Abstract
Abstract Eugenia luschnathiana (O.Berg) Klotzsch ex B.D.Jacks. (Myrtaceae) species, commonly known as pitomba-da-baía, occurs in Restinga region in the state of Ceara and has medicinal potential. The present study aimed to characterize the anatomy of E. luschnathiana leaves in the rainy and dry seasons, as well as in the sun and shade in the Restinga region of Ceara, aiming to generate useful information to understand the adaptive value of morphoanatomic responses to the natural conditions of occurrence of the species. Collections were performed at the State Botanical Park of Ceara, and leaves were completely expanded and fixed in FAA70, being replaced by 70% ethanol after 24 h. Samples were submitted to standard plant anatomy methodologies in order to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the leaf blade and petiole structures. As a result, there were differences among sun and shade leaves, rain and dry. In relation to luminosity, most determinations were higher in sun leaves: trichome density and frequency; trichome scar frequency; stomatal frequency, stomatal index, length, width and area of stomata; thickness of leaf blade, mesophyll, cuticle, epidermis, palisade and spongy parenchyma; length and width of the central vein, area of the central vein vascular bundle, number of secretory cavities in the central vein; length and width of the petiole, area of the petiole vascular bundle; amount and area of secretory cavities in the petiole. In shade leaves, only the number of druses in the central vein and petiole were larger. Regarding seasonality, all determinations were higher in the rainy season, except for the length and width of the central vein; number of druses in the central vein and petiole; length of the petiole, area of the vascular bundle and secretory cavities of the petiole. Therefore, it could be concluded that E. luschnathiana has great acclimative capacity to conditions of intense luminosity and periods of water deficit.
Highlights
Myrtaceae is a widely studied species due to its chemical characteristics of medicinal potential and to the presence of secondary metabolites (ALVARENDA et al, 2015; OLIVEIRA et al, 2016b; SIMONETTI et al, 2016)
Qualitative analyses The adaxial face of the epidermis of E. luschnathiana sun leaves presented cells with straight anticlinal walls (Figures 1A and 1C), while shade leaves were slightly sinuous in the rainy season (Figure 1B) and markedly sinuous in the dry season (Figure 1D)
As for the coating system, some similarities can be observed with studies carried out with other Eugenia L. species such as presence of thick cuticle, hypoestomatic leaf (DEFAVERI et al, 2011; DONATO; MORRETES, 2009; ESPOSITO-POLESI et al, 2011; DIAS et al, 2012; SÁ et al, 2016), unicellular tectorial trichomes, presence of trichome scars (DEFAVERI et al, 2011; DONATO; MORRETES, 2009; ESPOSITO-POLESI et al, 2011) and occurrence of epidermal cells of secretory structure surrounded by cells arranged in a radiated form (DEFAVERI et al, 2011; DONATO; MORRETES, 2009; DIAS et al, 2012; SÁ et al, 2016)
Summary
Myrtaceae is a widely studied species due to its chemical characteristics of medicinal potential and to the presence of secondary metabolites (ALVARENDA et al, 2015; OLIVEIRA et al, 2016b; SIMONETTI et al, 2016). The great diversity of this family is reflected in the Restinga regions of Brazil (LOURENÇO; BARBOSA, 2012), being well representative in São Gonçalo do Amarante, Ceara (CASTRO et al, 2012). E. luschnathiana has great pharmacological value because it has phenolic compounds and anthocyanins of important dietary antioxidant effect (REYNERTSON et al, 2008). It is a native fruit of Brazil and can be found in the nature as shrubs or small trees, differing of the other Eugenia species because its leaves have primary venation adaxially concave, raceme with indefinite primary axis finished in vegetative branch, pyloric stem disc, hairy stylet and globoid to subgloboid fruits (AMORIM; ALVES, 2012).
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