Sampaio, Danielle Affonso  Garcia, Rosilei Aparecida  Lima, Helena Regina Pinto  <br/><br/>
Anatomical and Physicochemical Characterization of the Araucaria angustifolia Seed Coat 

<br/><br/> Publicação on-line; 28 ref.; 3 tables; 7 illus.; Summary (En) 
<br/><br/> <br/><br/>ABSTRACT<br/><br/>Seed coat plays an important role in the embryo protection and seed germination. This study<br/>aimed to characterize the anatomical structure, histochemical and physicochemical aspects of<br/>the seed coat of Araucaria angustifolia Kuntze. Light and scanning microscopy usual procedures,<br/>and histochemical tests were used to describe and characterize seed layers, as well as to determine<br/>their extractive contents. Functional groups of the integument coat layers were observed by<br/>Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Color analyses were performed in CIE 1976 L*a*b*<br/>color space. Wettability of the layers was evaluated by contact angle analysis. The anatomical<br/>and chemical features observed in the seed layers include the rucose cuticle and the presence of<br/>many layers of sclerenchyma in the mesotesta; and the chromaticity due to extractive content<br/>and phenolic compounds in the endotesta. The wettability varied among layers according to<br/>their structure. These features information contribute to a better understanding on the services<br/>provided by the Araucaria angustifolia seed coat.<br/><br/>Keywords: pinhão, colorimetry, conifers, contact angle analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy. 
<br/><br/><label>Subjects--Topical Terms: </label><br/>ARAUCARIA ANGUSTIFOLIA<br/>PINHÃO<br/>COLORIMETRIA<br/>ÁRVORE CONÍFERA