Leaf morpho-anatomical and physiological plasticity of two Vriesea species (Bromeliaceae) in Atlantic Coast restingas (Brazil) / Plasticidade morfoanatômica e fisiológica foliar de duas espécies de Vriesea (Bromeliaceae) em restingas da costa atlântica (Brasil)

Environmental variations may lead to structural and functional responses among Bromeliaceae and knowledge of these responses can allow better understanding about ecological processes and more effective planning of handling and conservation programs in protected areas. Because of the diverse habitats occupied by Vriesea, this study aimed at assessing the morpho-anatomical plasticity and photosynthetic pigment contents in V. neoglutinosa and V. procera occurring in the Open Clusia and Dry Forest formations of a restinga vegetation area in Espírito Santo State, Brazil. In general, plants in Dry Forest formation showed higher growth measurements and lower leaf inclination. In Open Clusia formation, both species showed leaves with higher scale density, whereas V. neoglutinosa also showed higher stomatal density. The chlorenchyma thickness of V. procera was greater in Dry Forest. We did not find differences in leaf blade thickness and water-storage parenchyma for both species between the two environments. We found abundant oil substances in guard and subsidiary cells of Open Clusia samples. In both species, individuals from the Dry Forest formation showed higher chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll contents, whereas V. neoglutinosa samples from the Open Clusia formation showed higher carotenoid contents. Of the characteristics assessed, photosynthetic pigment contents showed higher plasticity. We found that morphostructural and functional plasticity in both V. neoglutinosa and V. procera is possibly influenced by variations in irradiance and in nitrogen and organic matter contents in the soils of the evaluated plant formations

Effect of pollution by particulate iron on the morphoanatomy, histochemistry, and bioaccumulation of three mangrove plant species in Brazil

In Brazil, some mangrove areas are subjected to air pollution by particulate iron from mining activities. However, the effect of this pollutant on mangrove plants is not well known. This study aimed to comparatively analyze the morphoanatomy, histochemistry, and iron accumulation in leaves of Avicennia schaueriana, Laguncularia racemosa, and Rhizophora mangle. Samples were collected from five mangrove sites of Espírito Santo state, each of which is exposed to different levels of particulate iron pollution. The amount of particulate material settled on the leaf surface was greater in A. schaueriana and L. racemosa, which contain salt glands. High iron concentrations were found in leaves of this species, collected from mangrove areas with high particulate iron pollution, which suggests the foliar absorption of this element. None of the samples from any of the sites showed morphological or structural damage on the leaves. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to X-ray diffraction rendered a good method for evaluating iron on leaves surfaces. A histochemical test using Prussian blue showed to be an appropriate method to detect iron in plant tissue, however, proved to be an unsuitable method for the assessment of the iron bioaccumulation in leaves of A. schaueriana and R. mangle. So far, this study demonstrates the need of evaluating the pathway used by plants exposed to contaminated particulate matter to uptake atmospheric pollutants.Fil: Pereira Arrivabene, Hiulana. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: da Costa Souza, Iara. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Oliveira Có, Walter Luiz. Associação Educacional de Vitória; BrasilFil: Moreira Conti, Melina. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Wunderlin, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Rozindo Dias Milanez, Camilla. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; Brasi

Leaf anatomy of Crambe abyssinica Hochst. during in vitro shoot induction

This study aimed to characterize and evaluate possible modifications in the leaf anatomy of crambe during the process of shoot induction based on micropropagation protocol. The anatomic characteristics of the leaves, and also the morphological characteristics of crambe plantlets, were evaluated during the shoot induction phase of the micropropagation. The shoots were induced by the cytokinins, 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KIN) and thidiazuron (TDZ), at distinct concentrations on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium during 120 days of culture. Comparing the leaf anatomy, it was observed that, at day 30, only the adaxial epidermis and the palisade parenchyma presented significant differences in relation to the tested concentrations, independently of the type of cytokinin employed. At 120 days, the anatomic analysis of the mesophyll demonstrated no marked difference among the cytokinins at 5 μM. Therefore, the various sources and concentrations of cytokinins applied in this work did not promote marked changes in the sense of altering the organization and/or thickness compared to the control.Key words: Oilseeds, micropropagation, mesophyll, histology, plant morphology

How does UV-B radiation affect the initial growth of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)? Physiological and structural aspects / Como a radiação UV-B afeta o crescimento inicial do feijoeiro-comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)? Aspectos fisiológicos e estruturais

Increased UV-B radiation, a topic of concern due to climate change, can affect plant development through structural and physiological changes. Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a legume of great economic relevance, being one of the basic components of the human population's diet. Seeds of P. vulgaris var. Carioca were sown and grown in a growth chamber, and at 12 days of age were exposed for 15 min daily to UV-B radiation for a period of 14 days. Growth, leaf anatomy, gas exchange and pigments were evaluated. It was observed that UV-B radiation negatively affected the initial growth of bean plants, which had a reduction in height, number of leaves, fresh and dry leaf masses, leaf area, as well as reduction of stem and root dry masses. There was a reduction in the epidermis thickness, increase in the thickness of the palisade parenchyma and the leaf blade. It was verified yet reduction of the photosynthetic and photoprotectors pigments, reduction of the photosynthetic rate and alterations on the absorbent compounds of the UV-B radiation. The results obtained showed that the increase in UV-B radiation was harmful to the initial development of this crop

Matching pollution with adaptive changes in mangrove plants by multivariate statistics. A case study, Rhizophora mangle from four neotropical mangroves in Brazil

Roots of mangrove trees have an important role in depurating water and sediments by retaining metals that may accumulate in different plant tissues, affecting physiological processes and anatomy. The present study aimed to evaluate adaptive changes in root of Rhizophora mangle in response to different levels of chemical elements (metals/metalloids) in interstitial water and sediments from four neotropical mangroves in Brazil. What sets this study apart from other studies is that we not only investigate adaptive modifications in R. mangle but also changes in environments where this plant grows, evaluating correspondence between physical, chemical and biological issues by a combined set of multivariate statistical methods (pattern recognition). Thus, we looked to match changes in the environment with adaptations in plants. Multivariate statistics highlighted that the lignified periderm and the air gaps are directly related to the environmental contamination. Current results provide new evidences of root anatomical strategies to deal with contaminated environments. Multivariate statistics greatly contributes to extrapolate results from complex data matrixes obtained when analyzing environmental issues, pointing out parameters involved in environmental changes and also evidencing the adaptive response of the exposed biota. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.Fil: Souza, Iara da Costa. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Morozesk, Mariana. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Duarte, Ian Drumond. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Bonomo, Marina Marques. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Rocha, Lívia Dorsch. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Furlan, Larissa Maria. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Arrivabene, Hiulana Pereira. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Monferran, Magdalena Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Matsumoto, Silvia Tamie. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Milanez, Camilla Rozindo Dias. Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo; BrasilFil: Wunderlin, Daniel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Fernandes, Marisa Narciso. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasi

SEM studies on the leaf indumentum of six Melastomataceae species from Brazilian Cerrado

The wide diversity of their trichomes, which vary from simple unicellular to very complex structures, is a remarkable characteristic in Melastomataceae. This paper characterizes the leaf indumentum of Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana, M. chamissois Naudin, M. fallax DC., M. ligustroides (DC.) Naudin, Microlepis oleaefolia (DC.) Triana and Rhynchanthera dichotoma DC., typical species from Brazilian cerrado. Samples collected from the median third of young and mature leaf blades were processed following the usual scanning electron microscopy techniques (SEM). We observed ten morphological types of trichomes and four of emergences. With five different types, four of which are reported for the first time, Rhynchanthera dichotoma is the species that presents the most diverse indumenta. A mixed type of trichome formed by a glandular and a branched non-glandular portion called lateral-gland was observed in M. ligustroides. Such non-glandular portion presents different degrees of development. A correlation is suggested between the stage of development of the non-glandular portion and the exposition to light of these lateral gland on young leaves

SEM studies on the leaf indumentum of six Melastomataceae species from Brazilian Cerrado

Abstract The wide diversity of their trichomes, which vary from simple unicellular to very complex structures, is a remarkable characteristic in Melastomataceae. This paper characterizes the leaf indumentum of Miconia albicans (Sw.) Triana, M. chamissois Naudin, M. fallax DC., M. ligustroides (DC.) Naudin, Microlepis oleaefolia (DC.) Triana and Rhynchanthera dichotoma DC., typical species from Brazilian cerrado. Samples collected from the median third of young and mature leaf blades were processed following the usual scanning electron microscopy techniques (SEM). We observed ten morphological types of trichomes and four of emergences. With five different types, four of which are reported for the first time, Rhynchanthera dichotoma is the species that presents the most diverse indumenta. A mixed type of trichome formed by a glandular and a branched non-glandular portion called "lateral-gland" was observed in M. ligustroides. Such non-glandular portion presents different degrees of development. A correlation is suggested between the stage of development of the non-glandular portion and the exposition to light of these "lateral gland" on young leaves