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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2007; 9(4): 469-477
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-955917
Research Paper

Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart KG · New York

The Pulvinus Endodermal Cells and their Relation to Leaf Movement in Legumes of the Brazilian Cerrado[*]

T. M. Rodrigues1 , S. R. Machado1
  • 1Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica, UNESP, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus de Botucatu, Caixa Postal 510, CEP 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil
Further Information

Publication History

Received: April 5, 2006

Accepted: October 12, 2006

Publication Date:
15 February 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Legume pulvini have a clearly delimited endodermis, whose variable content has been associated with the velocity and type of leaf movement: pulvini in leaves with fast nastic movement contain starch grains; pulvini in leaves with slow nastic movements have calcium oxalate crystals as well as starch grains in the endodermis. However, the studies carried out to date have involved few legume species. This study therefore purported to examine the consistency of this hypothesis in other legumes. Thus, the structure and content of the pulvinus endodermal cells of nine legumes of the Brazilian cerrado, with different types and velocities of leaf movement, were investigated: slow nyctinastic and heliotropic movements (Bauhinia rufa, Copaifera langsdorffii, Senna rugosa - Caesalpinioideae; Andira humilis and Dalbergia miscolobium - Faboideae; Stryphnodendron polyphyllum - Mimosoideae), slow heliotropic movement (Zornia diphylla - Faboideae), and fast seismonastic and slow nyctinastic and heliotropic movements (Mimosa rixosa and Mimosa flexuosa - Mimosoideae). Samples were prepared following standard plant anatomy and ultrastructure techniques. The endodermis of all the species contains starch grains. In the species displaying only slow movements, calcium oxalate prismatic crystals were observed in addition to starch grains, except in Zornia diphylla. In conclusion, oxalate crystals occur only in endodermal cells of pulvini that display slow movements, while starch grains are always present in pulvinus endodermal cells of plants with any kind of movement.

Key words

Crystals - endodermis - gravity - leaf movements - pulvinus - starch grains - structure

1 Part of T. M. Rodrigues' Master's thesis in connection with the Post-graduate Program in Biological Sciences (Botany) of the Institute of Biosciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

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1 Part of T. M. Rodrigues' Master's thesis in connection with the Post-graduate Program in Biological Sciences (Botany) of the Institute of Biosciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

S. R. Machado

Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Botânica
UNESP, Universidade Estadual Paulista
Campus de Botucatu

Caixa Postal 510

CEP 18618-000, Botucatu, SP

Brazil

Email: smachado@ibb.unesp.br

Editor: F. R. Scarano

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