Caracterização de cereja-do-rio grande (Eugenia involucrata DC. ) e grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis LAM. ), frutos nativos da Mata Atlântica, quanto a compostos voláteis e precursores / Volatile compounds and precursors characterization of the Grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis LAM. ) and Cereja-do-Rio-Grande (Eugenia involucrata DC. ), atlantic forest native fruits

Mesmo reduzida e fragmentada, o vasto bioma da Mata Atlântica abriga milhares de plantas. Como destaque, tem-se as espécies frutíferas, aos quais podem ser atribuídas um importante valor para a segurança alimentar, nutricional e sociocultural. Entre elas, têm-se a cereja-do-rio grande (Eugenia involucrata DC.) e a grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.), caracterizadas pela polpa de sabor doce-acidulado, sendo muito apreciadas e utilizadas tanto in natura, quanto no preparo de doces, xaropes, licores e geleias. Uma das características determinantes para o sucesso e aceitação destes frutos pelo consumidor, são os atributos de qualidade sensorial. As propriedades aromáticas dos frutos dependem da potência individual dos voláteis e a concentração de cada um, bem como a combinação com outros compostos. Todavia, apesar do grande potencial de mercado, devido às características nutricionais, fitoterápicas, potencial funcional e ao sabor exótico, os plantios existentes destas são oriundos de multiplicação por sementes, resultando em plantas desuniformes quanto as características de produção e qualidade. Neste sentido, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar metabólitos voláteis que confiram características sensoriais desejáveis aos frutos. Auxiliando na identificação de plantas que produzem frutos com voláteis de interesse para o sabor, o que permitirá a clonagem e propagação de plantas com homogeneidade na produção. Os compostos voláteis foram analisados em triplicata, de acordo com o método de microextração em fase sólida (SPME, do inglês Solid Phase Microextraction). Os resultados mostraram que os grupos de frutos das diversas regiões se diferenciaram quanto a composição dos metabolitos voláteis, bem como na abundância destes compostos. Observou-se também uma variação de composição entre as árvores da mesma região demonstrando tal irregularidade ocasionada pela propagação por sementes. A maioria de compostos voláteis produzidos foram identificados como terpenos, sendo estes já conhecidos pela importância no flavor em frutos. Desta forma, conhecer o aroma fornecerá um conjunto de dados que são subsídios para outros pesquisadores trabalharem em suas diversas áreas buscando características necessárias para o sucesso da comercialização, ocasionando no incentivo ao cultivo e valorização da riqueza nacional, no âmbito das espécies frutíferas, com vistas à proteção ambiental e em defesa da biodiversidade brasileira

The Atlantic Forest harbors thousands of plants despite of its reduced and fragmented character. It is important to highlight the fruit species which hold attributed and important value for food and socio-cultural security. Among them, there are the big cherry (Eugenia involucrata DC.) And the grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis Lam.), fruit with sweet-acidulated flavor, which is much appreciated and used in the preparation of sweets, syrups, liqueurs, and jellies. One of the determining characteristics for the success and acceptance of these fruits by the consumer are the attributes of sensorial quality. The aromatic properties of the fruits depend on the individual potency of the volatiles and the concentration in each one of them, as well as the combination with other compounds. Despite of the great market potential due to the nutritional, phytotherapic and exotic flavor characteristics, the existing plantations of these fruits are originated from seed multiplication, resulting on uneven plants in terms of production and quality characteristics. In this sense, the presented work below was aimed to identify volatile metabolites that confer desirable sensorial characteristics to the fruits. The volatile compounds were analyzed in triplicate according to the Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) method. The results showed that the fruit groups from different regions differed in terms of the composition of volatile metabolites, as well as in the abundance of these compounds. There was also a variation of composition among the trees of the same region which demonstrated such heterogeneity caused by seed propagation. Most volatile compounds produced were identified as terpenes which are known for playing an important role in the flavor of fruits. In this way, by knowing the aroma, a set of data will be provided and used as an allowance for other researchers who are working in the various areas related to the pursue of the necessary characteristics for the commercial success, resulting on the motivation to cultivate and value the forest

Calyx (con)fusion in a hyper-diverse genus: Parallel evolution of unusual flower patterns in Eugenia (Myrtaceae).

Eugenia has a pantropical distribution and comprises ca. 1000 species found mostly in the Neotropics. Recent DNA based phylogenies show that unusual flower morphology of 'eugenioid' collections, e.g. fused calices that open by tearing, consistently emerged within Eugenia. These results emphasize a demand to revaluate flower morphology in a phylogenetic context within the genus. A reassessment of calyx fusion in Eugenia and traditionally related genera is here focused on clarification of the systematic relevance of this apparently recurrent characteristic. Twenty-four Eugenia species with some level of calyx fusion in the bud were newly used (one nuclear and four plastid markers) in conjunction with a representative sample of previously sequenced species to recover a time-calibrated Eugenia phylogeny of 86 accessions. Development of the fused calyx was analysed using scanning electron microscopy, differing patterns were re-coded and subsequently phylogenetic character reconstruction was performed. Eugenia was recovered as monophyletic including the traditionally segregated genera Calycorectes and Catinga. Ancestral character reconstruction uncovered free calyx lobes as the ancestral condition. Five development patterns leading to calyx fusion are reported in Eugenia including species with apparently six petals, which contrast with the standard tetramerous flowers. This condition is interpreted as the petaloid pattern, where two external fused calyx lobes cover the bud while two internal calyx lobes are free and petaloid. The fused calyx condition is homoplastic and evolved independently, several times in Eugenia, as did the different development patterns. Data presented here show that systematic incongruence resulting from multiple, independent origins of the fused calyx in Eugenia is further aggravated by an inability to distinguish parallelism and convergence within the recovered patterns.

Floral heterochrony promotes flexibility of reproductive strategies in the morphologically homogeneous genus Eugenia (Myrtaceae).

Background and Aims: Comparative floral ontogeny represents a valuable tool to understand angiosperm evolution. Such an approach may elucidate subtle changes in development that discretely modify floral architecture and underlie reproductive lability in groups with superficial homogeneous morphology. This study presents a comparative survey of floral development in Eugenia (Myrtaceae), one of the largest genera of angiosperms, and shows how previously undocumented ontogenetic trends help to explain the evolution of its megadiversity in contrast to its apparent flower uniformity. Methods: Using scanning electron microscopy, selected steps of the floral ontogeny of a model species (Eugenia punicifolia) are described and compared with 20 further species representing all ten major clades in the Eugenia phylogenetic tree. Additional floral trait data are contrasted for correlation analysis and character reconstructions performed against the Myrtaceae phylogenetic tree. Key results: Eugenia flowers show similar organ arrangement patterns: radially symmetrical, (most commonly) tetramerous flowers with variable numbers of stamens and ovules. Despite a similar general organization, heterochrony is evident from size differences between tissues and structures at similar developmental stages. These differences underlie variable levels of investment in protection, subtle modifications to symmetry, herkogamic effects and independent androecium and gynoecium variation, producing a wide spectrum of floral display and contributing to fluctuations in fitness. During Eugenia's bud development, the hypanthium (as defined here) is completely covered by stamen primordia, unusual in other Myrtaceae. This is the likely plesiomorphic state for Myrteae and may have represented a key evolutionary novelty in the tribe. Conclusions: Floral evolution in Eugenia depends on heterochronic patterns rather than changes in complexity to promote flexibility in floral strategies. The successful early establishment of Myrteae, previously mainly linked to the key innovation of fleshy fruit, may also have benefitted from changes in flower structure.

Anatomia foliar de Eugenia brasiliensis Lam. (Myrtaceae) proveniente de áreas de restinga e de floresta / Foliar anatomy of Eugenia brasiliensis Lam. (Myrtaceae) from restinga and forest areas

O presente trabalho apresenta a anatomia foliar de Eugenia brasiliensis Lam., cujo óleo essencial possui propriedades anti-reumática, diurética, anti-inflamatória, além de ser ativo contra o Tripanosoma cruzi. O estudo foi feito, comparando-se folhas coletadas em áreas de restinga e de floresta, registrando-se as diferenças estruturais resultantes da influência dos fatores ambientais. Anatomicamente, a folha de E. brasiliensis é hipostomática, glabra, dorsiventral, com tendência à isobilateralidade. A epiderme apresenta notável espessamento da cutícula e seus estratos. Em posição subepidérmica, ocorrem numerosas cavidades secretoras de óleos essenciais, nas duas faces da lâmina foliar. No parênquima lacunoso situam-se drusas de oxalato de cálcio. As folhas provenientes da restinga apresentam, em relação àquelas coletadas na floresta, maior quantidade de estruturas secretoras de óleos essenciais, maior concentração de substâncias ergásticas, maior espessamento da cutícula e da lâmina foliar, maior quantidade de estômatos, mesofilo mais compacto, fibras esclerenquimáticas e elementos xilemáticos com maior grau de lignificação e maior densidade da rede vascular. Os dados obtidos são indicativos que a escolha do local de coleta de E. brasiliensis é relevante, tendo em vista que, na área da restinga, observa-se maior produção de óleos essenciais e demais substâncias associadas aos seus efeitos terapêuticos.

The present paper presents the foliar anatomy of Eugenia brasiliensis Lam. The essential oils produced by this species present anti-reumathic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties and show activity against Tripanosoma cruzi. This study was carried out by comparison between leaves developed in restinga and forest areas, in order to register the main differences in the structure of this organ related to environmental conditions. Anatomically, the leaf of E. brasiliensis is hipostomatic, glabrous, with dorsiventral mesophyll, whit tendency towards the isobilateral type. Thickness of the cuticle and cutinized wall is noteworthy. In sub-epidermical position, there are many secretory cavities that produce essential oils, in both sides of the foliar blade. In the spongy parenchyma there are calcium oxalate druses crystals. E. brasiliensis leaves developed in restinga area present, in relation to that proceeding from forest, a larger amount of secretory structures, a higher ergastic substances concentration, thicker cuticle and foliar blade, more abundant stomata, a more compact mesophyll, sclerenchyma fibers and xilem elements with a deeper lignification and a greater development of the vascular system. The data obtained in this research suggest that the choice of the area where E. brasiliensis should be collected is important, because in restinga area it presents a greater production of essential oils and other substances associated with therapeutic effects.