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Lopes ADR, Lage Filho NM, do Rêgo AC, Domingues FN, da Silva TC, Faturi C, da Silva NC, da Silva WL. Effect of nitrogen fertilization and shading on morphogenesis, structure and leaf anatomy of Megathyrsus maximus genotypes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1411952. [PMID: 39104848 PMCID: PMC11298344 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1411952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
The use of exotic grasses of African origin for pastures in Brazil has been a major advancement in livestock production, but little is known about the responses of these grasses to nitrogen fertilizers associated with shading. In this study, the morphogenetic, structural, and leaf anatomical characteristics of Megathyrsus maximus cultivars' Tamani and Quênia were investigated as a function of N dose and shade. Morphogenetic and structural characteristics and leaf anatomy were studied under three shading levels (0, 30, and 50 %) and four N doses (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg N ha-1) to simulate growth in a silvopastoral system. When comparing the cultivars, Quênia was more efficient in terms of phyllochron up to fertilization with 100 kg N ha-1. The leaf senescence rate of Tamani was higher than that of Quênia at the 30 and 50 % shade levels. The total area (TA) occupied by leaf tissues decreased in Quênia as a function of the increase in N fertilization, whereas the TA of Tamani did not change. The thickness of the adaxial epidermis was greater in Quênia (0.68 µm) than in Tamani (0.50 µm) when not fertilized. The area occupied by the mesophyll was greater in both cultivars when they received fertilization equivalent to 300 kg N ha-1. Quênia grass has a smaller phyllochron than Tamani grass, due to the rapid reconstruction of its photosynthetic apparatus, especially when it receives higher levels of nitrogen fertilization. However, Tamani grass has a greater distribution of plant tissues. The mesophyll area is larger in Tamani grass due to the greater presence of chloroplasts, which facilitates digestion by animals. The Tamani modified the leaf anatomical tissues more significantly in relation to shading, whereas the Quênia modified them in relation to N fertilization, which reinforces the suggestion of a more appropriate use of Tamani in silvopastoral systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline da Rosa Lopes
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
| | - Nauara Moura Lage Filho
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Castanhal, Pará, Brazil
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Nogueira Domingues
- Institute of Agrarian Science, Federal University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Unaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Thiago Carvalho da Silva
- Institute of Health and Animal Production, Federal Rural University of Amazon, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Cristian Faturi
- Institute of Health and Animal Production, Federal Rural University of Amazon, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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Driesen E, De Proft M, Saeys W. Soil Moisture Levels Affect the Anatomy and Mechanical Properties of Basil Stems ( Ocimum basilicum L.). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10071320. [PMID: 34203566 PMCID: PMC8309113 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
As plants would benefit from adjusting and optimizing their architecture to changing environmental stimuli, ensuring a strong and healthy plant, it was hypothesized that different soil moisture levels would affect xylem and collenchyma development in basil (Ocimum basilicum L. cv. Marian) stems. Four different irrigation set-points (20, 30, 40 and 50% VWC), corresponding respectively to pF values of 1.95, 1.65, 1.30 and 1.15, were applied. Basil plants grown near the theoretical wilting point (pF 2) had a higher xylem vessel frequency and lower mean vessel diameter, promoting water transport under drought conditions. Cultivation at low soil moisture also impacted the formation of collenchyma in the apical stem segments, providing mechanical and structural support to these fast-growing stems and vascular tissues. The proportion of collenchyma area was significantly lower for the pF1.15 treatment (9.25 ± 3.24%) compared to the pF1.95 and pF1.30 treatments (16.04 ± 1.83% and 13.28 ± 1.38%, respectively). Higher fractions of collenchyma resulted in a higher mechanical stem strength against bending. Additionally, tracheids acted as the major support tissues in the basal stem segments. These results confirm that the available soil moisture impacts mechanical stem strength and overall plant quality of basil plants by impacting xylem and collenchyma development during cultivation, ensuring sufficient mechanical support to the fast-growing stem and to the protection of the vascular tissues. To our knowledge, this study is the first to compare the mechanical and anatomical characteristics of plant stems cultivated at different soil moisture levels.
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Schreel JDM, Leroux O, Goossens W, Brodersen C, Rubinstein A, Steppe K. Identifying the pathways for foliar water uptake in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.): a major role for trichomes. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 103:769-780. [PMID: 32279362 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Foliar water uptake (FWU), the direct uptake of water into leaves, is a global phenomenon, having been observed in an increasing number of plant species. Despite the growing recognition of its functional relevance, our understanding of how FWU occurs and which foliar surface structures are implicated, is limited. In the present study, fluorescent and ionic tracers, as well as microcomputed tomography, were used to assess potential pathways for water entry in leaves of beech, a widely distributed tree species from European temperate regions. Although none of the tracers entered the leaf through the stomatal pores, small amounts of silver precipitation were observed in some epidermal cells, indicating moderate cuticular uptake. Trichomes, however, were shown to absorb and redistribute considerable amounts of ionic and fluorescent tracers. Moreover, microcomputed tomography indicated that 72% of empty trichomes refilled during leaf surface wetting and microscopic investigations revealed that trichomes do not have a cuticle but are covered with a pectin-rich cell wall layer. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that foliar trichomes, which exhibit strong hygroscopic properties as a result of their structural and chemical design, constitute a major FWU pathway in beech.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen D M Schreel
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Olivier Leroux
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Willem Goossens
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Craig Brodersen
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Adriana Rubinstein
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Kathy Steppe
- Laboratory of Plant Ecology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
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