Análise ultraestrutural e molecular do desenvolvimento do integumento interno de sementes de Jatropha curcas L.

Abstract

Jatropha curcas L. is a species of oleaginous plant that arouses economic interest because it is an alternative source for biodiesel production although little is known about the biology of the development of this plant organism. This knowledge can serve as a basis for the domestication of this species and the discovery of probable solutions for seed toxicity due to the presence of the phorbol esters in the seeds, for example. J. curcas seeds are made up by the embryo, endosperm as well as the surrounding seed coat. The latter is derived from the development of both outer (oi) and inner (ii) integuments. It is known that the ii may act as a transient storage tissue providing carbon and nitrogen sources for the development of the filial tissues, endosperm and embryo. Scientific reports indicate that during ii development the cells undergo programmed cell death (PCD). The aimed at observing the changes in the ultrastructure of the ii during its development and confirm the PCD characteristics by assessing the gene expression pattern for seven different hydrolases (arabinofuranosidase, glucanase, peptidase cysteine tailed RDEL, peptidase cysteine tailed KDEL, aspartic peptidase, serine peptidase and subtilisin) and two inhibitors (inhibitor peptidase cysteine and serpin). The stages used in this study (ovule and seeds at 5, 10 and 25 DAP) were selected based on the morphological changes in the ii observed in light microscopy. The vacuolization and cell expansion were the most conspicuous characteristics observed in the early development of the ii. Furthermore, the first related morphological changes related to PCD were observed at 5 DAP, including rising the periplasmic spaces and ricinossomos and collapse of tonoplasto. In later stages, at 10 and 25 DAP, it was observed enlargement of the cell volume, followed by less dense cytoplasm, presence of peroxisomes, lobed nucleus, condensed chromatin, invaginations and disruption of the plasma membrane and finally cell wall breakdown as well as the rising of gerontoplasts (25 DAP). In the early stages (ovule, 5 and 10 DAP) the expression pattern of genes encoding cysteine peptidase tailed KDEL, serine peptidase and subtilisin it was higher at 10 DAP if compared to the calibrator (ovule). In the ii proximal region of seeds with 25 DAP the expression of all peptidases (other than aspartic peptidase), the arabinofuranosidase and glucanase was statistically superior when compared to the distal region. The correlation of the ultrastructural findings and the transcriptional expression pattern indicates that the occurrence of CCM in the internal integument can act in the supply of carbon and nitrogen sources for the development of the embryo and endosperm.