Abstract
BackgroundDrimys brasiliensis Miers is native to Brazil, where it is mainly found in montane forests and flooded areas in the South and Southeast regions of the country. The objectives of the present study were to compare the leaf anatomy and the chemical constitution of the essential oils from D. brasiliensis present in two altitude levels (1900 and 2100 m), in a Montane Cloud Forest, in Itamonte, MG, Brazil.ResultsA higher number of sclereids was observed in the mesophyll of the leaves at 1900 m altitude. At 2100 m, the formation of papillae was observed on the abaxial surface of the leaves, as well as an increase in the stomatal density and index, a reduction in leaf tissue thickness, an increase in the abundance of intercellular spaces in the mesophyll and an increase in stomatal conductance and in carbon accumulation in the leaves. Fifty-nine constituents have been identified in the oils, with the predominance of sesquiterpenes. Two trends could be inferred for the species in relation to its secondary metabolism and the altitude. The biosyntheses of sesquiterpene alcohols at 1900 m, and phenylpropanoids and epi-cyclocolorenone at 2100 m, were favored.ConclusionsD. brasiliensis presented a high phenotypic plasticity at the altitude levels studied. In relation to its leaf anatomy, the species showed adaptive characteristics, which can maximize the absorption of CO2 at 2100 m altitude, where a reduction in the partial pressure of this atmospheric gas occurs. Its essential oils presented promising compounds for the future evaluation of biological potentialities.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40529-014-0041-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Drimys brasiliensis Miers is native to Brazil, where it is mainly found in montane forests and flooded areas in the South and Southeast regions of the country
Morpho-anatomical properties of D. brasiliensis leaves In the cross section, D. brasiliensis leaves presented a uniseriate epidermis, externally coated by a cuticle, whose thickness ranged according to the altitude, and a dorsiventral mesophyll, with a palisade parenchyma in which there were three cell layers, and a spongy parenchyma with six to eight layers (Figure 1a, b)
The stomata found were of the paracitic type and were present only on the abaxial surface of D. brasiliensis leaves; these were classified as hypostomatal, which is in accordance with the descriptions for the representatives of the Winteraceae family (Feild et al 1998; Feild et al 2000)
Summary
Drimys brasiliensis Miers is native to Brazil, where it is mainly found in montane forests and flooded areas in the South and Southeast regions of the country. The Mantiqueira Mountains are a part of the Atlantic Forest domain in Brazil, in which altitudinal forests are located, and can be classified as Cloud Forests, since they are practically covered by fog during most of the year These forests represent biodiverse and endemic unique ecosystems, which are generally fragmented and threatened, and present a vegetation which is not well studied yet (Aldrich et al 1997; Bertoncello et al 2011). It is native to Brazil, where it is popularly known as cataia or casca-d’anta and it is mainly found in montane forests and flooded areas in the South and Southeast regions of the country (Lorenzi and Matos 2008; Souza and Lorenzi 2008). In altitudinal forests, atmospheric pressure, temperature, radiation, humidity and wind speed are some of the factors that suffer alterations with the increase in the altitudinal gradient and directly influence vegetation (Körner 2007)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
