ABSTRACT Presence of toxic compounds in marine coastal waters has increased exponentially since Industrial Revolution. In this way, we aimed to evaluate biochemical and physiological changes occurring within Hypnea musciformis after short-term exposure to gasoline. Hypnea musciformis was cultivated without gasoline and then exposed to various concentrations of it (0.001 % - 1.0 %, v/v) for periods of 30 min, 1 h, 12 h and 24 h. A Pricncipal Compound Analysis of UV-vis spectral window (200-700 nm) was able to discriminate gasoline-exposed samples according to both exposure time and gasoline concentration. Changes in carotenoid profile composition were observed. Decreased carotenoid content was associated to gasoline exposure time, being lutein and trans-β-carotene the major compounds found. Higher gasoline concentrations negatively interfered with phenolic compounds accumulation. In addition, increased gasoline concentrations corresponded to decreased intracellular starch grains content as well as increased its deposition on cell wall external surface. Data obtained allow us to conclude that gasoline can damage Hypnea musciformis physiology and cell morphology. This is important, considering Hypnea musciformis carotenoids and phenolics are potential biomarkers of environmental stress investigated, as well as its increased cell wall thickness to avoid gasoline diffusion.

A Mata Atlântica é um hotspot de biodiversidade, e as bromélias são um grupo taxonômico bastante comum presente neste bioma. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar os aspectos morfológicos e histoquímicos das sementes Vriesea friburgensis var paludosa L.B. Sm. As sementes são filiformes, com tegumento marrom e apêndices plumosos amarelados. Têm valores médios de 4,4 mm de comprimento, 0,5 mm de largura, e peso de 1.000 sementes de 683,8 mg. O tegumento apresenta compostos fenólicos. O amido é o principal componente de reserva no endosperma, porém ele também se apresenta em menores quantidades no embrião. O embrião ocupa um terço da semente e apresenta uma zona de constrição no eixo hipocotilo-radicula. Os resultados do presente trabalho contribuem na biologia e na delimitação taxonomia de V. friburgensis var. paludosa

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a biodiversity hotspot, and bromeliads are omnipresent in this biome. This study was aimed at characterizing both morphological and histochemical aspects of Vriesea friburgensis var. paludosa L.B. Sm. seeds. The seeds are filiform with a brown seed coat and yellowish-colored plumose appendages. Seeds are typically 4.4 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, and 1000 seeds weigh 683.8 mg. The seed coat presents phenolic compounds. Starch represents the main reserve compound in the endosperm; however, it is also present in smaller amounts in the embryo. The embryo occupies one-third of the seed and has a zone of constriction in the hypocotyl-radicle axis. The results of this work will contribute to the overall biology of V. friburgensis var. paludosa , as well as its taxonomic delimitation.