The genus Acrocomia (Arecaceae) is widely distributed in the Neotropics, without consensus on the number of species. The arboreal species are explored in their native countries. To subsidize better use of the observed variation in fruits of different species for product extraction, taxonomy, conservation and genetic improvement, our objective was to characterize biometrically the fruits and anatomically the mesocarp from natural populations of A. aculeata, A. intumescens and A. totai. We observed different colors of epicarp and mesocarp in A. aculeata and A. totai, while the fruits of A. intumescens were light green or yellowish. The fruits of A. aculeata showed diameter considered large (3.9-4.6 cm) and the highest dry mass (26.3-33.5 g), A. intumescens presented intermediate diameter (3.1-3.9 cm) and mass (11.5-18.8 g), and A. totai had the smallest diameter (2.2-3.0 cm) and mass (4.1-11.4 g). The morphoanatomical analysis of the mesocarp did not distinguish the three species. However, it revealed the presence of useful compounds for human consumption and with economic potential, such as oil in the parenchyma cells, mucilage, starch and phenolic compounds. We concluded that the mesocarp anatomy is not useful for taxonomy, but the biometric variation is, as well as variation within species can be applicable in conservation and genetic improvement.Keywords: biofuel, palm, plant anatomy, plant products, plant taxonomy ResumoO gênero Acrocomia (Arecaceae) é amplamente distribuído no continente americano não havendo consenso sobre o seu número de espécies, sendo as de porte arbóreo comercialmente exploradas nos países onde ocorrem. Com intuito de gerar subsídios para melhor aproveitar a variação observada nos frutos das diferentes espécies para taxonomia, conservação e melhoramento genético das espécies, o objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar biometricamente os frutos e anatomicamente o mesocarpo de populações naturais de A. aculeata, A. intumescens e A. totai. Foram observadas diferentes colorações de epicarpo e do mesocarpo em A. aculeata e A. totai, enquanto os frutos de A. intumescens são verde-claros ou amarelados. Os frutos de A. aculeata têm diâmetro considerado grande (3,9-4,6 cm) e de maior massa seca (26,3-33,5 g), A. intumescens apresentou diâmetro e massa intermediários dos seus frutos (3,1-3,9 cm e 11,5-18,8 g, respectivamente). A. totai apresentou os menores diâmetro e massa de frutos (2,2-3,0 cm e 4,1 -11,4 g, respectivamente). A análise morfoanatômica do mesocarpo não diferenciou as espécies do estudo. No entanto, revelou a presença de compostos úteis para consumo humano e potencial econômico dos compostos identificados, como a presença de óleo nas células do parênquima, mucilagem, amido e compostos fenólicos. Conclui-se que a anatomia do mesocarpo não é útil para taxonomia e que variação biométrica entre as espécies pode ser empregada para este fim, assim como a variação dentro das espécies pode ser útil para fins de conservação e melhoramento genético.

Acrocomia (Arecaceae) is a genus widely distributed in tropical and subtropical America that has been achieving economic interest due to the great potential of oil production of some of its species. In particular A. aculeata, due to its vocation to supply oil with the same productive capacity as the oil palm (Elaeis guineenses) even in areas with water deficit. Although eight species are recognized in the genus, the taxonomic classification based on morphology and geographic distribution is still controversial. Knowledge about the genetic diversity and population structure of the species is limited, which has limited the understanding of the genetic relationships and the orientation of management, conservation, and genetic improvement activities of species of the genus. In the present study, we analyzed the genomic diversity and population structure of Acrocomia genus, including 172 samples from seven species, with a focus on A. aculeata with 117 samples covering a wide geographical area of occurrence of the species, using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers originated from Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS).The genetic structure of the Acrocomia species were partially congruent with the current taxonomic classification based on morphological characters, recovering the separation of the species A. aculeata, A. totai, A. crispa and A. intumescens as distinct taxonomic groups. However, the species A. media was attributed to the cluster of A. aculeata while A. hassleri and A. glauscescens were grouped together with A. totai. The species that showed the highest and lowest genetic diversity were A. totai and A. media, respectively. When analyzed separately, the species A. aculeata showed a strong genetic structure, forming two genetic groups, the first represented mainly by genotypes from Brazil and the second by accessions from Central and North American countries. Greater genetic diversity was found in Brazil when compared to the other countries. Our results on the genetic diversity of the genus are unprecedented, as is also establishes new insights on the genomic relationships between Acrocomia species. It is also the first study to provide a more global view of the genomic diversity of A. aculeata. We also highlight the applicability of genomic data as a reference for future studies on genetic diversity, taxonomy, evolution and phylogeny of the Acrocomia genus, as well as to support strategies for the conservation, exploration and breeding of Acrocomia species and in particular A. aculeata.

The shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora.

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Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex. Mart. (Arecaceae) is a neotropical oil palm of widespread occurrence in the American continent and with great economic potential for the energy and food sectors. Genetic breeding studies for the species are very recent, with a need for basic knowledge from the genetic diversity in agronomic traits. Thus, the aim of this work was to estimate genetic variance, heritability, and genetic gain as well as to propose strategies of selection. Two-year evaluations of eight agromorphological characteristics were carried out in two experimental fields composed of 50 open-pollinated progenies. The results revealed moderate heritability for progeny average to thorn density in the abaxial side (ℎ " #$ % = 0.402 in Pindorama) and relative chlorophyll index (ℎ " #$ % = 0.458 in Presidente Prudente). The selective accuracy was 0.634 and 0.677 for the same traits, respectively. In the combined analysis, the higher values of heritability were obtained to thorn density on the abaxial region of leaves and relative chlorophyll index (0.616 and 0.666, respectively).Moderate to high magnitude values of genetic gain was reached for traits with greatest agronomic interest, as plant height G s (%) = 19.64, number of leaves G s (%) = 26.43, stipe diameter at breast height G s (%) = 12.51, and relative chlorophyll index G s (%) = 38.12. In conclusion, the results indicate considerable genetic variability for the evaluated traits and suggest that their most effective use for the purpose of genetic gains would be based on the combined selection between and within progenies.