RESUMO
Trichomes are common in plants from dry environments, and despite their recognized role in protection and defense, little is known about their role as absorptive structures and in other aspects of leaf ecophysiology. We combine anatomical and ecophysiological data to evaluate how trichomes affect leaf gas exchange and water balance during drought. We studied two congeneric species with pubescent leaves which co-occur in Brazilian Caatinga: Croton blanchetianus (dense trichomes) and Croton adenocalyx (sparse trichomes). We found a novel foliar water uptake (FWU) pathway in C. blanchetianus composed of stellate trichomes and underlying epidermal cells and sclereids that interconnect the trichomes from both leaf surfaces. The water absorbed by these trichomes is redistributed laterally by pectin protuberances on mesophyll cell walls. This mechanism enables C. blanchetianus leaves to absorb water more efficiently than C. adenocalyx. Consequently, the exposure of C. blanchetianus to dew during drought improved its leaf gas exchange and water status more than C. adenocalyx. C. blanchetianus trichomes also increase their leaf capacity to reflect light and maintain lower temperatures during drought. Our results emphasize the multiple roles that trichomes might have on plant functioning and the importance of FWU for the ecophysiology of Caatinga plants during drought.
Assuntos
Croton , Tricomas/metabolismo , Folhas de Planta/metabolismo , Células do Mesofilo , Água/metabolismoRESUMO
A polysaccharide was extracted from the roots of Pombalia calceolaria, a plant used in folk medicine in Northeastern Brazil, by decoction followed by precipitation with methanol, yielding a concentration of 13.0% w/w, and purification with acetone. The molar mass peak was estimated to be 4.0×10(3)Da using gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Polarized light photomicrography of histological sections revealed the presence of inulin in the cortical parenchyma. The chemical composition of inulin was identified by 1D and 2D NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy and the findings were compared with the literature. This is the first time inulin has been identified on FT-IR and NMR for the species Pombalia calceolaria.