LEAF ANATOMY OF SENNA CANA (FABACEAE) IN A SEASONALLY DRY TROPICAL FOREST

Lucas Da Penha Xavier,Emilia Cristina Pereira De Arruda

doi:10.1590/1983-21252021v34n116rc

Lucas Da Penha Xavier, Emilia Cristina Pereira De Arruda

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-21252021v34n116rc

Copy DOI

Journal: Revista Caatinga	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2021
Citations: 2	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Abstract

ABSTRACT In seasonally dry tropical forests such as the Brazilian Caatinga, factors such as soil type and luminosity are known to cause changes in foliar tissues that enable the survival of species in such places. The present study aimed to describe the leaf morphoanatomy of Senna cana and to observe the plasticity in leaf tissues receiving both direct and indirect light radiation. The study was carried out in the Catimbau National Park in Buíque, PE, Brazil. Mature leaf samples were collected from under full sunlight and full shade in three areas with soils of different colors. Histological slides were prepared for visualization of epidermal faces, internal leaf structure, and histochemical tests. Plasticity was noted in the type of trichome that covered the epidermal faces, and in the number of layers of the palisade and spongy parenchymas, even under the indirect effect of radiation. Phenolic compounds and lipids also showed plasticity. These results demonstrate that Senna cana is a species with high plasticity for the luminosity factor. Further, it was noticed that indirect light also promotes anatomical changes and should be considered in future analyses.

Highlights

The Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest, known as the Caatinga, is the only phytogeographic domain of Brazil that falls entirely within the limits of the national territory (QUESADA et al, 2009; SANTOS et al, 2011)
Most of the Caatinga is located in the northeast portion, with a dominance of crystalline rocks that were elevated by tectonic events that occurred during the tertiary period, and that originated the inselbergsthrough erosive processes (LOPES-SILVA et al, 2019)
This study aimed to characterize the foliar morphoanatomy of individuals of Senna cana (Fabaceae) present in the Caatinga, and to identify plastic anatomical variations related to the color of thesoil in which these plants were established as well as the degree of light incident on the leaves

Summary

Introduction

The Brazilian seasonally dry tropical forest, known as the Caatinga, is the only phytogeographic domain of Brazil that falls entirely within the limits of the national territory (QUESADA et al, 2009; SANTOS et al, 2011). The area was approximately 844,453 km (IBGE, 2004), which borders the Cerrado, Amazonian, and Atlantic Forest, which favors different ecotones (QUESADA et al, 2009; SANTOS et al, 2011). Araújo-Filho et al (2017) reported that Caatinga’s soils are shallow and rocky outcroppings are frequent and show different colors related to its chemical and physicochemicalproperties. According to Prado (2003), pediments covered by rocks, and rocky outcroppings called "lajedos" are typical, and latosols originating from the action of climate on the parent rock occur frequently. The geological formation process of the Caatinga resulted in varied and patchily distributed soils (SANTOS et al, 2013), which have influenced the vegetation. Latosols and nearby sandy soils can contain the same plant species with different-sized individuals (PRADO, 2003)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion