Resumo: Estudos de germinação de sementes em espécies de Eugenia após fracionamento de embriões demonstraram que as células dos cotilédones têm grande capacidade de desdiferenciação e consequente produção de raízes. No entanto, não há informações sobre a origem dessas novas raízes. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar anatomicamente as regiões dos cotilédones de sementes de cinco espécies de Eugenia para elucidar o tecido que origina tais raízes. As sementes foram seccionadas na região do hilo e imediatamente colocadas para germinar. Assim que as frações desenvolveram raízes, elas foram fixadas e processadas com as técnicas usuais de microscopia de luz. As raízes adventícias originaram-se apenas quando a semente foi fracionada, nunca ocorrendo espontaneamente em sementes não danificadas. Raízes adventícias foram formadas a partir de células do parênquima perivascular, localizadas próximas à região lesada dos cotilédones. Essas células se dividiram periclinalmente e proliferaram, dando origem a um meristema radicular. Dessa forma, as novas mudas provavelmente têm genoma diferente da planta mãe, mas seriam idênticas ao embrião resultante da fecundação.

Abstract: Studies on seed germination in Eugenia species after embryo fractionation have demonstrated that cotyledon cells have capacity for de-differentiation and consequent production of roots. However, there is no information about the origin of those new roots. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize anatomically the cotyledon regions of seeds of five species of Eugenia to elucidate the tissue that originates such roots. Seeds were sectioned across the hillum region and immediately placed to germinate. As soon as the fractions of these cut seeds develop roots they were fixed and processed to the usual techniques for light microscopy. The adventitious roots originated only when the seed was fractioned, never occurring spontaneously in uninjured seeds. Adventitious roots were formed from perivascular parenchyma cells, located close to the injured region of the cotyledons. These cells divided periclinally and proliferated, giving rise to a root meristem. Therefore, new seedlings probably have a different genome than the mother plant, but they would be identical to the embryo that was a result of fertilization.

ABSTRACT Glandular trichomes are epidermal structures that produce, store and release a variety of chemical compounds. Their high morphological diversity allows their taxonomic use at various levels. Therefore, their description and standardization of terminology become challenging. Cannabaceae is a well known family of Urticalean Rosids because of the presence of cannabinoid-secreting trichomes in Cannabis sativa. Other Urticalean Rosid families (Moraceae, Ulmaceae and Urticaceae) are neglected in this regard. Thus, the morphology and distribution of glandular trichomes were studied in Cannabaceae and Ulmaceae species and compared with published data for Moraceae and Urticaceae. Surface and anatomical analyses were performed on vegetative and floral organs. Urticalean Rosids show at least 15 types of glandular trichomes, 12 of them capitate and three filiform. In particular, Trema micrantha, a Cannabaceae species, has six different types. A trichome with biseriate stalk and pluricellular head, found in Trema micrantha and Pteroceltis tatarinowii, was not previously reported. Glandular trichomes are widely distributed in the plant body, which may be related to protection against herbivory. The greatest difficulty was the large quantity of terms and the lack of morphological details of the glandular trichomes in previous studies. A standardization of the terminology of glandular trichomes was therefore proposed.

ABSTRACT In 2019, the atmospheric CO2 concentration exceeded the 415 ppm milestone for the first time in the human history. According to projections of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), CO2 levels will continue to rise in the future, potentially affecting all living organisms. Plants with C3 metabolism may benefit from rising CO2 levels because the significant losses of photosynthesis, driven by photorespiration could be diminished under this scenario. This study addressed the anatomical changes in the stems of young Eucalyptus urophylla plants induced through cultivation in elevated CO2 (eCO2). Plants cultivated under eCO2 showed increased stem diameter (i.e., radial width of the secondary xylem, secondary phloem and cortex tissues). Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)/Toluidine Blue staining suggested a decrease in the lignification content in the newly formed tissues of eCO2 stimulated plants. Levels of caffeate/5-hydroxyferulate O-methyltransferase form 1 (COMT1), a lignin biosynthesis specific proteoform, were significantly reduced in stem sections, supporting our findings: eCO2 induces plant growth, but reduces lignified tissues.

ABSTRACT Floral secretory structures are usually associated with the attraction of pollinators, but may also play an important role in the mechanisms of plant protection. This study aimed to show the diversity of secretory structures present in the developing flowers of 15 legume species belonging to different clades and to associate them with functions other than the pollinator attraction. Buds, flowers and developing axis of inflorescence were processed for surface, histological, and ultrastructural analyses. The species investigated displayed a wide diversity of secretory structures in developing flowers such as phenolic cells and/or tissues, mucilaginous cells, secretory cavities, secretory trichomes and colleters. Each type of secretory structure exhibited variation in morphology and location in the flower and/or axis of inflorescence depending on the species. Special mucilage cells, secretory cavities, secretory trichomes and colleters have great potential for comparative morphological studies due to their diversity of forms or restricted occurrence to certain taxa, contributing to a more robust morphological data base for the new clades emerging in Leguminosae. The scarcity of reports about floral secretory structures of Leguminosae seems to be more related to deficient sampling than to the absence of such structures in the group, which highlights the need for further investigation.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to obtain new information about the distribution, morphology and content of secretory trichomes present in the vegetative and reproductive organs of four species of Moraceae: Artocarpus heterophyllus, Dorstenia cayapia, Maclura tinctoria and Sorocea bonplandii. Stem, leaf, flower and inflorescence samples were processed for scanning electron and light microscopy. The species have secretory trichomes on the leaf blade, petiole and stem and also on the inflorescence and flowers of D. cayapia and S. bonplandii and on the peduncle of the inflorescence in A. heterophyllus. These trichomes are of the capitate type in all species, but A. heterophyllus also possess peltate secretory trichomes. Both trichome types exhibit a multicellular head and a unicellular peduncle. Peduncle size and head cell number varies according to species. Peltate trichomes located in depressions were found only in species of Artocarpus, and so should be of diagnostic value for the genus. In all species the trichomes secrete polysaccharides, alkaloids and lipids; phenolic compounds occur in A. heterophyllus and M. tinctoria trichomes. These trichomes probably act in the protection against herbivores, pathogens, desiccation and/ or UV radiation. Moreover, the trichomes found in the inflorescence of D. cayapia may exert a function in pollen grain adhesion.