Are the floral morphology and anatomy of Galphimia australis, an atypical neotropical Malpighiaceae, associated to a new pollination syndrome?

The flowers of the species of Malpighiaceae in the Neotropical Region are relatively uniform in their morphology due to their dependence on oil-collecting bees as their main pollinators. However, many species of the genus Galphimia seem to have acquired a different floral syndrome, lacking markedly zygomorphic flowers and developed elaiophores in the calyx. Likewise, these species present anthers with great development, probably in response to the selection of pollinators that collect pollen. Galphimia australis incorporated some of these traits but also retained some residual characteristics typical of species pollinated by oil bees. This leads to many questions on how these flowers ensure their pollination. Inquiring about the reduction or modification of these characteristics allows us to understand how G. australis achieves a different pollination syndrome. In this research, we carry out a detailed morphological and anatomical study of the flowers and pollen grain devolvement of G. australis and floral visitors were observed and captured. Results were analyzed in order to determine how this species changed from the oil-floral syndrome, typical of neotropical Malpighiaceae, to one syndrome with pollen as the main reward.

Pollen, tapetum, and orbicule development in Colletia paradoxa and Discaria americana (Rhamnaceae).

Tapetum, orbicule, and pollen grain ontogeny in Colletia paradoxa and Discaria americana were studied with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The ultrastructural changes observed during the different stages of development in the tapetal cells and related to orbicule and pollen grain formation are described. The proorbicules have the appearance of lipid globule, and their formation is related to the endoplasmic reticulum of rough type (ERr). This is the first report on the presence of orbicules in the family Rhamnaceae. Pollen grains are shed at the bicellular stage.

A new procedure to fortify fluid milk and dairy products with high-bioavailable ferrous sulfate.

The behavior of SFE-171 used for food fortification was studied. The biological and nutritional properties of this new iron source are discussed in this work.

New procedure to fortify fluid milk and derivatives with iron: a comparative study in mice.

It is known that the fortification of milk and its derivatives with iron has been recognized as a worldwide necessity, since the deficiency of this element produces different metabolic disorders. With this purpose, we have studied the iron absorption in mice after the administration of fluid milk and yogurt with FeSO4, stabilized by microencapsulation with soy lecithin (SFE-171) or with FeSO4, both labeled with 59Fe, which was used in the same experimental conditions for comparative purposes. The absorption of iron is influenced by the presence of some additives which usually are ingested together with milk, such as cacao, coffee, tea, "Argentine green herbs tea or maté" or cereals. The experimental results demonstrate that the iron absorption from SFE-171 is (12.3 +/- 2.9)%, whereas that from FeSO4 is (7.7 +/- 2.7)%, this difference is highly significant at p < 0.01. In all the cases, groups of 25 mice each were used to increase the statistical robustness of the experimental results. On the other hand, it could be demonstrated that the presence of 10% w/v cacao (Nesquik) increases the iron absorption in both cases, whereas 1% w/v cacao (Nesquik) and maté has no influence on the iron absorption if SFE-171 is used. Cereals (Nestum 3 cereals), yogurt and other additives like tea and coffee, for different reasons, decrease the absorption of this element.