MULTIPARAMETRIC ANALYSIS OF MINERAL-CONTE NT OF SOME BACTRIS GASIPAESPOLLEN

Bactris gasipaes Kunth is important both economically and as a food re source in several countries of tropical Africa. The profitability of c ultivation can be increased by genetic amelioration of natural morphot ypes. We observed that pollen characteristics influence the morphologi cal and physiological features of the fruits. This prompted us to unde rtake a study based upon ten morphotypes from the Yurimaguas (Peru). W e here complete the morphological and ultrastructural investigation of pollen, previously started by one of us, with an analysis of the elem ents with respect to the importance of the role they play in relation to pollen function. A determination of the 8 major elements, which cor responds to a precise analysis of the exine, was performed by micro-X- Ray diffraction analysis using an electron probe coupled with a scanni ng electron microscope. At the same time, the determination of calcium , magnesium and twelve oligo-elements by inductive coupled plasma spec trometry (ICP) provided a complete mineral analysis oi the pollen. A c omparison of the element patterns of the morphotypes, obtained by both was carried out through a number of numerical data reduction techniqu es (Factor analysis and clustering). This led us ro suggest two classi fications: (1) that of pollen based upon mineral elements (2) that of mineral elements based upon pollen and further to look for possible mu ltiple correlations between elements and pollens. From the results obt ained the following conclusions may be drawn: (1) the sequence of elem ents in descending order of concentration in the exine is an indicatio n of the functional integrity of pollen and depends upon conservation and storage; (2) further, this sequence is a good fertility criterion; (3) variations in oligo-element concentrations in one cultivar allows infraspecific groups to be distinguished, This multiparametric approa ch also allow the location of an unknown pollen sample of Bactris gasi paes in the population under investigation.