Anatomia foliar de Aniba rosodora Ducke e Aniba parviflora (Meisn.) Mez (Lauraceae)

Abstract

Aniba (Lauraceae) is a genus of Amazonian oil-producing trees of great industrial and ecological value. Among the species described for the genus, Aniba rosodora (rosewood) and A. parviflora (macacaporanga) stand out. Due to their morphological similarity, it is difficult to distinguish between these species, which causes taxonomic problems, losses in the expansion of the production chain and negative implications for the preservation of biodiversity. This study aimed to characterize the leaf anatomy of two trees in order to establish parameters for distinguishing them. For this purpose, leaf samples from cultivated plants were collected in Alter do Chão, Santarém, Pará, Brazil. The fragments were then fixed in FAA70, dehydrated, infiltrated, embedded in resin, sectioned in a microtome, stained with toluidine blue and mounted in stained glass varnish. Fragments (1x1 cm2) were dissociated in an active chlorine solution, dehydrated, stained with basic fuchsin and mounted in varnish. The images were recorded using a photomicroscope. Both species have hypostomatic leaves, uniseriate epidermis (both sides) with sinuous (adaxial side) and straight (abaxial side) walls, in addition to dorsiventral mesophyll. Secretory cells, lignified edges, trichomes and epidermal papillae can be observed in their leaves. Between the two species, there was a distinction between the main venation pattern (A. parviflora with a greater number of bundles) and the size of the intercellular spaces in the lacunar parenchyma (wide in A. rosodora and compact in A. parviflora). A greater knowledge of the leaf anatomy of the species can aid in identification, contributing to the expansion of the production chain, sustainable management and maintenance of Amazonian biodiversity.