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Leaf ontogeny of Schinus molle L. plants under cadmium contamination: the meristematic origin of leaf structural changes

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Abstract

Previous works show the development of thicker leaves on tolerant plants growing under cadmium (Cd2+) contamination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Cd2+ effects on the leaf meristems of the tolerant species Schinus molle. Plants were grown in nutrient solution containing 0, 10, and 50 μM of Cd2+. Anatomical analysis was performed on leaf primordia sampled at regular time intervals. Under the lowest Cd2+ level (10 μM), increased ground meristem thickness, diameter of the cells, cell elongation rate, and leaf dry mass were found. However, 50 μM of Cd2+ reduced all these variables. In addition, the ground meristem cells became larger when exposed to any Cd2+ level. The epidermis, palisade parenchyma, and vascular tissues developed earlier in Cd2+-exposed leaves. The modifications found on the ground meristem may be related to the development of thicker leaves on S. molle plants exposed to low Cd2+ levels. Furthermore, older leaves showed higher Cd2+ content when compared to the younger ones, preventing the Cd2+ toxicity to these leaves. Thus, low Cd2+ concentrations change the ground meristem structure and function reflecting on the development of thicker and enhanced leaves.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq [National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development]), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES [Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel]), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG [Minas Gerais State Research Foundation]) for funding and research grants awarded to complete the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica Aplicada, Universidade Federal de Lavras, UFLA, Lavras, Minas Gerais, 37200-000, Brazil

    Marcio Paulo Pereira, Felipe Fogaroli Corrêa, Evaristo Mauro de Castro & Jean Paulo Vitor de Oliveira

  2. Instituto de Ciências da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Unifal, Campus Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, CEP 37130-000, Brazil

    Fabricio José Pereira

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  1. Marcio Paulo Pereira
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  2. Felipe Fogaroli Corrêa
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  3. Evaristo Mauro de Castro
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  4. Jean Paulo Vitor de Oliveira
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  5. Fabricio José Pereira
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Correspondence to Fabricio José Pereira.

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Handling Editor: Bhumi Nath Tripathi

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Pereira, M.P., Corrêa, F.F., de Castro, E.M. et al. Leaf ontogeny of Schinus molle L. plants under cadmium contamination: the meristematic origin of leaf structural changes. Protoplasma 254, 2117–2126 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-017-1103-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-017-1103-2

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