Filogenia molecular, morfologia e suas implicações para a taxonomia de Eriocaulaceae

The pantropical family Eriocaulaceae includes ten genera and c. 1,400 species, with diversity concentrated in the New World. The last complete revision of the family was published more than 100 years ago, and until recently the generic and infrageneric relationships were poorly resolved. However, a multi-disciplinary approach over the last 30 years, using morphological and anatomical characters, has been supplemented with additional data from palynology, chemistry, embryology, population genetics, cytology and, more recently, molecular phylogenetic studies. This led to a reassessment of phylogenetic relationships within the family. In this paper we present new data for the ITS and trnL-F regions, analysed separately and in combination, using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The data confirm previous results, and show that many characters traditionally used for differentiating and circumscribing the genera within the family are homoplasious. A new generic key with characters from various sources and reflecting the current taxonomic changes is presented

Enhanced Growth and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Osteoblast-Like Cells on Boron-Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond Thin Films

Intrinsic nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films have been proven to be promising substrates for the adhesion, growth and osteogenic differentiation of bone-derived cells. To understand the role of various degrees of doping (semiconducting to metallic-like), the NCD films were deposited on silicon substrates by a microwave plasma-enhanced CVD process and their boron doping was achieved by adding trimethylboron to the CH4:H2 gas mixture, the B∶C ratio was 133, 1000 and 6700 ppm. The room temperature electrical resistivity of the films decreased from >10 MΩ (undoped films) to 55 kΩ, 0.6 kΩ, and 0.3 kΩ (doped films with 133, 1000 and 6700 ppm of B, respectively). The increase in the number of human osteoblast-like MG 63 cells in 7-day-old cultures on NCD films was most apparent on the NCD films doped with 133 and 1000 ppm of B (153,000±14,000 and 152,000±10,000 cells/cm2, respectively, compared to 113,000±10,000 cells/cm2 on undoped NCD films). As measured by ELISA per mg of total protein, the cells on NCD with 133 and 1000 ppm of B also contained the highest concentrations of collagen I and alkaline phosphatase, respectively. On the NCD films with 6700 ppm of B, the cells contained the highest concentration of focal adhesion protein vinculin, and the highest amount of collagen I was adsorbed. The concentration of osteocalcin also increased with increasing level of B doping. The cell viability on all tested NCD films was almost 100%. Measurements of the concentration of ICAM-1, i.e. an immunoglobuline adhesion molecule binding inflammatory cells, suggested that the cells on the NCD films did not undergo significant immune activation. Thus, the potential of NCD films for bone tissue regeneration can be further enhanced and tailored by B doping and that B doping up to metallic-like levels is not detrimental for cells

Developmental anatomy of Cyperus laxus (non-Nranz) and Fimbristylis dichotoma (Kranz) (Cyperaceae, Poales) and tissue continuity

As espécies de Cyperaceae estão presentes em diferentes ecossistemas e constituem o extrato herbáceo. Das aproximadamente 5,500 espécies da família, um terço possui anatomia Kranz, representando uma importante característica da taxonomia e filogenia do grupo. em Cyperus laxus L. (não Kranz) e Fimbristylis dichotoma Vahl (Kranz), o desenvolvimento começa com a germinação que é marcada pela emergência do coleóptilo, seguido da raiz primária, que é efêmera. O rizoma se origina do mesocótilo e promove a conexão vascular entre raízes, folhas e escapos. A continuidade dos tecidos é evidenciada pela presença de endoderme e periciclo em todos os órgãos vegetativos. Folhas e escapos diferem entre as duas espécies estudadas no arranjo das células do mesofilo, que é regular em Cyperus laxus (não Kranz) e dispostas radialmente em Fimbristylis dichotoma (Kranz). Também diferem no número de bainhas vasculares: duas em Cyperus laxus (não Kranz) e três em Fimbristylis dichotoma (Kranz). A bainha externa em ambas as espécies constitui a endoderme, e a bainha interna em Cyperus laxus e a mediana e a interna em Fimbristylis dichotoma constituem o periciclo.The Cyperaceae species are present in different ecosystems and constitute the herbaceous extract. of the approximately 5,500 species of the family; a third has Kranz anatomy, representing an important characteristic of the taxonomy and phylogeny of the group. In Cyperus laxus L. (non-Kranz) and Fimbristylis dichotoma Vahl (Kranz), development begins with germination that is marked by the emergence of the coleoptiles, followed by the primary root, which is ephemeral. The rhizome originates from the mesocotyl and it promotes the vascular connection between the roots, leaves and scapes. The continuity of the tissues is evidenced by the presence of an endodermis and pericycle in all vegetative organs. Leaves and scapes differ between the two species by the arrangement of mesophyll cells, which is regular in Cyperus laxus (non-Kranz) and arranged radially in Fimbristylis dichotoma (Kranz). Also differ in the number of bundles sheaths: two in Cyperus laxus (non-Kranz) and three in Fimbristylis dichotoma (Kranz). The outer bundle sheath in both species constitutes the endodermis, and the inner sheath in Cyperus laxus and the middle and inner sheaths in Fimbristylis dichotoma constitute the pericycle.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Morphological aspects of the propagation in Heliconia velloziana L. Emygd. (Zingiberales: Heliconiaceae)

A morfologia da propagação por sementes e da propagação vegetativa foi estudada em Heliconia velloziana L. Emygd. (Heliconiaceae). As sementes levaram cerca de quatro meses para germinar, provavelmente pelo embrião indiferenciado na época da maturação do fruto e também devido ao endocarpo pétreo, que envolve a semente. As duas primeiras estruturas foliares nas plântulas são escamiformes e as raízes adventícias são mais conspícuas do que a raiz primária. Na propagação vegetativa as raízes se desenvolveram a partir de quatro semanas e os brotos a partir de quatro a seis semanas; inicialmente foram formados os catafilos, e depois dois protofilos.Morphology of seed and vegetative propagation was studied toHeliconia velloziana L. Emygd. (Heliconiaceae), a rhizomatous herb with a large aerial part. Seeds took about four months to germinate, probably due to the undifferentiated embryo and hard endocarp. Seedlings had two first foliar structures as scale leaves and the primary root developed, but the adventitious roots were more conspicuous. Vegetative propagation by rhizomes was faster than the sexual one. The roots developed after one month, while young shoots started developing after four to six weeks; young aerial shoots presented a variable number of cataphylls and two protophylls.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Anther wall development, microsporogenesis, and microgametogenesis in abolboda and orectanthe: contributions to the embryology of xyridaceae (poales)

Premise of research. Xyridaceae includes two subfamilies with a total of five genera. Xyridoideae has only the single genus Xyris, and Abolbodoideae includes the remaining genera. The inter- and intrafamilial relationships among Xyridaceae have not yet been clarified, and this study therefore aimed to investigate the anther wall and pollen grain development in Abolboda and Orectanthe species, searching for characters that can be used in taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses.Methodology. Anthers from flowers at different stages of development were examined using both LM and SEM.Pivotal results. All studied species present the following: monocotyledonous type of anther wall development, single-layered endotheciuna with band-like thickenings in the mature anther, single ephemeral middle layer, multilayered and plasmodial tapetum, successive microsporogenesis, and spherical inaperturate pollen grains. Characteristics such as reduced type of anther wall development, single-layered and secretory tapetum with uninucleate or binucleate cells, and elliptical sulcate pollen grains with a reticulate exine are present in Xyris and differentiate this genus from A bolboda and Orectanthe. The characteristics reported for Xyris are also present in Mayacaceae, which used to form the xyrid clade of Poales with Eriocaulaceae and Xyridaceae. A bolboda and Orectanthe share with Eriocaulaceae the monocotyledonous type of anther wall development with an ephemeral middle layer, an endothecium with band-like thickenings, and pollen grain exine with projections. The presence of a multilayered tapetum is exclusive to Abolboda and Orectanthe among the Xyridaceae and also among the Poales.Conclusions, The embryological characteristics support the division of Xyridaceae into two subfamilies. In contrast with the megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis, the microsporogenesis and microgametogenesis characteristics were quite variable within the xyrid (lade, with successive microsporogen.esis being the only characteristic shared by Xyridaceae, Eriocaulaceae, and Mayacaceae.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Anatomia de escapos de Tillandsia L. (Bromeliaceae) dos Campos Gerais do Paran\ue1, Brasil

Estudou-se a anatomia dos escapos de Tillandsia crocata (E. Morren) Baker, T. gardneri Lindl., T. geminiflora Brongn., T. linearis Vell., T. lorentziana Griseb., T. mallemontii Glaziou ex Mez, T. recurvata L., T. streptocarpa Baker, T. stricta Soland ex Sims, T. tenuifolia L. e Tillandsia sp., que ocorrem nos Campos Gerais do Paraná. São plantas epífitas de galhos de árvores ou de paredões rochosos. Os escapos são eretos ou recurvados, revestidos por brácteas e emergem do centro da roseta foliar. Verificaram-se dois padrões anatômicos de distribuição dos feixes vasculares. Um padrão onde os feixes vasculares ocorrem condensados perifericamente no cilindro vascular, circundados e/ou imersos num cilindro esclerótico - periciclo. Outro padrão onde os feixes vasculares ocorrem dispersos, mas concentrados na periferia do cilindro vascular, envolvidos total ou parcialmente por bainha fibrosa, sem formar um cilindro esclerótico. A grande maioria das espécies apresenta escapos com epiderme de células espessadas, hipoderme com células espessadas, e feixes vasculares colaterais envolvidos total ou parcialmente por fibras. A presença de células com paredes espessadas, de hipoderme, de idioblastos de ráfides, mucilagem e canais de ar constituem características adaptativas ao hábito epifítico. Os tipos de espessamento das células epidérmicas, da hipoderme, e do periciclo, a distribuição dos feixes vasculares, e a presença de feixes vasculares compostos possibilitam separar as espécies dentro do gênero. É apresentada uma chave de identificação das Tillandsia estudadas com base nas características anatômicas do escapo.The anatomy of Tillandsia crocata (E. Morren) Baker, T. gardneri Lindl., T. geminiflora Brongn., T. linearis Vell., T. lorentziana Griseb., T. mallemontii Glaziou ex Mez, T. recurvata L., T. streptocarpa Baker, T. stricta Soland ex Sims, T. tenuifolia L., and Tillandsia sp. scapes were studied. They occur in the Campos Gerais, state of Paraná, southern Brazil. They are epiphytics on trunks or rock slopes. Scapes are both bent or straight revested by bracts and they grow up from the center of the foliar rosette. There are two patterns of distribution concerning the vascular bundles, one of them the peripherical bundles are condensed in the vascular cilyndre surrounded and/or immersed in a sclerotic cilyndre, the pericycle. The other presents vascular bundles scattered but concentred on the vascular cylindre periphery, total or partially involved in a fibrous sheath without a sclerotic cylinder. Most of these species presents scapes with thickened wall hypodermic and epidermic cells, and colateral vascular bundles that are total ou partially involved by fibers. The presence of thickened wall cells, hypodermis, raphids idioblasts, mucilage and air channel are adaptatives characters related to the epiphytic habit. The kind of thickness of the epidermic cells, hypodermis and pericycle; the distribution of vascular bundles, and the presence of composite vascular bundles could help species delimitation into the genus. It is presented a identification key of Tillandsia to the anatomic features of the scape.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq