Uptake of Seeds Secondary Metabolites by Virola surinamensis Seedlings

The major secondary metabolites and fatty acids occurring in the seeds of Virola surinamensis were monitored by GC-MS during germination and seedling development. The role as carbon source for seedling development was indicated considering that both classes of compounds were similarly consumed in the seeds and that no selective consumption of compounds could be detected. 1. Introduction Several neotropical trees produce fruits with large and heavy seeds [1]. Virola surinamensis is a myristicaceous tree growing in the Amazonian flooded plains and produces seeds during the rainy season [2, 3]. Seeds are viable shortly after ripening and are adapted to be dispersed by water or by large birds such as toucans and ara？aris. The seedling formation can be divided in two distinct phases: seed germination and seedling development [4]. The cotyledons are hidden in the seed coat (cryptocotylar) and are storage organs of fatty material and polysaccharides that are recruited for the maintenance of seedling during its growth and development [5]. A study carried out on V. venosa revealed that the major lignans cubebin and dihydrokusunokinin accumulated in the seeds were not detected in its seedlings which accumulated a polyketide instead [6]. The major constituent identified in the seedling roots was shown to be the lignan sesamin, a minor constituent in the seeds. A different result were observed with V. sebifera in which a possible translocation of hydroxytetralone lignans and a preferential accumulation of a lignan hydroxy-otobain was observed in the whole seedlings [7]. In view of the lack of systematic investigation regarding this important event in the reproduction of tropical trees, the translocation of secondary metabolites occurring in large seeds to be used as a defensive compounds in the seedlings remains as a hypothesis [8, 9]. Virola surinamensis seeds contain 15.4% of soluble tannins as a dry mass and the highest concentration of compounds with a probable defensive function yet recorded [10]. Their cotyledons are rich in triacylglycerols and free fatty acids. Phytochemical analysis of V. surinamensis seeds collected at Combu Island demonstrated the occurrence of lignoids, propiophenone, and γ-lactones in these organs [11]. Analysis of seedling leaves of V. surinamensis growing in the field, in greenhouse conditions and in micropropagated plantlets revealed the absence of lignans and the exclusive occurrence of juruenolide C (8a) (Figure 1) [12]. Herein, we wish to report the analyses of fatty acids and major secondary compounds in seeds of V. surinamensis