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Resumo Os recursos naturais provindos das palmeiras Euterpe oleracea, Astrocaryum aculeatum, Mauritia flexuosa, Bactris gasipaes, Oenocarpus bacaba e Attalea maripa potencialmente favorecem o aproveitamento da biodiversidade e são economicamente viáveis ao mercado nacional, em virtude do aproveitamento integral de seus produtos e subprodutos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi realizar uma prospecção baseada na busca de patentes e produção científica de modo a identificar as potencialidades para a bioeconomia das palmeiras nativas da região amazônica brasileira. Para isso, foi realizado uma pesquisa documental exploratória de abordagem quantitativa, analisando os documentos de patentes depositados aos bancos de dados do Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial do Brasil, Banco de Patentes Latino-americanas, United States Patent and Trademark Office, European Patent Office e World Intellectual Property Organization. Para a prospecção científica, foram utilizados artigos publicados nas plataformas de pesquisas da Elsevier, as quais incluíram Scopus e Science Direct, como também as bases de dados da Springer Link, SciELO e o Periódico da Capes. Os resultados da prospecção foram compilados em redes de dados e gráficos. Do ponto de vista científico, as espécies Euterpe oleracea e Mauritia flexuosa se destacam por serem fonte de recursos biológicos com potencial bioeconômico, e apresentam um extenso número de publicações, no que se refere as atividades químicas dos frutos. O United States Patent and Trademark Office apresenta o maior número de depósitos de patentes para a espécie Euterpe oleracea. Nesta constata-se que o Brasil lidera como principal país depositante, devido à alta riqueza dessas espécies. Dentre os depósitos de patentes pesquisados, foram classificados principalmente pelo código A61K, o qual é relacionado à obtenção de comprimidos contendo extrato etanólico (padronizado) dos frutos de Euterpe oleracea e sua aplicação como antioxidante. Diante da presente análise, este estudo possibilitou apresentar uma visão geral das potencialidades tecnológicas e científicas das espécies de palmeiras. O estudo revela de forma significativa o potencial das palmeiras para atender as necessidades humanas na área de alimentação e saúde, e estas podem ser exploradas de uma forma ainda mais significativa pela indústria, com perspectiva para geração de novas tecnologias. Abstract Natural resources from the palm trees Euterpe oleracea, Astrocaryum aculeatum, Mauritia flexuosa, Bactris gasipaes, Oenocarpus bacaba and Attalea maripa potentially favor the use of biodiversity and are economically formidable in the national market due to the total utilization of its products and sub-products. The objective of this research was to conduct a survey, based on the search for patents and scientific papers, in order to identify the potential for the bio-economy of native palm trees in the Brazilian Amazon region. For this, exploratory documentary research with a quantitative approach was carried out, and analyzed the patent documents filed with the databases of the National Institute of Industrial Property of Brazil; Latin American Patent Bank; United States Patent and Trademark Office; European Patent Office and World Intellectual Property Organization. For scientific prospection, a bibliographic search was carried out regarding publications of scientific papers from Elsevier research platforms, including Scopus, Science Direct, Springer link, Scielo and Capes Journal databases. The results of the prospecting were compiled in data networks and graphs. From a scientific point of view, the species Euterpe oleracea and Astrocaryum aculeatum stand out as sources of potentially bio-economic biological resources, and present an extensive number of publications regarding the chemical activities of the fruits. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has the highest number of patent filings, for the species Euterpe oleracea. This indicates that Brazil leads as the main depositor country, due to the high wealth of these species. Among the patent filings surveyed, most were classified by the code IPC A61K, which related to obtaining tablets containing ethanolic extract (standardized) from the fruits and its application as an antioxidant. In the light of this analysis, this study made it possible to present an overview of the technological and scientific potential of the palm species, significantly revealing their potential to meet human needs in the areas of food and health, which can be explored by the industry with a perspective for generation of new technologies.

Germination of tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum G. Mey.) seeds is slow and although the removal of the endocarp favors the speed of the process, the time is still considered long. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effects of different pretreatment and stratification temperatures on the germination of tucumã seeds. Two experiments were set up. The first experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design in a factorial scheme and seedling emergence was evaluated as a function of the pretreatment of diaspores at different temperatures (27, 30, 35, and 40 °C) during different periods (20, 40, and 60 days). The second experiment was also conducted in a completely randomized design and seed germination was evaluated as a function of seed stratification at constant (25, 30, 35, and 40 °C) and alternating temperatures (26 - 30, 26 - 35, and 26 - 40 °C). Germination decreased progressively in all tested periods as the pretreatment temperature increased. Seed stratification at different constant and alternating temperatures showed different results. The pretreatment of diaspores at different temperatures for different periods was not effective in overcoming the dormancy of tucumã seeds. Seed stratification at alternating temperatures, with the highest thermal amplitude (26 - 40 °C), favored the overcoming of dormancy and the germination of tucumã seeds. Resumo: A germinação de sementes de tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum G. Mey.) é demorada e, embora a remoção do endocarpo favoreça a celeridade do processo, o tempo ainda é considerado longo. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos de diferentes temperaturas de pré-tratamento e da estratificação sobre a germinação de sementes de tucumã. Foram instalados dois experimentos. No primeiro, utilizando o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso (DIC), em esquema fatorial, avaliou-se a emergência de plântulas em função do pré-tratamento dos diásporos em diferentes temperaturas (27, 30, 35 e 40 °C), por diferentes períodos (20, 40 e 60 dias). No outro, adotando o DIC, avaliou-se a germinação das sementes em função da estratificação das sementes em temperaturas constantes (25, 30, 35, 40 °C) e alternadas (26 - 30, 26 - 35 e 26 - 40 °C). A germinação, em todos os períodos testados, decresceu progressivamente à medida que se elevou a temperatura de pré-tratamento. A estratificação das sementes em diferentes temperaturas constantes e alternadas apresentaram resultados distintos. O pré-tratamento dos diásporos em diferentes temperaturas, por diferentes períodos, não foi eficaz na superação da dormência de sementes de tucumã. A estratificação das sementes em temperatura alternada, com maior amplitude térmica (26 - 40 °C), favoreceu à superação da dormência e à germinação das sementes de tucumã.

This review reports the nutritional, phytochemical compounds and biological properties of 4 fruits commonly consumed by people living in Amazon region, namely Biribá (Rollinia mucosa Jacq.), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), Pupunha (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) and Tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer). These fruits have been high held nutritional, functional and economic potential and contribute to the daily intake of nutrients, energy and bioactive compounds by people living in Amazon rainforest region. Phytochemical compounds with biological properties were detected in these fruits, for instance (but not limited to), annonaceous acetogenins in Biribá, geraniin and corilagin in Rambutan, rutin and catechin in Pupunha, and β-carotene and flavonoids in Tucumã. The biological properties of Biribá, Rambutan, Pupunha and Tucumã have been evaluated by in vitro and in vivo assays, especially antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Therefore, these Amazonian fruits can be exploited by the food industry as a food and therapeutic plant-material to develop valuable products, such as medicine products and can be used as sources for obtaining compounds for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical applications.

The fruit of Astrocaryum aculeatum G.Mey. (tucumã) is highly consumed by riverside communities in the Amazonian region. These communities have recently been shown to have increased longevity and reduced prevalence of age-related morbidity. Tucumã, which is locally used in their diet and traditional medicine may contribute to these features.To investigate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of A. aculeatum extract against phytohemagglutinin-induced inflammation in cell cultures.Cell viability and cytotoxicity assays, gene expression of interleukins IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and thiols were employed, as well as the activities of antioxidant enzymes in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with phytohemagglutinin to mimic inflammation.The extract of A. aculeatum fruit inhibited macrophage proliferation (P 0.05), arrested the cell cycle in G0/G1 phase (P 0.001), increased antioxidant defenses (P 0.01), reduced oxidative stress (P 0.01), and modulated genes related to the inflammatory response (P 0.001).Our results demonstrate that A. aculeatum fruit has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities. These beneficial effects of tucumã on cells are also likely to be seen in vivo, thereby suggesting that its extract is a suitable therapeutic adjuvant in the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases.

The plastomes of Astrocaryum murumuru and A. aculeatum revealed a lineage-specific structural feature originated by flip-flop recombination, non-synonymous substitutions in conserved genes and several molecular markers. Astrocaryum murumuru Mart. and A. aculeatum G.Mey. are two palm species of Amazon forest that are economically important as source of food, oil and raw material for several applications. Genetic studies aiming to establish strategies for conservation and domestication of both species are still in the beginning given that the exploitation is mostly by extractive activity. The identification and characterization of molecular markers are essential to assess the genetic diversity of natural populations of both species. Therefore, we sequenced and characterized in detail the plastome of both species. We compared both species and identified 32 polymorphic SSR loci, 150 SNPs, 46 indels and eight hotspots of nucleotide diversity. Additionally, we reported a specific RNA editing site found in the ccsA gene, which is exclusive to A. murumuru. Moreover, the structural analysis in the plastomes of both species revealed a 4.6-kb inversion encompassing a set of genes involved in chlororespiration and plastid translation. This 4.6-kb inversion is a lineage-specific structural feature of the genus Astrocaryum originated by flip-flop recombination between two short inverted repeats. Furthermore, our phylogenetic analysis using whole plastomes of 39 Arecaceae species placed the Astrocaryum species sister to Acrocomia within the tribe Cocoseae. Finally, our data indicated substantial changes in the plastome structure and sequence of both species of the genus Astrocaryum, bringing new molecular markers, several structural and evolving features, which can be applied in several areas such as genetic, evolution, breeding, phylogeny and conservation strategies for both species.

The organic chemical composition of some of them has already been published, but the inorganic part is rarely cited. Arising from this interest and few studies on the chemical composition of regional plants, it is understood that this type of study should be done, because it is an extreme necessity for industrial areas which are above reported. With this in mind, this work will study the native fruit known as tucuma. It is possible to observe that the inorganic chemical composition in the fruit of Tucuma is based on 23 elements: Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, P, K, Ca, Sc, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Zr, Y, Cr, Co, Ti, V, Br, Mo. Among them, only 5 were found in all samples: Ca, K, Rb, Cu and Zn. It was possible to observe that none of the components found are harmful to both plants and humans, therefore demonstrating that it can and should continue to be part of the Amazonian diet.

Astrocaryum aculeatum, popularly known as tucuma, belongs to Arecaceae family and is also called tucuma-do-amazonas, tucumanzeiro, tucuma-grande, or tucuma-accu. This palm tree is native to the Amazon, occurring in northern Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil being found mainly in the state of Amazonas. It is a large palm tree, with an upright stipe of 10–30 m, being covered in its upper half by black or brown thorns arranged in rings. The leaves have a feather shape and have thorns on its entire length, measuring 4–5 m long. The productivity of the palm tree is around 12–50 kg/year, which starts slowly and late, when the tree reaches 7 years at least with height between 6 and 9 m. The fruit weighs 20–100 grams and is yellowish-green, with a length of 4.5–6.0 and 3.5 cm–4.5 cm in diameter. The pulp has a coloration ranging from yellow to orange and has 9% protein, 55% oil, and represents 22% of the fruit weight. A number of substances have been identified: carotenoids (62.6 mg/g of fresh pulp), being 21 isoforms, with a predominance of 75% of all-trans beta-carotene; flavonoids like catechin and quercetin and ascorbic acid (58 mg/100 g). It is currently consumed by the Amazon population, with the use of nearly all the plants. The stipe is applied to the construction of houses and furniture. The meristem is used in food. The flesh of the fruit, which is the edible part, is widely used for the production of tucuma wine, ice cream, popsicles, soap, as well as animal feed. The core is used for the production of handicrafts, such as rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Furthermore, the core has been widely used to extract an oil to be used in the cosmetic and food industry, and in the production of biodiesel. The leaves have been used in the production of baskets, hats and Tucum (a high-quality fiber for the production of hammocks and bags) is extracted from them. Recent studies, suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of tucuma has an antioxidant capacity quite high and also has some action in modulating the production of free radicals in healthy blood exposed to hydrogen peroxide. These results indicate that tucuma may have chemotherapeutic potential.

Activated carbons (ACs) prepared from tucuma seed (Astrocaryum aculeatum) were used for 2-nitrophenol removal from aqueous solutions. The ACs were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, TGA, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance, and total of acidic and basic groups. The ACs showed to have hydrophilic surfaces and they presented high specific surface areas (up to 1318 m2 g−1). In batch optimization studies, maximum removal was obtained at pH 7, contact time of 30 min, adsorbent dosage 1.5 gL−1 and temperature of 50°C. The general-order kinetic model and Liu isotherm model best fit the kinetic and equilibrium adsorption data with a maximum adsorption capacity of 1382 mg g−1 at 50°C. Effect of temperature and thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption processes of 2-nitrophenol onto ACs are dependent on temperature and are exothermic and spontaneous, respectively. About the applicability of the ACs for treating simulated effluents, the tucuma seed-acti...

The polysaccharide compositions of primary and secondary cell walls of members of the family Arecaceae in the commelinid clade of monocotyledonous plants have previously been found to be distinguishable from other commelinid families, and to be more similar to those of non-commelinids. However, few studies have been conducted. We aimed to extract and characterize the main cell-wall polysaccharides in the fruit pulp of tucuma (Astrocaryum aculeatum), a member of Arecaceae family. Hemicellulosic polysaccharides extracted by alkali from the fruit pulp were present in greater proportions (6.4% yield) than water-extracted ones (3.0% yield). Thus, the former was analyzed using monosaccharide composition, methylation, molecular weight determination and 13C-NMR data. The tucuma alkaline extract presented a highly ramified acidic galactoarabinoxylan (53.7%), a linear (1 → 5)-linked α-L-arabinan (27.8%), a low branched glucuronoxylan (14.1%) and small portions of a xyloglucan (4.4%). The major polysaccharide found in A. aculeatum (acidic galactoarabinoxylan) is similar to those found in other commelinid plants such as grasses and cereals.

Tucuma (Astrocaryum aculeatum) is an Amazonian fruit that presents high levels of carotenoids and other bioactive compounds such as quercetin. The extracts of tucuma peel and pulp present strong antioxidant activity which illustrate an elevated concentration that causes cytotoxic effects in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This study performed additional investigations to analyze the potential genotoxic effects of the tucuma extracts on PBMCs. The genotoxicity was evaluated by DNA fragmentation, Comet assay, and chromosomal instability G-band assays. The acute tucuma extract treatment showed genoprotective effects against DNA denaturation when compared with untreated PBMC cells. However, in the experiments with 24 and 72 h treatments to tucuma treatments, we observed low genotoxicity through a concentration of 100 μg/mL, some genotoxic effects related to intermediary concentrations (100-500 μg/mL), and more pronounced genotoxic effects on higher tucuma extract concentrations. After 24 h of treatment, the reactive oxygen species were similar among treatments and PBMC control groups. However, the caspase-1 activity related to the apoptosis and pyroptosis process increased significantly in higher tucuma concentrations. In summary, tucuma extracts, despite their higher antioxidant content and antioxidant activity, would present PBMCs genotoxic effects that are dependent on concentration and time exposition. These results need to be considered in future in vitro and in vivo studies of tucuma effects.

The expansion of red palm mite (RPM), Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in Brazil could impact negatively the native plant species, especially of the family Arecaceae. To determine which species could be at risk, we investigated the development and reproductive potential of R. indica on 19 plant species including 13 native species to the Brazilian Amazon (12 Arecaceae and one Heliconiaceae), and six exotic species, four Arecaceae, a Musaceae and a Zingiberaceae. Values of the instantaneous rate of increase ( r i ) were initially estimated at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after infestation of each species. Higher values of r i (> 0.05) were determined on the Arecaceae Adonidia merrillii , Astrocaryum jauari , Cocos nucifera , Bactris simplicifrons , Mauritia flexuosa , Phoenix dactylifera and Socratea exorrhiza , and on the Heliconiaceae Heliconia psittacorum Sassy; these were classified as “potential primary hosts”. Lower, but still positive values of r i (0-0.05) were determined on the Arecaceae Bactris maraja , Oenocarpus bacaba , Oenocarpus bataua and on the Musaceae Musa × paradisiaca (Prata variety); these were classified as “potential secondary hosts”. Negative values of r i were determined for the remaining plants, i.e. , the Arecaceae Astrocaryum aculeatum , Attalea maripa , Bactris gasipaes , Elaeis guineensis , Euterpe oleracea , Euterpe precatoria , and the Zingiberaceae Alpinia rosea ; these were considered “non-hosts”. Species with r i < 0.05 were considered not to be threatened by the RPM. Biological parameters of RPM were evaluated on the plant species with positive r i (except B. maraja ) and two native species with negative r i ( E. oleracea and E. precatoria ). Mean developmental time ranged from 14.7 days on C. nucifera to 21.4 days on Musa × paradisiaca , showing a significant influence of the plant substrate. Immature viability, oviposition rate, net reproductive rate (R 0 ) and intrinsic rate of increase ( r m ) were affected by the plant species.

Background Astrocaryum aculeatum is a palm tree species native to the tropical regions of South America, exploited commercially by local farmers for the pulp extracted from its fruits. The objective of this research was to compare the genetic diversity between adult plants and seedlings from open-pollinated seeds, quantify the pollen flow and dispersal, the spatial genetic structure, and the effective size of a population that has been continuously harvested for its fruits. The study was carried out in a natural population of A. aculeatum distributed over approximately 8 ha in the State of Amazonas (Brazil), separated by 400 m from the closest neighboring population. In total, 112 potential pollen donors, 12 mother plants and 120 offspring were mapped and genotyped. Results Genetic diversity was high for parents and the offspring. The fixation indexes for adults (F = -0.035) and offspring (F = -0.060) were negative and not significant. A significant spatial genetic structure was detected for the adult plants (up to the distance of 45 m) indicating short-distance seed dispersal. Paternity analysis detected 9.2 % of pollen immigration and the average distance of pollination within the population was 81 m. The average effective pollination neighborhood area between plants was 1.51 ha. Conclusions Our results indicate that substantial introduction of new alleles has occurred in the population through pollen immigration, contributing to the maintenance of genetic diversity. Conservation efforts aimed at maintaining the gene pool of the current population or establishing new populations should utilize offspring from mother plants selected to be spaced by at least 50 m to prevent collecting seeds from relatives.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar os efeitos de diferentes condições de embebição das sementes, associadas a diferentes substratos e ambientes de semeadura, sobre a emergência de plântulas de tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 2 (condições de embebição da semente: à sombra e a pleno sol) x 3 (substratos de semeadura: areia, serragem de madeira e areia + serragem) x 3 (sombreamentos do viveiro: 30%, 50% e 70%), com três repetições de 25 sementes. A semeadura foi feita em caixas de plástico, contendo os diferentes substratos, cobertas com filme de polietileno transparente, formando um estufim. A emergência e o índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE) apresentaram efeito de interação entre os fatores "condição de embebição" e "substrato de semeadura". A semeadura em serragem de sementes embebidas à sombra (26-27 ºC) proporcionou emergência de 73% e IVE de 0,710, sendo esses valores significativamente superiores aos obtidos em sementes embebidas a pleno sol (26-42 ºC), que alcançaram 58% e 0,578, respectivamente. Os sombreamentos de 30% e 50% proporcionaram o mesmo percentual de emergência (68%), que foi superior aos 44% de emergência alcançada sob 70% de sombreamento. Os ambientes de semeadura com maiores amplitudes térmicas (13-14 ºC) e que atingiram maiores temperaturas médias (38-39 ºC), favoreceram o processo germinativo de sementes de tucumã. Desse modo, o melhor desempenho de emergência de plântulas foi alcançado com pré-embebição das sementes à sombra e semeadura em serragem de madeira, sob estufim mantido em viveiro com sombreamento de 30% e 50%.

UNLABELLED: • PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite loci were developed for tucuma of Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum), and cross-species amplification was performed in six other Arecaceae, to investigate genetic diversity and population structure and to provide support for natural populations management. • METHODS AND RESULTS: Fourteen microsatellite loci were isolated from a microsatellite-enriched genomic library and used to characterize two wild populations of tucuma of Amazonas (Manaus and Manicore cities). The investigated loci displayed high polymorphism for both A. aculeatum populations, with a mean observed heterozygosity of 0.498. Amplification rates ranging from 50% to 93% were found for four Astrocaryum species and two additional species of Arecaceae. • CONCLUSIONS: The information derived from the microsatellite markers developed here provides significant gains in conserved allelic richness and supports the implementation of several molecular breeding strategies for the Amazonian tucuma.

This is the first study to investigate whether scatter-hoarding behavior, a conditional mutualism, can be disrupted by forest fragmentation. We examined whether acouchies (Myoprocta acouchy, Rodentia) and agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina, Rodentia) changed scatter-hoarding behavior toward seeds of Astrocaryum aculeatum (Arecaceae) as a consequence of a decrease in forest-patch area. Our study was conducted at the 30-year-old Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, in central Amazon, Brazil. We tested whether forest size affected the number of Astrocaryum seeds removed and scatter-hoarded (and likely dispersed) by acouchies and agoutis, as well as the distance that the seeds were hoarded. The study extended over three seasons: the peak of the rainy season (March-April), the transition between the rainy and the dry season (May-June), and the peak of the dry season (August-September). Our results revealed that the number of seeds removed was larger in smaller fragments, but that the percentage of seeds hoarded was much lower, and seeds eaten much higher, in 1-ha fragments. Moreover, fewer seeds were taken longer distances in fragments than in the continuous forest. Site affected the number of seeds removed and season affected the percentage of seeds hoarded: more seeds were removed from stations in one site than in two others, and hoarding was more important in April and September than in June. Our study reveals that scatter-hoarding behavior is affected by forest fragmentation, with the most important disruption in very small fragments. Fragmentation converts a largely mutualistic relationship between the rodents and this palm in large forest patches into seed predation in small fragments.

The present study had as objective to process tucuman by dehydration and pulverization and to evaluate its shelf-life in different types of packaging and storage temperatures. The edible part of the fruit was dehydrated, triturated and passed through a sieve to standardize granule diameter, then packed in three different types of packaging (polyethylene plastic film, laminated film, and steel can) and stored at different temperatures (4 and 24 °C). The in natura and dehydrated fruits were analyzed for moisture content, pH, acidity, total and reducing sugars, proteins, lipids, ash, carbohydrates, energy, β-carotene and retinol equivalent. The dehydrated and pulverized tucuman was analyzed every 30 days during the 150 days of storage for peroxide, acid and iodine values and microbiological parameters. The constituents that stood out in the in natura fruits as well as in the dehydrated and pulverized fruits were lipids, carbohydrates and, consequently, energy and β-carotene. Regarding shelf-life, all treatments presented good chemical and microbiological stability during the 150 days of storage. It can be concluded that dehydrated and pulverized tucuman, independent of the type of packaging and storage temperature, can be stored and consumed for up to 150 days, allied to the nutritional potential as an energy and β-carotene source.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the extraction and imbibition period on the germination of tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer, Arecaceae) seeds. After cleaning and drying the pyrenes, the endocarp was broken and removed to liberate the seeds that, before sowing, were soaked in water for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days. The germination was superior to 58%, confirming the possibility of extracting the endocarp without damaging the viability of the seeds. The seeds submitted to nine days of soaking, had a moisture content of 30%, obtained better germination (70%) and index of germination velocity, with mean time of germination of 104 days. The removal of the endocarp and the soaking of seeds accelerated and increased the germination.

A pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a influência da extração e da embebição das sementes sobre a germinação de tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer, Arecaceae). Após limpeza e secagem dos pirênios, o endocarpo foi quebrado e removido para liberação das sementes que, antes da semeadura, foram submetidas à embebição em água por 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 e 15 dias. A germinação foi superior a 58%, independentemente do período de embebição, confirmando a possibilidade de retirar o endocarpo sem agravar prejuízos à viabilidade das sementes. As sementes submetidas a nove dias de embebição, com 30% de água, tiveram maior germinação (70%) e índice de velocidade de germinação, com tempo médio de germinação de 104 dias. A remoção do endocarpo e a embebição das sementes aceleram e aumentam a germinação. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the extraction and imbibition period on the germination of tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum Meyer, Arecaceae) seeds. After cleaning and drying the pyrenes, the endocarp was broken and removed to liberate the seeds that, before sowing, were soaked in water for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days. The germination was superior to 58%, confirming the possibility of extracting the endocarp without damaging the viability of the seeds. The seeds submitted to nine days of soaking, had a moisture content of 30%, obtained better germination (70%) and index of germination velocity, with mean time of germination of 104 days. The removal of the endocarp and the soaking of seeds accelerated and increased the germination.

This study examines how the seed morphology of two large arborescent palms, Attalea maripa (Aubl.) Mart. and Astrocaryum aculeatum G. Mey, may affect their seed shadow in a seasonally dry Amazonian forest. In addition to being smaller and produced in larger numbers than those of A. aculeatum, A. maripa seeds also presented a substantially lower amount of nutritional reserves available for the embryo. However, A. maripa seedlings were found in much higher numbers than those of A. aculeatum. The results suggest that, within the spatial scale considered, the seed rain of A. maripa is more restricted to the area surrounding around reproductive conspecifics than that of A. aculeatum. Furthermore, in comparison with those of A. aculeatum, the smaller seeds of A. maripa might be less attractive to scatterhoarding rodents (e.g. Dasyprocta aguti). The pattern observed emphasizes the importance of scatterhoarding rodents as dispersers of large-seeded plant species in Neotropical forests.