MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MACAÚBA FRUITS, SEEDS AND SEEDLINGS

The macaúba, Acrocomia aculeata, is a palm tree widely distributed in tropical America. The species has several applications, especially related to the use of its fruits. Despite its wide distribution in Brazil, it is a species that is still in the process of domestication. Thus, the objective of this work is to identify morphological structures of macaúba seeds, fruits and seedlings in order to provide subsidies for management and propagation actions of the species. The research was conducted at the Central Seed Research Laboratory of UFLA, using macaúba nuts from the municipality of Lavras, MG. The fruits and seeds were cross-sectioned and analyzed under a magnifying glass to visualize the structures, and were later photographed for detailed identification. For seedling characterization, seeds without operculum were sown in trays containing sand and kept in a growth chamber at 30ºC, with a photoperiod of 12/12 hours, for a period of 135 days. Macaúba fruits are of the drupe type, have a spherical shape and are made up of epicarp (bark), mesocarp (pulp) and endocarp, also called pyrenium, a rigid and woody structure that surrounds the seed. Seeds of A. aculeata are formed by an endosperm (albumen), rich in nutritive material that provides the embryo with the substances necessary for its development