Abstract
Resprouting is a functional trait in species which occur in fire-prone ecosystems. These plants can resprout from aerial buds and by recruiting belowground bud bank using carbohydrates allocated in roots as resource. In this study, we present morpho-anatomical features and chemical composition related to the resprouting potential of two species of Eugenia L. in an area of the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) under regeneration, after the clear-cutting of Pinus sp. with the later burning of pine needles layer. We used standard histological techniques for belowground organs analysis and aerial buds protection degree. Belowground buds in layer from soil surface down to 10 depth were counted and the chemical analyses were performed on roots. In all aerial buds, there were relevant protection traits. The belowground organ is a sobole and the number of buds in its upper portion varied from 24 to 517 between individuals of both species. Phenolic compounds, flavonoids, starch and other carbohydrates were detected in roots. The protection of aerial buds, the large number of belowground buds and the storing and protective compounds may have favored the resprouting of the species in the area.
Highlights
The ability of resprouting in response to environmental disturbances is currently recognized as a key functional trait among woody species and as basis of resilience of these plants in the environment
Due the lack of information of Brazilian Myrtaceae species regarding its adaptive aspects, mainly in the Cerrado, we evaluated morpho-anatomical traits and chemical composition related to buds protection and resprouting potential of two species of the genus Eugenia L. – Eugenia dysenterica (Mart.) DC. and E. punicifolia (Kunth)
The shoot apical meristem (SAM) is protected by leaf primordia with many unicellular non-glandular trichomes that occur in young stem extension around the buds (Figs. 1a-k)
Summary
The ability of resprouting in response to environmental disturbances is currently recognized as a key functional trait among woody species and as basis of resilience of these plants in the environment This ability is determined by the development, protection degree and viability of a bud bank (Clarke et al 2013), which refers to buds in both aerial and belowground systems (Klimešová & Klimeš 2007). Especially in woody plants, aerial buds require greater protection (Charles-Dominique et al 2015), which can be conferred, for example, by a thick bark (Burrows & Chisnall 2016), even though this is not an autonomous attribute (Charles-Dominique et al 2015). These buds have any of these protection traits: An Acad Bras Cienc (2020) 92(1)
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