Calcium oxalate crystals in endothecium layer of Melastomataceae - a morphological marker with systematic implications in family

• Grant number: 13/08945-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Simone de Pádua Teixeira
• Grantee: Ana Paula de Souza Caetano
• Supervisor: Fabian Armando Michelangeli
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 10/15077-0 - Apomixis, sexuality, polyploidy and pollen viability in the Neotropical tribe Miconieae (Melastomataceae), BP.DR

Abstract

Calcium oxalate crystals are highly insoluble crystalline salt of oxalic acid and calcium, and occur in almost plant tissues. The morphology and spatial distribution of a crystal are conservative characters with a certain group, and can have taxonomic value, as seen in Melastomataceae. This family is recognized by lack of wall thickening in endothecial cells, the subepidermal layer of the anther. The crystals have been observed in this layer, a rare character in angiosperms. The aim of this work is to verify the presence of calcium oxalate crystals in endothecial cells in Melastomataceae species, discussing this character state evolution within the group, and its significance to elucidate taxonomic questions. Anthers from 147 species distributed in all tribes currently recognized will be sampled. Usual anatomy techniques will be employed to prepare histological slides. Preliminary results from 62 species already analyzed, indicate the taxonomic importance of this character state. From remaining 85 species, 39 will be processed and analyzed in Brazil and 46 during internship abroad in "New York Botanical Garden", where the results should be discussed with an expert in Melastomataceae systematic, Dr. Fabián A. Michelangeli. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CAETANO, ANA PAULA SOUZA; REGINATO, MARCELO; GOLDENBERG, RENATO; CORTEZ, PRISCILA ANDRESSA; BASSO-ALVES, JOAO PAULO; MICHELANGELI, FABIAN A.; CARMELLO-GUERREIRO, SANDRA MARIA; TEIXEIRA, SIMONE PADUA. Structure and evolution of polysporangiate anthers in Melastomataceae. PERSPECTIVES IN PLANT ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS, v. 46, OCT 2020. (11/02701-0, 10/15077-0, 13/08945-4)

SOUZA CAETANO, ANA PAULA; BASSO-ALVES, JOAO PAULO; CORTEZ, PRISCILA ANDRESSA; GARCIA DE BRITO, VINICIUS LOURENCO; MICHELANGELI, FABIAN ARMANDO; REGINATO, MARCELO; GOLDENBERG, RENATO; CARMELLO-GUERREIRO, SANDRA MARIA; TEIXEIRA, SIMONE PADUA. Evolution of the outer ovule integument and its systematic significance in Melastomataceae. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 186, n. 2, p. 224-246, FEB 2018. (10/15077-0, 08/10793-0, 13/08945-4)