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Development of carotenoid storage cells in Bixa orellana L. seed arils

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Abstract

The arils of Bixa orellana L. seeds contain carotenoid storage cells (CSCs). The main compounds in these cells include bixin and norbixin, which are important pigments in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Although many studies have been conducted on these chemical constituents, the cellular events that occur during the development of the carotenoid-accumulating cells in the arils and their relationship with the final carotenoid accumulation in the vacuoles remain unknown. In this study, the development of the CSCs in B. orellana arils was analyzed by light and transmission electron microscopy. Carotenoids formed in specialized cells, whose number and size increased during aril development. At various stages of development, the cytoplasm of the CSCs contained chromoplasts that held an extensive network of tubules and plastoglobules. Next to the chromoplasts, lipid droplets may fuse one another to form osmiophilic bodies. In addition, vesicles were observed next to the tonoplast. At the final stages of development, both the osmiophilic bodies and vesicles, which became quadrangular or rectangular, were stored in the vacuoles of the CSCs. This study reported for the first time the occurrence of different storage unit types within the vacuole of carotenoid storage cells.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Mr. João Vieira Ambrósio, owner of the “Pedacinho do Ceu” farm, who allowed the harvesting of fruit and seeds; Professors Dr. Thais Cristina Baeta Soares Souto Padron and Dr. Ulysses Garcia Casado Lins, members of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory of the Institute of Microbiology of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro—UFRJ), for access to the transmission electron microscope; and Venício Feo da Veiga for technical support.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS-Bloco A. Cidade Universitária, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho 373, 21949-490, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Ricardo P. Louro

  2. Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Av. Pasteur 458, S. 301, Urca, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, 22290-240

    Laura J. M. Santiago

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  1. Ricardo P. Louro
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Correspondence to Ricardo P. Louro.

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Louro, R.P., Santiago, L.J.M. Development of carotenoid storage cells in Bixa orellana L. seed arils. Protoplasma 253, 77–86 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-015-0789-2

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