dispersion by animals, mainly birds, and the dispersion of diaspores in urban areas. Originality/value: T. micrantha contributes to the food chain of local fauna, and their population will benefit from by increasing afforestation.

Ocotea velloziana (Lauraceae) is a species with cryptic dioecy. The staminate flowers of this species have a pistillode and pistillate flowers have staminodes, which often makes it difficult to describe circumscribe the reproductive system correctly. Therefore, to understand the evolution of dioecy in this species, the morphology of both floral morphotypes needs to be described. We apply traditional and modern approaches to describe the comparative floral anatomy of the two floral morphotypes in O. velloziana. We found that the pistillate flowers have fewer (three) vascular traces in the tepals (compared to five traces in the tepals of the staminate flowers). The pistillode and the staminodes in the flowers of O. velloziana are smaller and less vascularized than their homologous, fertile counterparts, the pistils and stamens. In addition, even though the nectaries are smaller in pistillate flowers, their basic morphology and vascularization are similar in the two floral morphotypes. Our results suggest androtepaly in O. velloziana, however future ontogenetic studies and investigation of the vascularization are necessary in other Lauraceae species to clarify this issue. The nectaries have originated from the hypanthium and may be characterized as nectar-secreting emergencies not homologous to the stamens.

The presence of mucilage cells in plants, studied mainly in vegetative organs, is a condition shared by several taxonomic groups and aspects related to their diversity have been discussed with systematic purposes. This study explores the flower distribution and classification of mucilage cells in Rosales species, with inferences about flower functions. Floral buds from fifty-seven species representing seven of nine families recognized in the Rosales were sampled and processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. Mucilage cells were found in about 40% of the studied species of Cannabaceae, Rhamnaceae, Ulmaceae, and Urticaceae families, whereas no floral mucilage cells were found in species of Elaeagnaceae, Moraceae, and Rosaceae. Mucilage cells were found in the epidermis and internal tissues of many organs of different floral morph types. There is a great diversity of forms of presentation of mucilage in cells, from smaller individualized single cells to very bulky cells and to completely filled mucilage reservoirs. In some cases, cells with mucilage apparently in the cell wall and others with mucilage in the vacuole seem to occur side by side. This diversity challenges the existing classifications of mucilage cells and reinforces the importance of ontogenetic and ultrastructural studies following the path of mucilage in cells in order to propose a more natural classification and to elucidate the evolution of mucilage cells in plants.

The secretory structures of Alismataceae have been described as secretory ducts, laticifer ducts, laticifer canals or schizogenous ducts. However, these terms are not found in the specialized literature, and ontogenetic analyses for the exact classification of these structures are missing. Accordingly, more studies regarding the secretory structures of Alismataceae are necessary to establish homology in the family or in the order. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe the anatomy, ontogeny, distribution in the organs and exudate composition of the secretory structures present in five Alismataceae species in order to determine whether the family has laticifers or secretory ducts. Samples of leaves, flowers and floral apices were processed for anatomical and histochemical analyses by light microscopy. The analysis indicated the presence of anastomosing secretory ducts in all species, occurring in both leaves and flowers. The exudate contains lipids, alkaloids, proteins and polysaccharides, including mucilage. The secretory duct structure, distribution and exudate composition suggest a defense role against herbivory and in wound sealing. The presence of secretory ducts in all species analyzed indicates a probable synapomorphy for the family.