Anatomical evaluations –. To evaluate the root
anatomy, five organs with an average length of 7 ± 1,5
cm of three adult plants (six years in culture) were fixed
in FAA 50% and preserved in 50% alcohol (Johansen
1940). Each one was sectioned in the midline, with the
aid of razors. Transverse sections were subjected to
double staining with 0.05% Safrablau (Bukatsh 1972)
and mounted in glycerin. For starch identification Lugol
solution was used (Bücherl 1962); for lignin staining
with hydrochloric phloroglucin (Jansen 1962); for
lipids with Sudan III (Johansen 1940); and flavonoids
with potassium hydroxide (Costa 1982). The most
important aspects were recorded with a digital camera
attached to a Olympus microscope (Model BX51).