Comparative Approach of Laticifer Architecture in Moraceae

• Grant number: 25/04677-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: October 06, 2025
• End date: April 05, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany
• Principal Investigator: Simone de Pádua Teixeira
• Grantee: Felipe Paulino Ramos
• Supervisor: Jurg Schonenberger
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of Vienna, Austria
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/04556-8 - Secretion dynamics of the latex in Moraceae species, BP.DD

Abstract

Laticifers are secretory structures responsible for latex production, widely present in species of the Moraceae family. The latex is a key component in plant defense mechanisms, by containing a range of chemical compounds that deter herbivores and parasites. The growth patterns and tri-dimensional distribution of laticifers, as well as the specific plant tissues in which they are present during their differentiation, remain poorly understood. Thus, this study will test different protocols that allow visualization of latex and, therefore, advance the understanding of the architecture and growth patterns of the laticifer in the inflorescences of four Moraceae species (Brosimum gaudichaudii Trécul., Castilla elastica Cerv., Dorstenia cayapia Vell., and Ficus citrifolia Mill.), using High-Resolution X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT). The CT examinations could enable for an innovative and non-destructive visualization of the tri-dimensional distribution and growth patterns of laticifers. These analyses will be further correlated with ecological factors to uncover potential adaptive strategies. The application of CT to study internal secretory structures represents a methodological breakthrough, with potential to advance plant anatomy studies and contribute to understanding plant-insect interactions. (AU)