Tecido nutritivo em flores de gravioleira. Annona muricata L.

Abstract

Soursop tree (Annona muricata) is a tropical fruit crop which cultivation is under an increasing development in the Northeastern part of Brazil. Fruit production is usually low due to deficient pollination. Severa! Annonaceae species are pollinated by coleoptera. Soursop flowers are visited by beetles Cyclocephala gravis Bates which feed upon two nourishing tissue areas found on the adaxial and basal portions of each inner petal. Parts of this tissue were prepared for inclusion in historesin. The nourishing tissue is formed by the adaxial epidermis and some layers of parenchyma rich in starch. Lugol test was carried out to detennine the presence of starch. Many sclereids with numerous pits were found subjacent to the nourishing tissue. The C. gravis behaviour and some nourishing tissue characteristics seem to be related to soursop flower pollination.