ABSTRACT In this study, pollen grains of Harleyodendron unifoliolatum, Holocalyx balansae, and Uribea tamarindoides, three monospecific genera with Neotropical distribution belonging to the clade Exostyleae, one of the basal lineages of the family Leguminosae, subfamily Papilionoideae, were analyzed. The palynological material was acetolyzed and analyzed under light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Under LM, small and medium-sized pollen grains were observed, which showed a prolate-spheroidal to prolate shape, 3-colporate, microreticulate and reticulate exine, sexine and nexine of equal thickness in Harleyodendron and Holocalyx, while the sexine was thicker than nexine in Uribea. Analysis under SEM showed finely granulate, psilate, and granulate apertural membrane, while the exine ornamentation varied from perforate-microechinate in Harleyodendron, to perforate in Holocalyx, while in Uribea showed an irregular relief and granular projections on the perforate tectum. The pollen morphology of these species is similar to each other, varying in sexine/nexine ratio, apertural membrane, and exine ornamentation. Harleyodendron has a finely granulate apertural membrane, sexine and nexine of equal thickness, and a perforate-microreticulate exine ornamentation, Holocalyx shows a psilated apertural membrane, sexine and nexine of equal thickness, and exine ornamentation perforate, and Uribea has a granulate apertural membrane, sexine thicker than nexine, and exine ornamentation with granular projections.

ABSTRACT Galactia is a pantropical genus, which is part of the Galactia clade, and together with the genera Betencourtia, Caetangil, Cerradicola, Collaea, Lackeya, Nanogalactia, and Rhodopis, it maintains a taxonomic relationship that has already been the focus of previous studies. However, the palynology of these groups has not been extensively studied, with gaps in pollen descriptions. Thus, a palynological study of 30 species belonging to Galactia and related genera was performed. For this purpose, pollen grains were acetolized using the standard methodology, subjected to scanning electron microscopy analysis, and then quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated. Generally, pollen grains of this genera are medium or large size, isopolar or heteropolar, 3-colporate, and may have microreticulate or reticulate exine. Pollen data for Rhodopis and Nanogalactia agree with the most recently proposed circumscription of these genera. Other genera exhibited similar pollen characteristics; however, the diameter of the lumen, associated with other pollen characteristics, proved to be important for the differentiation of the genera. Thus, the pollen morphology provided information that contributes to the description of the genera, mainly Brazilian representatives of Galactia and related genera.

ABSTRACT The Northeastern Brazil has xerical vegetation with different biomes. Its botanical heterogeneity represents shelter for diverse fauna. The region is rich in bees, which demand the resources offered by the plants, and provide pollination services. Bee pollen has been used as a beneficial food source for humans due to its high nutritional content and being a natural antioxidant. Pollen analysis can determine the plant species visited by bees, using them as the source of pollen supply. This study aimed to identify the main pollen types present in the pollen collected by Apis mellifera in the Northeastern Brazil and to define its botanical affinity. Commercial bee pollen samples produced in the region were treated by acetolysis method, mounted on slides, and the frequency of occurrence was estimated for each type of pollen. It was possible to distinguish 113 pollen types belonging to 35 botanical families, distributed in 92 genera. Fabaceae and Asteraceae were the families that most contributed to pollen types. Pollen types of Cocos nucifera and Myrcia were found in more than 50% of the samples. The families Arecaceae and Fabaceae showed high beekeeping potential. There is a striking similarity between the pollen samples from the states of Pernambuco and Rio Grande Norte.

ABSTRACT We investigated the pollen morphology of eight species of Acalypha occurring in Bahia State, Brazil. Flower buds were collected from specimens deposited in the CEPEC and HUEFS herbaria. Pollen samples were acetolyzed and analyzed using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains examined using optical microscopy were found to be small and brevicolporate, with three to six apertures and elevations and fastigium, and had a psilate to scabrate exine. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of supratectal elements and Ubisch bodies, and evidenced three pollen types based mainly on exine ornamentation: microrugulate-scabrate (slightly rugulate-scabrate), areolate-rugulate, and microechinate. This study provides new data and new interpretations of pollen morphology for the genus Acalypha, with comments on the palynological relationships between Acalypha and its sister group Mareya, and the next most closely related genus (Spathiostemon).

ABSTRACT The pollen grains of 15 species belonging to five genera (Ceiba Mill., Eriotheca Schott & Endl., Pachira Aubl., Pseudobombax Dugand, and Rhodognaphalopsis A. Robyns) of the subfamily Bombacoideae (Malvaceae s.l.) were acetolysed, measured, described and photomicrographed under light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, in order to characterize the pollen morphology of species of the subfamily occurring in Brazil. The pollen characters studied were size, shape, exine constitution, and apertural type. Pollen grains were medium to large-sized and isopolar with a (sub)circular and (sub)triangular amb with flat, convex or concave sides; oblate to suboblate; 3(-4)-colp(or)ate or 4-5(-6)-colporate, planaperturate, sinuaperturate; equatorial calottes different or not; exine tectate or semitectate, perforate and microreticulate with or without supratectal spines. The results confirm the eurypalynous nature of the group with variation among the studied genera being mainly in the exine pattern.

ABSTRACT This study aims to expand knowledge of the pollen morphology of Passifloraceae and contribute to the taxonomic delimitation of the group by morphologically characterizing pollen grains of species that occur in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Thirty-six species occur in the state, one of the genus Mitostemma (M. glaziovii) and 35 of the genus Passiflora. Pollen samples were acetolysed, measured, and described using light and scanning electron microscopy. The results group the studied species into four pollen types based mainly on aperture type and number, opercular variation, and the presence/absence of ornamentation elements inside the lumina of the reticulum: Pollen type I - species belonging to the subgenera Astrophea and Deidamioides; pollen type II - subgenus Decaloba; pollen type III - subgenus Passiflora; and pollen type IV - M. glaziovii, with pollen characteristics that separate it from the other species analyzed. The results reinforce the recognition of three subgenera of Passiflora. Morphopalynologically the species have very similar pollen types except for those of the subgenus Deidamioides, which are quite diverse and thus included in another pollen type. The results reveal the importance of pollen grains for the taxonomic study of Passifloraceae.

RESUMO A abelha sem ferrão Melipona mandacaia (Smith 1863) (mandaçaia) é encontrada apenas na região da Caatinga, Nordeste do Brasil, nos estados da Bahia e Pernambuco, próximo ao rio São Francisco. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar a origem botânica e avaliar o conteúdo fenólico e as propriedades antioxidantes (sistema β-caroteno / ácido linoléico, DPPH e sequestro do ABTS) da geopropolis da mandaçaia. Foram identificados 25 tipos polínicos de 15 famílias das 9 amostras de geoprópolis analisadas. O teor de compostos fenólicos variou entre todos os extratos etanólicos e as frações hexano, EtOAc e MeOH:H2O de geoprópolis. Os principais polens encontrados nas amostram de geopropolis foram da família Leguminoseae. Esta identificação de plantas utilizadas pelas meliponas indicam a importancia destas espécies vegetais como fontes de nectar e pólen. Nossos resultados revelaram que existe uma forte relação entre os compostos fenólicos e a atividade antioxidante. Estes resultados mostram que os fenóis totais da geoprópolis de mandaçaia foram responsáveis pela atividade antioxidante, com evidências de que é uma fonte rica de compostos bioativos fenólicos com potenciais benefícios a saúde.

ABSTRACT The stingless bee Melipona mandacaia (Smith 1863) (mandaçaia) is found only in the region of Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil, in the states of Bahia and Pernambuco, near to São Francisco river. The aim of the present work was to determine the botanical origin and to evaluate the phenolic content and antioxidant properties (β-carotene/linoleic acid system, DPPH and ABTS scavenging) of mandaçaia geopropolis. 25 pollen types from 15 families were identified from the 9 geopropolis samples analyzed. Phenolic compounds content varied between all the geopropolis EtOH extracts, hexane, EtOAc and MeOH:H2O fractions. The main pollens found in the geopropolis samples were from the Leguminoseae family. This identification of meliponicultural plants is extremely important because it indicates the food sources used for the collection of nectar and pollen. Our results revealed that there is a strong relation between the phenolic compounds and the antioxidant activity. These results showed that total phenols of mandaçaia geopropolis may be responsible for the antioxidant activity with evidence that it's a rich source of phenols bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to morphologically characterize the pollen grains of species of Brasiliocroton mamoninha and B. muricatus in order to expand palynological knowledge of the group and provide additional micromorphological information useful for studies of the relationships within Crotoneae. Polleniferous material was acetolysed and described using light, scanning electron and transmission microscopy. The pollen grains of the two species of Brasiliocroton were apolar, spherical, inaperaturate and medium-sized with a Croton ornamentation pattern. The Croton pattern of B. mamoninha is formed by subtriangular pila, >5-plicate with pointed apices, while for B. muricatus it is formed by subcircular to circular pila, <5-plicate with rounded apices. Ultrastructural analysis revealed a stratified sexine in both species, whereas variation in the pattern of deposition of the foot layer allowed the species to be palynologically distinguished from each other. The composition of the Croton pattern of ornamentation, the morphology of the ultrastructure of the wall and the range of variation in the diameter of the pollen grains differed between the studied species, and thus are diagnostic characters. Pollen morphology allowed the two species of Brasiliocroton to be palynologically separated, and provided data that will be useful for taxonomically circumscribing these taxa.

ABSTRACT Propolis is a resin-like substance composed mainly of resin, wax, essential oils, pollen grains and specific plant parts collected by the honeybee Apis mellifera, which mixes them with fluids they secrete. The components and chemical properties of propolis vary among regions. Therefore, in order assess variation in the botanical composition of propolis, 26 samples of propolis (brown, red, and green) produced throughout northeastern Brazil were analyzed by acetolysis specifically adapted for propolis. In total, 196 pollen types were recorded, representing 123 genera and 47 families, with types of Fabaceae and Rubiaceae being present in 100 % of the samples. Fabaceae was the richest group with 49 pollen types, followed by Malvaceae (10 types), particularly related to the high frequencies of Mimosa pudica (84.62 %), Alternanthera, Borreria verticillata, and Myrcia (80.77 %). Remarkably, 34 % of the pollen types with frequencies above 50 % belonged to Fabaceae, even though this family has been traditionally regarded as less important with regard to propolis production, given that most of its included taxa are classified as polliniferous or nectariferous. Similarity analyses revealed clusters of propolis samples that share pollen types associated with plants having apiculture potential.

Recent studies have shown that pollen analyses of natural substrates can produce data valuable for understanding the local pollen productivity and dispersal, deposition, and preservation potential of pollen grains. In this study, we aimed to acquire novel information about the dynamics and preservation of pollen in Caatinga environment through the palynological study of moss polsters. Samples of moss polsters in soil (MPS) and on rock (MPR) were collected from the Canudos Biological Station in the Bahia State (Brazil) and subjected to standard chemical treatments for the extraction of pollen residues. In total, 372 pollen types were recorded from the samples of which the taxonomical affinity of 140 was determined. The most represented families were Fabaceae (23 pollen types/16.42%) and Asteraceae (12 pollen types/8.57%). The MPS samples had a higher pollen concentration (21,042.04 pollen grains/cm²) than the MPR samples (7,829.35 pollen grains/cm²). On the other hand, the MPR samples had a greater diversity (68.26% of the identified pollen types). Qualitative analysis showed that the plants of shrub and subshrub habits had the greatest representation among the pollen types (35.0%). Overall, moss polsters proved to be excellent natural air pollen collectors in Caatinga environment, provided they had moist microhabitats for their development.

RESUMO: O bicudo-do-algodoeiro (Anthonomus grandis Boheman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) é um dos principais fatores limitantes para a expansão da cultura do algodão. Ele apresenta diferentes aspectos biológicos e comportamentais que garantem seu sucesso na exploração do agroecossistema algodoeiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar os recursos alimentares utilizados pelo bicudo na safra e entressafra de cultivos de algodão localizados nos municípios de Iuiu e Correntina (BA) e em ambientes de Caatinga e Cerrado, contíguos aos algodoais, respectivamente. As coletas dos adultos foram realizadas no período de fevereiro a setembro/2013 por meio de armadilhas com feromônio. As amostras foram processadas para identificação dos tipos polínicos encontrados no aparelho digestivo dos insetos. Os resultados indicaram que a praga explora 22 famílias botânicas como fonte de alimento, das quais 16 na Caatinga e 5 no Cerrado. Nos bicudos coletados em algodão foram encontrados 8 gêneros botânicos em Iuiu e 10 em Correntina, sendo apenas três coincidentes aos dois cultivos (Angelonia, Mimosa e Myrcia sp.1). Grãos de Pólen de 26 gêneros de plantas foram identificados para Caatinga e 6 para o Cerrado, ocorrendo três gêneros comuns às duas áreas (Myrcia sp.2, Eucalyptus e Mimosa). O bicudo explora fontes alternativas de alimento nas principais regiões produtoras de algodão da Bahia, com destaque para a Caatinga, que apresenta maior quantidade de famílias e gêneros botânicos utilizados pela praga.

ABSTRACT: Cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most limiting factors for cotton crop expansion. It presents different biological and behavioral aspects that ensure its success on this agroecosystem. This research aimed to identify pollen sources used by this insect during harvest and intercrop periods of cotton cultivations in Iuiu and Correntina - BA, Brazil; moreover, evaluating Caatinga and Cerrado neighboring areas. Adult insect samplings were made from February to September of 2013, through pheromone traps. Samples were analyzed to identify the pollen types inside the digestive system of insects. The results indicated that the pest explores 22 botanical families as nourishment source, from which 16 in Caatinga and five in Cerrado. Regarding crop samples, eight genera were found in Iuiu and Correntina, being three found in both areas (Angelonia, Mimosa and Myrcia sp.1). Pollen from 26 genera were identified for Caatinga and six for Cerrado, with three genera in common for both (Myrcia sp.2, Eucalyptus, and Mimosa). The boll weevil uses alternative sources of food within the main cotton growing regions in Bahia State, highlighting the Caatinga with most of the botanical families and genera explored by the pest.

This was a pollen survey, in which we analyzed the sediments and moss polsters of murundus (termite mounds) in the Chapada Diamantina region of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Palynological treatment revealed the presence of 53 pollen types in murundus sediments, of which 23 were related to plants in the semi-arid zone and 30 remained unidentified. In moss polster samples, the pollen assemblage comprised 42 pollen types for which taxonomic affinities were identified and 54 for which they were not. In our comparison of the two pollen assemblages, we found that moss polsters and murundu sediments shared 15 pollen types. For some of the pollen grains in the murundus sediments, it was not possible to make reliable interpretations because of small number of grains and the poor state of conservation. In contrast, the pollen analyses of the moss polster samples showed that they could represent a useful tool for studies of pollen rain. To our knowledge, this is the first study of murundus as natural pollen collectors. Our findings suggest new possibilities for the use of the pollen records preserved in termite mounds.

This paper describes the vegetative and reproductive morphology of Cabombaceae species in Brazil, discussing its strategies for survival in an aquatic habitat. Through studies in the field, in cultivation and in the herbarium, we examined the following species: Cabomba aquatica, C. caroliniana, C. furcata and C. haynesii. In cultivation, only C. aquatica, C. furcata and C. haynesii produced flowers. In those three species, the flowers opened during the day on two consecutive days, submerging during the night, although the stigmata of the first two were receptive only on the first day, their anthers dehiscing on the following day. The flowers of C. haynesii remained unreceptive on the first day of anthesis, the stigmata and anthers maturing only on the second day, at different times. Fruit developed when the flowers were submerged. The data provided here are useful for the identification of these species, as well as laying the groundwork for future taxonomic and ecological studies.

Species of Bromeliaceae have leaves in a spiral configuration. Because of the shape of the rosette thus formed and the imbricate configuration of the leaf sheaths, there is usually a tank in which rainwater and other components of the environment, including pollen grains, accumulate, making such tanks effective pollen rain collectors. The objective of this study was to use bromeliads as a tool to increase knowledge about the vegetation of the caatinga (shrublands) in the Canudos region of the state of Bahia, located in the semi-arid zone of Brazil, as well as to analyze the dynamics of pollen dispersal and deposition. To that end, we collected samples of the water from the tanks of bromeliads at the Canudos Biological Station. A total of 149 pollen types were detected, 88 of which could be identified botanically. The families that were the most well-represented among the pollen types were Fabaceae (with 25), Asteraceae (with 9), and Euphorbiaceae (with 7). Ten pollen types were presented as potential indicators of caatinga vegetation. We conclude that tank bromeliads are useful for gathering information about pollen rain and pollen dynamics, as well as about the transport and deposition of pollen in the caatinga.

There have been few palynological studies of the family Menispermaceae. Here, we analyzed the pollen grains of 12 species from seven genera of Menispermaceae occurring in the state of Bahia, Brazil: Abuta selloana Eichl.; Borismene japurensis (Mart.) Eichl.; Chondrodendron microphyllum (Eichl.) Moldenke; C. platyphyllum (A.St.-Hil.) Miers; Cissampelos andromorpha DC.; C. ovalifolia DC.; C. pareira L.; C. sympodialis Eichl.; Hyperbaena domingensis (DC.) Benth.; Odontocarya duckei Barneby; Sciadotenia campestris Barneby; and S. pubistaminea (K. Schum.) Diels. The pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, described, and illustrated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen grains were found to be small, oblate spheroidal or prolate spheroidal, isopolar, and tricolpate or tricolporate; the exine was found to be reticulate. It was concluded that the various genera can be separated based on pollen characters. Within each of the genera, the species studied were stenopalynous. For five Menispermaceae species, pollen descriptions are presented here for the first time.