ABSTRACT
While most plants die below a threshold of water content, desiccation-tolerant species display specific responses that allow them to survive extreme dehydration. Some of these responses are activated at critical stages during water loss and could represent the difference between desiccation tolerance (DT) and death. Here, we report the development of a simple and reproducible system to determine DT in Selaginella species. The system is based on exposure of excised tissue to a dehydration agent inside small containers, and subsequent evaluation for tissue viability. We evaluated several methodologies to determine viability upon desiccation including: triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, the quantum efficiency of PSII, antioxidant potential, and relative electrolyte leakage. Our results show that the TTC test is a simple and accurate assay to identify novel desiccation-tolerant Selaginella species, and can also indicate viability in other desiccation-tolerant models (i.e. ferns and mosses). The system we developed is particularly useful to identify critical points during the dehydration process. We found that a desiccation-sensitive Selaginella species shows a change in viability when dehydrated to 40% relative water content, indicating the onset of a critical condition at this water content. Comparative studies at critical stages could provide a better understanding of DT mechanisms and unravel insights into the key responses to survive desiccation.
Subject(s)
Ferns , Selaginellaceae , Biomarkers , Dehydration , Desiccation , Water/physiologyABSTRACT
Architecture and leaf anatomy of the Polypodium plesiosorum sensu Moran complex (Polypodiaceae). The Polypodium plesisorum complex is a heterogeneous morphology group. We studied leaf architecture and anatomy of 12 species of this group, in addition to other 23 species of Polypodium (P. dulce, P. polypodioides and P. vulgare complex sensu Moran) and related genera (Goniophlebium, Phlebodium, Pleopeltis, Serpocaulon, Synammia), for comparative purposes. Two homogeneous groups of species were established in P. plesiosorum complex. One of them is recognized based on the type of anastomosis of the veins (Type III): Polypodium conterminans (originally considered in the group of P. dulce with free venation by Moran), P. hispidulum, P. plesiosorum and P. rhodopleuron. The second group with Polypodium arcanum, P. castaneum, P. colpodes, P. eatonii, and P. flagellare were recognized based on the type of anastomosis of the veins (Type IV) and how vascular strands fuse along the petiole-leaf rachis. Characters studied helped to group the remaining species with other groups outside the complex under study. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 955-976. Epub 2010 September 01.
El complejo Polypodium plesisorum es un grupo de morfología heterogénea. Se estudió la arquitectura y anatomía foliar de 12 especies que constituyen el complejo de Polypodium plesiosorum reconocidas por Moran, y otras 23 especies de Polypodium (complejos P. dulce, P. polypodioides y P. vulgare sunsu Moran) y géneros relacionados taxonómicamente (Goniophlebium, Phlebodium, Pleopeltis, Serpocaulon, Synammia) con fines comparativos. Dos grupos de especies homogéneas fueron establecidos en el complejo P. plesisorum. Uno de ellos se reconoce por el tipo de anastomosis de las venas (tipo III): Polypodium conterminans (originalmente considerado en el grupo de P. dulce de venación libre según Moran), P. hispidulum, P. plesiosorum y P. rhodopleuron. El segundo grupo formado por Polypodium arcanum, P. castaneum, P. colpodes, P. eatonii y P. flagellare, se reconoce por el tipo de anastomosis de las venas (tipo IV) y la forma en que se fusionan los cordones vasculares a lo largo del eje pecíoloraquis de la hoja. Los caracteres estudiados ayudaron a relacionar las especies restantes con otros grupos fuera del complejo estudiado.
Subject(s)
Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology , Polypodium/anatomy & histology , Mexico , Polypodium/classificationABSTRACT
Architecture and leaf anatomy of the Polypodium plesiosorum sensu Moran complex (Polypodiaceae). The Polypodium plesisorum complex is a heterogeneous morphology group. We studied leaf architecture and anatomy of 12 species of this group, in addition to other 23 species of Polypodium (P. dulce, P. polypodioides and P. vulgare complex sensu Moran) and related genera (Goniophlebium, Phlebodium, Pleopeltis, Serpocaulon, Synammia), for comparative purposes. Two homogeneous groups of species were established in P. plesiosorum complex. One of them is recognized based on the type of anastomosis of the veins (Type III): Polypodium conterminans (originally considered in the group of P. dulce with free venation by Moran), P. hispidulum, P. plesiosorum and P. rhodopleuron. The second group with Polypodium arcanum, P. castaneum, P. colpodes, P. eatonii, and P. flagellare were recognized based on the type of anastomosis of the veins (Type IV) and how vascular strands fuse along the petiole-leaf rachis. Characters studied helped to group the remaining species with other groups outside the complex under study.
Subject(s)
Plant Leaves/anatomy & histology , Polypodium/anatomy & histology , Mexico , Polypodium/classificationABSTRACT
Dennstaedtia gracilis A. Rojas et Tejero (Dennstaedtiaceae) is herein described and illustrated as a new species endemic to Mexico. Its belongs to the group of winged adaxial secondary costae species but it differs by the combination of characters as smaller fronds, deltate pinnules and lobed segment apex
Subject(s)
Nucleic Acid Denaturation , MexicoABSTRACT
Dennstaedtia gracilis A. Rojas et Tejero (Dennstaedtiaceae) is herein described and illustrated as a new species endemic to Mexico. Its belongs to the group of winged adaxial secondary costae species but it differs by the combination of characters as smaller fronds, deltate pinnules and lobed segment apex.
