Study of the floral variations and inflorescence in Phyllanthaceae, Picrodendraceae, Putranjivaceae and Euphorbiaceae: anatomy and development

• Grant number: 13/10518-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Plant Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Diego Demarco
• Grantee: Thália Do Socorro Serra Gama
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Euphorbiaceae s.l. are distributed along the most different types of vegetation and habitats, being one of the largest and most complex and diversified families of Angiosperms. Its classification, during a long time, was discussed among several authors and nowadays the phylogenetic analysis have confirmed its polyphyletic position, supporting the circumscription in five distinct families: Phyllanthaceae, Picrodendraceae, Putranjivaceae, Pandaceae and Euphorbiaceae s.s.. Although these families have been segregated, they are still strictly related to each other, especially when it comes to the floral structure. Considering the evolutionary changes, the aim of this research is to analyze the different degrees of floral variation, with emphasis on the meristems activity (division patterns, expansion and cell differentiation) allied to the ontogenetic factors (differences on the floral primordia formation), in order to understand the floral evolution in the groups and the adaptation processes along with the evolutionary changes. Allied to this diversity, there is the importance of secretory structures on maintaining the reward to the pollinator and, therefore, the aim of this research is complemented with the morpho-anatomical study of these structures and histochemical analysis of their exudates. Flower buds and flowers in several stages of development will be collected, fixed, dehydrated in alcohol series, embedded in paraffin, sectioned on a rotary microtome and the blades will be stained, besides the analysis in SEM, confocal microscopy and TEM to support the floral ontogeny and nectariferous tissue investigation. The morpho-anatomical knowledge of reproductive organs, secretory structures and floral development provides subsidies for understanding the evolution of plant groups, including the phylogenetic relationships among them.

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)

GAMA, THALIA S. S.; CORDEIRO, INES; DEMARCO, DIEGO. FLORAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT REVEAL PRESENCE OF PETALS IN PHYLLANTHUS L. (PHYLLANTHACEAE). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES, v. 177, n. 9, p. 749-759, NOV-DEC 2016. (13/10518-7)

SERRA GAMA, THALIA DO SOCORRO; CORDEIRO, INES; DEMARCO, DIEGO. Floral structure and development in Alchornea sidifolia (Acalyphoideae) and the evolution of wind pollination in Euphorbiaceae. Rev. bras. Bot., v. 42, n. 2, p. 307-317, JUN 2019. (13/10518-7)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

GAMA, Thália Do Socorro Serra. Floral anatomy and development of species of Phyllanthaceae, Picrodendraceae, Euphorbiaceae and Pandaceae. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB) São Paulo.