Influence of environment on the leaf morpho-anatomy and histochemical of the ayahuasca leaf: Populations cultivated in extra-Amazonian regions

Psychotria viridis Ruiz & Pav (Rubiaceae) occurs naturally throughout the Amazon and it is traditionally used by indigenous communities, being incorporated into religious use in urban contexts over the last few decades. It is known and cultivated in many regions of South America for possessing valuable bioactive alkaloids. In this paper, we described P. viridis leaf morphology, anatomy and histochemistry from three populations cultivated in the southeastern Brazil, in order to identify possible adaptations to local environment and management. All plants presented terminal stipules and basic morpho-anatomical patterns of leaves, consistent with most species of the genus, as heterogeneous dorsiventral mesophyll, uniseriate epidermis, presents large cells with prominent vacuoles and druses. Unicellular non-glandular trichomes and multicellular starry trichomes were present in the primary and secondary veins. Amphi-hypostomatic leaf pattern, not yet described for the species, was common in all studied plants. Variation in the presence of domatia in the same population indicates that this structure cannot be used for taxonomic determination of P. viridis, as already described for other species of the genus. Presence of secretory ducts and reduction in stomata density and leaf area represent the main morpho-anatomic adaptations of plants from drier and warmer climates. Histochemical tests were positive for alkaloids, polysaccharides, proteins and phenolic compounds, being negative for starch only in plants subjected to water stress. We concluded that the morpho-anatomical and histochemical alterations found in the plants of this study resulted from seasonal water deficit adaptations and to maintain or attract mutualistic organisms

Influence of environment on the leaf morpho-anatomy and histochemical of the ayahuasca leaf: Populations cultivated in extra-Amazonian regions

Psychotria viridis Ruiz & Pav (Rubiaceae) occurs naturally throughout the Amazon and it is traditionally used by indigenous communities, being incorporated into religious use in urban contexts over the last few decades. It is known and cultivated in many regions of South America for possessing valuable bioactive alkaloids. In this paper, we described P. viridis leaf morphology, anatomy and histochemistry from three populations cultivated in the southeastern Brazil, in order to identify possible adaptations to local environment and management. All plants presented terminal stipules and basic morpho-anatomical patterns of leaves, consistent with most species of the genus, as heterogeneous dorsiventral mesophyll, uniseriate epidermis, presents large cells with prominent vacuoles and druses. Unicellular non-glandular trichomes and multicellular starry trichomes were present in the primary and secondary veins. Amphi-hypostomatic leaf pattern, not yet described for the species, was common in all studied plants. Variation in the presence of domatia in the same population indicates that this structure cannot be used for taxonomic determination of P. viridis, as already described for other species of the genus. Presence of secretory ducts and reduction in stomata density and leaf area represent the main morpho-anatomic adaptations of plants from drier and warmer climates. Histochemical tests were positive for alkaloids, polysaccharides, proteins and phenolic compounds, being negative for starch only in plants subjected to water stress. We concluded that the morpho-anatomical and histochemical alterations found in the plants of this study resulted from seasonal water deficit adaptations and to maintain or attract mutualistic organisms(AU)

Leaf domatia in montane forest and Caatinga in the semiarid of Pernambuco State: Morphology and ecological implications / Domácias foliares em brejo de altitude e Caatinga no Semiárido pernambucano: morfologia e implicações ecológicas

Leaf domatia are cavity-shaped structures of different types or tufts of hairs located at the junction between ribs on the abaxial surface of the leaf blades of various families of angiosperms, serving as protection against phytophagous organisms by harboring beneficial mites, suggesting a mutualistic relationship. There is shortage of inventories of species with such structures; thus the present study examined native woody plant in two habitats of the backwoods of Pernambuco to identify the types of leaf domatia. 86 species were observed,43 inCaatinga area, out of which five had domatia, and43 inthe montane forest, 11 species with domatia. Four types of domatia were observed: hairtufts, pocket, pit and revolute margin. There was predominance of plant species with leaf domatia in the area Carro Quebrado in Triunfo,PernambucoState. These results corroborate the information available in the literature in which domatia are prevalent in more humid environments, and that these structures as micro-habitats influence the maintenance of diverse organisms.(AU)

Domلcias foliares sمo estruturas em forma de cavidades de diferentes tipos ou tufos de tricomas localizados na junçمo entre as nervuras, na face abaxial das lâminas foliares de diversas famيlias de angiospermas, servindo de defesa contra organismos fitَfagos por abrigarem لcaros benéficos, sugerindo uma relaçمo mutualيstica. Hل escassez de inventلrios de espécies apresentando essas estruturas; diante disso, o presente estudo analisou plantas lenhosas nativas em dois ambientes do sertمo de Pernambuco, visando identificar os tipos de domلcias foliares. Foram observadas 86 espécies, 43 em لrea de Caatinga em as quais cinco apresentaram domلcias e 43 no brejo de altitude, 11 espécies com domلcias. Foram encontrados quatro tipos de domلcias: tufo de pelos, bolso, cova e orla. Na لrea do Carro Quebrado, Triunfo, Estado do Pernambuco, as plantas com domلcias foliares foram predominantes. Estes resultados corroboram as informaçُes disponيveis na literatura de que domلcias sمo predominantes em ambientes mais ْmidos, e que essas estruturas como micro-habitats, influenciam a manutençمo de diversos organismos.(AU)

Domácias e seu papel na defesa das plantas

Leaf domatia are small structures found on the underside of the leaves of many plants of agricultural importance. Domatia have been described to be typically inhabited by mites (predators and fungivorous) that provide benefits to the plant. The structures can be extremely complex and seem to have an unknown physiological function. It has been postulated that mites may get some benefit from leaf domatia by securing a safe place for reproduction and refuge from predators. Additionally, plants get benefits via reduced herbivory or pathogen attack. Hence, ecologists have hypothesized that domatia mediate a mutualistic association between plants and their bodyguard mites. In this review we discussed the pivotal role of the domatia in plant defenses against small arthropods.

Domácias são pequenas estruturas presentes na face inferior das folhas de diversas plantas de importância agrícola e têm sido descritas por serem tipicamente habitadas por ácaros (predadores e fungívoros) que provêm benefícios às plantas. São estruturas extremamente complexas e não apresentam qualquer função fisiológica conhecida. Tem sido postulado que os ácaros se beneficiam das domácias pela obtenção de um local seguro para reprodução e proteção contra predadores e que as plantas também se beneficiam pela redução do ataque de herbívoros ou patógenos. Assim, ecologistas têm hipotetizado que as domácias mediam uma associação mutualística entre as plantas e os ácaros que protegem as folhas. Nesta revisão, é discutido o papel das domácias na defesa das plantas contra pequenos artrópodes.

Domácias e seu papel na defesa das plantas

Leaf domatia are small structures found on the underside of the leaves of many plants of agricultural importance. Domatia have been described to be typically inhabited by mites (predators and fungivorous) that provide benefits to the plant. The structures can be extremely complex and seem to have an unknown physiological function. It has been postulated that mites may get some benefit from leaf domatia by securing a safe place for reproduction and refuge from predators. Additionally, plants get benefits via reduced herbivory or pathogen attack. Hence, ecologists have hypothesized that domatia mediate a mutualistic association between plants and their bodyguard mites. In this review we discussed the pivotal role of the domatia in plant defenses against small arthropods.

Domácias são pequenas estruturas presentes na face inferior das folhas de diversas plantas de importância agrícola e têm sido descritas por serem tipicamente habitadas por ácaros (predadores e fungívoros) que provêm benefícios às plantas. São estruturas extremamente complexas e não apresentam qualquer função fisiológica conhecida. Tem sido postulado que os ácaros se beneficiam das domácias pela obtenção de um local seguro para reprodução e proteção contra predadores e que as plantas também se beneficiam pela redução do ataque de herbívoros ou patógenos. Assim, ecologistas têm hipotetizado que as domácias mediam uma associação mutualística entre as plantas e os ácaros que protegem as folhas. Nesta revisão, é discutido o papel das domácias na defesa das plantas contra pequenos artrópodes.

Diversidade de ácaros (arachnida: acari) em cinco cultivares de duas espécies de cafeeiros (coffea spp.) em garça, estado de são paulo

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of mites present on five different cultivars of two species of coffee in Garça county, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The following species and cultivars of coffee plant were studied: Coffea canephora Pierre ex Froehner cv Apoatã and C. arabica L. of cultivars Mundo Novo, Icatu Vermelho, Icatu Amarelo and Catuaí Amarelo. The mites were obtained from leaves collected from the mid-third of plants randomly chosen from each cultivar. The samples were collected monthly from April 2001 to June 2003. Apoatã was the cultivar which presented the highest species richness and the highest number of specimens on the leaf surface. On the other hand, this cultivar presented the lowest number of species and of specimens inside domatia. Icatu Vermelho was the cultivar which presented the highest uniformity of distribution of mite species, and Apoatã was the cultivar with the lowest uniformity. On the leaf surface, the phytophagous species Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) and Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) were the most abundant and frequent species in all cultivars. Among the predators, Euseiuscitrifolius Denmark & Muma and E.concordis (Chant), both Phytoseiidae, were the most abundant and frequent on the leaf surface. The most frequent mites inside domatia were the predators of the family Stigmaeidae, in which Zetzellia malvinae Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira were the most abundant in all cultivars of C. arabica. Agistemus brasiliensis Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira were very abundant only within domatia of the cultivar Icatu Vermelho.

RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a diversidade de ácaros em cinco diferentes cultivares de duas espécies de cafeeiros, no Município de Garça, SP. Foram estudadas as seguintes espécies e cultivares de cafeeiro: Coffea canephora Pierre ex Froehner cv. Apoatã e Coffea arabica L. cultivares Mundo Novo, Icatu Vermelho, Icatu Amarelo e Catuaí Amarelo. Os ácaros foram obtidos de folhas, amostradas do terço médio em 10 plantas ao acaso de cada cultivar. A amostragem foi realizada mensalmente, entre abril de 2001 e junho de 2003. Apoatã foi a cultivar que apresentou a maior riqueza de espécies e o maior número de espécimes na superfície das folhas. Por outro lado, essa mesma cultivar foi a que apresentou o menor número de espécies e de espécimes no interior das domácias. A cultivar Icatu Vermelho foi a que apresentou a maior uniformidade na distribuição das espécies de ácaros enquanto a cultivar Apoatã a que apresentou a menor. Na superfície das folhas, as espécies fitófagas Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) e Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) foram muito abundantes e freqüentes em todas as cultivares, enquanto os predadores Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma e E. concordis (Chant), ambos Phytoseiidae, foram os mais abundantes e freqüentes. Nas domácias, os ácaros mais freqüentes foram os predadores da família Stigmaeidae, sendo Zetzellia malvinae Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira mais abundante em todas as cultivares de C. arabica e Agistemus brasiliensis Matioli, Ueckermann & Oliveira muito abundante apenas na cultivar Icatu Vermelho.