Fruit development of two species of Aizoaceae (Caryophyllales)

• Grant number: 11/22965-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2012
• End date: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Gladys Flávia de Albuquerque Melo de Pinna
• Grantee: Ariane Lazarini
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 12/09815-4 - Ovarian transmitting tissue: an ultrastructural and histochemical analysis in Lithops pseudotruncatella (Bgr) N.E.Br. (Aizoaceae), BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Aizoaceae is one of the main families of Caryophyllales and is majorly found in South Africa. Its monopoly is well supported, however, there is unclear when it comes to the internal relations. Four subfamilies are currently recognized, although there is no consensus regarding the use of this classification: Aizooideae, Sesuvioideae, Ruschioideae, and Mesembryanthemoideae. The two last ones comprise most of the species, leading some authors to defend the idea of a separate family that would include the members of these two subfamilies: Mesembryanthemaceae. The reproductive structures are important sources of relevant characters for the construction of phylogenies. In Aizoaceae the fruit's morphological structure has been widely used, nevertheless, little is known about the anatomy and ontogenesis of the reproductive structures. Therefore, two species of Aizoaceae were selected taking the floral and fruit morphological diversity (Mesembryanthemum tortuosum L. and Dorotheanthus bellidiformis (Burm.f.) N.E.Br.), and will be made analysis in optic microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This study will provide new anatomical homologies that may be used in future studies about these characters' evolution in the group.(AU)