Anatomical features of ecological importance and taxonomic value revealed by scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy in Camonea umbellata (L.) A.R. Simões & Staples (Convolvulaceae).

This article describes detailed and novel data on the anatomy and histochemistry of leaves, stems, and roots of Camonea umbellata (L.) A.R.Simões & Staples in different environments for the identification of characters with taxonomical value and of ecological importance, with provision of light and scanning electron microscopy images. To analyze the characters, we collected samples of the vegetative organs of three individuals in each of three populations, which were in a grazing area, an urban environment, and a biological reserve. The main diagnostic anatomical markers for the identification of C. umbellata include amphistomatic leaves, tetracytic and brachyparatetracytic stomata, peltate trichomes, long simple trichomes, epidermis with striated cuticle ornamentation, mesophyll with acute borders, presence of druses, secretory channels, angular collenchyma, fibrous pericycle in the stem, intraxylary phloem in the vegetative organs, oil bodies throughout the midrib, petiole, stem and root, and epicuticular waxes of the crust and coiled rodlet types. Since the characters above did not show variation in the environments evaluated, we consider these characters taxonomically useful for the identification of C. umbellata. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The anatomy of the aerial vegetative organs of Camonnea umbellata retains common Convolvulaceae characters. The sinuosity of the epidermal cell walls and the density of trichomes in the epidermis of the petiole were visually variable characters among the analyzed individuals. Amphistomatic leaves, tetracytic and brachyparatetracytic stomata, peltate trichomes, epidermis with striated cuticle ornamentation, dorsiventral mesophyll with border acute, presence of druses, secretory structures, angular collenchyma, fibrous pericycle in the stem, intraxillary phloem, presence of oil bodies in all organs, and epicuticular waxes of the crust type and coiled rods were considered important anatomical markers for the recognition and correct identification of Camonea umbellata.

Leaf and stem micromorphology of Jacquemontia evolvuloides (Moric.) Meisn. (Convolvulaceae) populations: New insights for taxonomic classification using light and scanning electron microscopy.

Morphoanatomical studies can provide useful and relevant information to support taxonomic groupings. Jacquemontia evolvuloides shows great morphological variability, which has led to numerous taxonomic classifications. To determine if anatomical characters can be used to recognize operational taxonomic units within populations of that species, we analyzed the leaves and stems of 22 populations using light and scanning electron microscopy. The variability of the analyzed characters allowed the grouping of these populations into five morphotypes. The presence of paracytic stomata, laticiferous canals, and stellate trichomes can be considered diagnostic characters of J. evolvuloides. The presence and types of epicuticular waxes, as well as a layer similar to palisade parenchyma in the petioles and stems, the classifications of glandular trichomes, and new types of stomata (anomocytic, anomotetracytic, and brachyparatetracytic) are reported here for the first time for Jacquemontia. The results discussed here help clarify the classification of this species complex and contribute to the taxonomy of Jacquemontia-a genus that has historically been difficult to define due to its wide morphological variation at the species level. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Seven types of epicuticular waxes were identified among J. evolvuloides specimens: granules, threads, entire platelets, coiled rodlets, fissured layers, membranous platelets, and tubules. Six types of trichomes were observed among J. evolvuloides populations: stellate, malpighiaceous, sessile peltate glandular, short pedunculate glandular, stipitate-glandular, and capitate glandular. We observed that six populations of Jacquemontia evolvuloides located in the Brazilian Caatinga domain have unprecedented sessile peltate trichomes restricted to the main leaf midrib, which were only observed under light microscopy.

Corrigendum: Ecophysiological Traits of Invasive C3 Species Calotropis procera to Maintain High Photosynthetic Performance Under High VPD and Low Soil Water Balance in Semi-Arid and Seacoast Zones.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00717.].

Ecophysiological Traits of Invasive C3 Species Calotropis procera to Maintain High Photosynthetic Performance Under High VPD and Low Soil Water Balance in Semi-Arid and Seacoast Zones.

The evergreen C3 plant Calotropis procera is native to arid environments. Thus, it grows under high vapor pressure deficit (VPD), intense light, and severe drought conditions. We measured several ecophysiological traits in C. procera plants growing in semi-arid and seacoast environments to assess the attributes that support its photosynthetic performance under these contrasting conditions. Gas exchange analysis, primary metabolism content, nutrients, the antioxidant system, and leaf anatomy traits were measured under field conditions. In the semi-arid environment, C. procera was exposed to a prolonged drought season with a negative soil water balance during the 2 years of the study. Calotropis procera plants were exposed to a positive soil water balance only in the rainy season in the seacoast environment. The leaves of C. procera showed the same photosynthetic rate under high or low VPD, even in dry seasons with a negative soil water balance. Photosynthetic pigments, leaf sugar content, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes were increased in both places in the dry season. However, the anatomical adjustments were contrasting: while, in the semi-arid environment, mesophyll thickness increased in the driest year, in the seacoast environment, the cuticle thickness and trichome density were increased. The ability to maintain photosynthetic performance through the seasons would be supported by new leaves with different morpho-anatomical traits, with contrasting changes between semi-arid and seacoast environments. Furthermore, our results suggest that an efficient antioxidative system and leaf sugar dynamics can contribute to protecting the photosynthetic machinery even under severe drought.

A threatened new species of Ipomoea (Convolvulaceae) from the Brazilian Cerrado revealed by morpho-anatomical analysis.

A new species of Ipomoea, endemic to the Cerrado domain in Maranhão, Brazil, is described. Ipomoea maranhensis D.Santos & Buril, sp. nov. has been misidentified as I. burchellii Meisn. in several herbaria. Even though both species have oblong, pubescent leaves, they can be distinguished by morpho-anatomical characters. We present a diagnosis, complete description, illustration, taxonomic comments, conservation status and distribution map.

Assessing the effects of water quality on leaf morphoanatomy, ultrastructure and photosynthetic pigment content of Salvinia auriculata Aubl. (Salviniaceae).

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of physical-chemical and biological variables of the water of the Capibaribe River (state of Pernambuco, Brazil) on leaf anatomy, including ultrastructure and photosynthetic pigment of Salvinia auriculata. Specimens of S. auriculata collected in the Gurjaú River, an area with a low pollution degree, were acclimatized in Hoagland's solution and then subjected to three water samples of the Capibaribe River with different levels of pollution. Twenty-one physical-chemical and biological variables were analyzed according to the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. The results showed that the samples of the Capibaribe River presented nine parameters that did not comply with the current Brazilian legislation. After 15 days of bioassay, S. auriculata presented variations in mesophyll and cuticle thickness, changes in trichome morphology and accumulation of phenolic compounds. No significant differences were observed for photosynthetic pigment content and leaf length of S. auriculata. Multivariate analyses (PCA and Cluster) showed that the point in the Capibaribe River with the highest number of variables that do not comply with the current legislation was responsible for major structural and chemical changes observed in S. auriculata.

Seasonal variability in physiological and anatomical traits contributes to invasion success of Prosopis juliflora in tropical dry forest.

We investigated whether there were consistent differences in the physiological and anatomical traits and phenotypic variability of an invasive (Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.) and native species (Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan) in response to seasonality in a tropical dry forest. The water potential, organic solutes, gas exchange, enzymes of the antioxidant system, products of oxidative stress and anatomical parameters were evaluated in both species in response to seasonality. An analysis of physiological responses indicated that the invasive P. juliflora exhibited higher response in net photosynthetic rate to that of the native species between seasons. Higher values of water potential of the invasive species than those of the native species in the dry season indicate a more efficient mechanism for water regulation in the invasive species. The invasive species exhibits a thicker cuticle and trichomes, which can reduce transpiration. In combination, the increased epidermal thickness and the decreased thickness of the parenchyma in the dry season may contribute to water saving. Our data suggest a higher variability in anatomical traits in the invasive species as a response to seasonality, whereas physiological traits did not present a clear pattern of response.

INDUÇÃO E HISTOLOGIA DE EMBRIÕES SOMÁTICOS PRIMÁRIOS E SECUNDÁRIOS DO HÍBRIDO Phalaenopsis CLASSIC SPOTTED PINK (ORQUIDACEAE) / Induction and Histology of Primary and Secondary Somatic Embryos of Phalaenopsis Hybrid Classic Spotted Pink (Orquidaceae) / Inducción e histología de embriones somáticos primarios y secundarios del híbrido Classic Spotted Pink (Orquidaceae)

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos induzir a formação de embriões somáticos in vitro no híbrido Phalaenopsis Classic Spotted Pink, utilizando diferentes meios nutritivos e avaliar a morfologia interna desses embriões por meio de análises histológicas e histoquímicas. Folhas jovens de plantas cultivadas in vitro foram utilizadas como explantes para indução de embriões somáticos em diferentes meios nutritivos: New Dogashima Medium, contendo ANA (0,537μM) e BAP (4,440μM), acrescido de phytagel e com pH 5,8 (NDM) e o Murashige & Skoog com a metade da concentração dos sais, acrescido de ANA (0,537μM) e TDZ (13,621μM), gelificado com gelrite e o pH 5,2 (½ MS). Embriões somáticos primários foram obtidos aos 90 dias de cultivo no meio ½MS e foram transferidos para o mesmo meio para obtenção de embriões secundários. Os embriões somáticos primários e secundários foram subcultivados para meio MS com metade da concentração de sais, sem fitoregulador submetidos a fotoperíodo de 16 horas, o qual estimulou a produção de clorofila tanto nos embriões primários como secundários, promovendo o desenvolvimento desses em protocormos e posteriormente em plantas. As análises histológicas demonstraram que os embriões somáticos foram formados diretamente das camadas epidérmicas dos explantes, sem passar pela fase de calo, caracterizando embriogênese somática direta. Os métodos histoquímicos utilizados possibilitaram evidenciar a deposição de amido e lipídeos nas células embriogênicas em decorrência de mecanismos fisiológicos, permitindo o desenvolvimento dos embriões primários e secundários em plantas. Portanto, o meio ½ MS acrescido de ANA (0,537μM) e TDZ (13,621μM), gelificado com gelrite e o pH 5,2 promoveu a obtenção de embriões primários e secundários com capacidade para regenerar plantas apresentando características morfológicas semelhantes a planta matriz.

The present work had as objectives to induce the formation of somatic embryos in vitro on Phalaenopsis hybrid Classic Spotted Pink, using different nutrient medium and assess the internal morphology of these embryos by means of histological and histochemical analysis. Young leaves of plants grown in vitro were used as explants for induction of somatic embryos in different nutrient medium: New Dogashima Medium, containing ANA (0.537 μM) and BAP (4.440 μM) plus phytagel and with pH 5.8 (NDM) and the Murashige & Skoog with half the concentration of salts, plus NNA (0.537 μM) and TDZ (13.621 μM), jellied with gelrite and pH 5.2 (0.5 MS). Primary somatic embryos were obtained to 90 days of cultivation in half MS and have been transferred to the same means for obtaining of secondary embryos. The primary and secondary somatic embryos were subcultived for MS with half the concentration of salts, without fitoregulator subjected to photoperiod of 16 hours, which stimulated the production of chlorophyll in primary embryos as secondary, promoting the development of those in protocorms and later in plants. The histological analysis showed that the somatic embryos were formed directly from the epidermal layers of the explants, without going through the phase of callus, featuring direct somatic embryogenesis. The histochemical methods used made it possible to highlight the deposition of starch and lipids in cells embriogenics as a result of physiological mechanisms, enabling the development of primary and secondary embryos in plants. Therefore, the medium 0.5 MS Plus ANA (0.537 μM) and TDZ (13.621 μM), jellied with gelrite and pH 5.2 promoted to obtain primary and secondary embryos with ability to regenerate plants showing morphological similar the mother plant.

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivos inducir la formación de embriones somáticos in vitro en el híbrido Phalaenopsis Classic Spotted Pink, utilizando diferentes medios nutritivos, y evaluar la morfología interna de estos embriones mediante análisis histológico e histoquímico. Hojas jóvenes de plantas cultivadas in vitro se utilizaron como explantes para la inducción de embriones somáticos en diferentes medios nutritivos: New Dogashima Medium, contenido de ANA (0.537 mM) y BAP (4.440 μM) además de phytagel y con pH 5.8 (NDM) y el Murashige Skoog con la mitad de la concentración de sales, además de ANA (0.537 μM) y TDZ (13.621 μM), gelificado gelrite y pH 5.2 (½ MS). Se obtuvieron embriones somáticos primarios a los 90 días de cultivo en el medio ½ MS y a estos se les transfirió al mismo medio (½ MS) para la obtención de embriones secundarios. Los embriones somáticos primarios y secundarios fueron subcultivados para MS con la mitad de la concentración de sales, sin reguladores de crecimiento y sometidos a fotoperiodo de 16 horas, lo que estimuló la producción de clorofila tanto en los embriones primarios como en los secundarios, promoviendo el desarrollo de los protocormos y más tarde en las plantas. Los análisis histológicos demostraron que los embriones somáticos fueron formados directamente en las capas epidérmicas de los explantes, sin pasar por la fase de callo, vía embriogénesis somática directa. Los métodos histoquímicos hicieron posible destacar la deposición de almidón y lípidos en las células embriogénicas como resultado de mecanismos fisiológicos, que permiten el desarrollo de los embriones primarios y secundarios en las plantas. Por lo tanto, el medio ½ MS contenido de ANA (0.537 μM) y TDZ (13.621 μM), con gelrite y pH 5.2 permitió obtener embriones primarios y secundarios con capacidad para regenerar plantas con caracteres morfológicos similares a los dela planta matriz.