Abstract

DOTTORI, Nilda  and  COSA, María Teresa. Anatomy and development of fruit and seed of Solanum palinacanthum (Solanaceae). Rev. Mex. Biodiv. [online]. 2007, vol.78, n.2, pp.359-367. ISSN 2007-8706.

Fruit and seed development and anatomy of Solanum palinacanthum Dunal section Acanthophora Dunal, subgenus Leptostemonum (Dunal) Bitter (Solanaceae) were analyzed. Characteristics of pericarp layers (exocarp, mesocarp, endocarp) and seed details (number of median layers exotesta sclereids and endotesta characteristics) were used to characterize these species. Results were compared with similar studies in Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav., S. juvenale Thell., S.hieronymi Kuntze and S. euacanthum Phil., species that belong to the same subgenus but to another section, Melongena. We conclude that S. palinacanthum, sect. Acanthophora and the representatives analyzed of sect. Melongena have similar characteristics. The differences are few and in S. palinacanthum they are referred to the lack of pseudoseptum, trichomes stellate in the persistent calyx and the thickness of pericarp (6 to 8 mm). Contrarily the species of the sect. Melongena present pseudoseptum, trichomes stellate in the persistent calyx and the thickness of pericarp varies of 0.5 to 5 mm. In the section Acanthophora, S. palinacanthum differs from the other representatives of the section in having a highy asymmetric karyotype and wingless seeds. As a result, the characters examined in this study are insuffi cient for separation of these sections.

Keywords : Solanum palinacanthum; ontogeny; structure; pericarp; exotesta; endotesta; seed.