Introduction

Dracaena draco (Asparagaceae), a monocotyledonous dragon tree, is a vulnerable species (IUCN 2019) with very rare wild populations limited to the Canaries, Morocco, Cape Verde and Madeira (Marrero et al. 1998; Marrero and Almeida-Perez 2012). Studies regarding the structure of this plant date back the turn of the 19th and twentieth centuries (Scott and Brebner 1893; Cheadle 1937; Tomlinson and Zimmermann 1969) and have recently attracted the attention of scientists once again. New information has been gathered on the micromorphology and anatomy of its leaves (Klimko and Wiland-Szymańska 2008; Nadezhdina et al. 2015; Klimko et al 2018), leaf contribution to water collection (Nadezhdina and Nadezhdin 2017), intricacies of the stem vascular system (Carlquist 2012; Jura-Morawiec and Wiland-Szymańska 2014; Jura-Morawiec 2015, 2017) and secretion of a red resin named dragon's blood (Jura-Morawiec and Tulik 2015, 2016). Despite the progressive research, our current knowledge in the anatomy and physiology of D. draco (and other monocot tree species) is still very limited compared to dicot woody species. Deeper understanding of the specific physiological mechanisms exploited by D. draco is necessary for developing a rescue plan ensuring continuous existence of this species.

Exposure of D. draco to stress conditions can cause the formation of aerial roots (AR) that typically emerge from the stem and/or branches (Byström 1960; Krawczyszyn and Krawczyszyn 2014). As a result, the shape of this monocot tree changes considerably (Fig. 1). Despite the striking appearance of these structures, physiological functions and significance of AR for D. draco vigour are completely unclear. Water deficiency in the soil (Lyons 1974) as well as wounding of stem or branches (Krawczyszyn and Krawczyszyn 2014) seem to promote their formation. Assumptions about the role of AR in D. draco are based mainly on morphological observations that allowed to distinguish two major types of AR. Massive AR are considered to play a mechanical role by adding to the girth of the stem (Krawczyszyn and Krawczyszyn 2014). In contrast, small and thin AR are associated with certain modifications of the plant body, such as fewer and shorter leaves or shorter branches, and these are considered to be involved in the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere (Lyons 1974). In agreement, seasonal observations of AR development in D. draco revealed that these organs undergo periodic elongation with the maximum extension growth during the months with the greatest rainfall totals (Jura-Morawiec 2019).

Fig. 1
figure 1

D. draco AR at Jardín Botánico Canario "Viera y Clavijo" on Gran Canaria. a Characteristic clusters of AR within the crown marked with arrows. b Possible modification in shape of the plant stem associated with AR appearance, it is shorter and thinner towards the apex. c D. draco subsp. caboverdeana with the huge number of AR formed by the branches, stem and underground root system (arrow)

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The structure of AR of D. draco remains poorly described which precludes deciphering their functional roles. Apart from the recent statements by Krawczyszyn and Krawczyszyn (2014) that these AR contain chloroplasts behind the thick layer of cork and possess secondary tissue similar in structure to those of the stem, there is no information in this field. We aimed to investigate the structural organization of AR, during their active and dormant state, relative to the structural organization of the soil roots in D. draco. Also, we discuss the anatomical findings in the context of AR putative functions.

Materials and Methods

Plant Material and Sampling

The AR samples were obtained from the collection of D. draco growing at Jardín Botánico Canario "Viera y Clavijo" on Gran Canaria where dragon trees grow in their natural vegetation belt (the thermo-sclerophyllous forest). The material was collected during four stays on Gran Canaria (XI 2017, I/II, V, VIII 2018), i.e. during the dry and wet seasons. The AR were obtained from the crowns, stem and from the surface of the ground. In each case, the AR were of the 1st or 2nd order (with a mean diameter of 1–2.5 cm in the region of insertion to the branch, stem or root), and all were positively gravitropic. Comparative anatomical studies were carried out with the underground root system of two D. draco plants (unbranched stem; 1.3 m in height) obtained from the commercial nursery. Based on the position and morphology, the following soil root categories were distinguished: (i) stem-borne, thick (~ 3.5–5 cm in diameter), adventitious roots with above and below ground root parts, (ii) their laterals (lateral roots) ~ 2–2.5 cm in diameter, and (iii) a net of fine roots.

Sample Preparation and Microscopy

The AR were sectioned transversely by hand into successive pieces at known distances from the root tip, in order to track changes in the root structure during maturation. To analyse the anatomical structure of the AR and soil roots, we produced hand-cut sections and permanent preparations. Some of the samples were subdivided into smaller blocks, fixed in FAA and embedded in Epon resin, as described by Meek (1976). The embedded material was cut transversely with a Leica 480A ultramicrotome into sections 3.5 µm thick and attached to slides with Haupt’s adhesive. Next, slides with attached sections were stained with PAS (Periodic Acid - Schiff) and toluidine blue for general histology and mounted in Euparal (Roth, Germany). Other thin sections were treated with a 0.02% (w/v) aqueous solution of ruthenium red for pectins. Large samples (ca. 1.5 cm × 2.5 cm × 3 cm) were cut transversely and longitudinally with a core microtome (WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland) stained with safranin O, dehydrated with ethanol series (50–100%) and mounted in Euparal.

The sections stained with PAS and safranin O were examined under transmitted light using an Olympus BX41 microscope equipped with a Canon EOS 70D camera. The unstained, thin sections were examined under UV light with LED fluorescent microscope Zeiss Axio.Lab1. Some of the samples fixed in FAA and stored in ethanol were examined using the FEI Quanta 200 ESEM scanning electron microscope with the EDS EDAX analyzer. Observations and photos were taken in low vacuum mode (up to 1Tr). The proportion of secondary tissue was calculated as a ratio of cross-sectional area occupied by a cylinder containing amphivasal vascular bundles to area of the whole AR cross-section, based on the measurements made with OptaView 7 (Opta-Tech, Poland).

Results

The D. draco AR formed long-lived clusters overhanging from the branches and stems or grew from the underground root system and then appeared on the surface of the ground (Fig. 1). Irrespective their location within plant body, AR showed a similar general tissue pattern and organization i.e. the rhizodermis, beneath which occurred the cortex (comprising hypodermis, cortical parenchyma and endodermis) enclosing the stele. The stele consisted of a pericycle, xylem and phloem with an exarch arrangement and a parenchymatous pith (Fig. 2a–d).

Fig. 2
figure 2

Structural details of the AR in the active and dormant state. a General view of the representative AR with visible thinner, new part produced during the current year and thicker, older part formed in a previous season; positions of the sections c–d were marked with dashed lines. b SEM view of an active tip, note the cracks (marked with arrows) on its surface. c–d Transverse sections of the newly formed AR part and that formed in a previous year. e–g Transverse sections showing successive stages in the development of protective tissues; position of rhizodermis on e is marked with an arrow, hypodermis along the AR as viewed using UV light is shown in f–g, with patchy appearance of cell walls on g. h SEM view of the AR surface with cracks marked with arrows. i Transverse, thin section showing the boundary between hypodermis and cortical parenchyma in the AR part with monocot cambium activity. Note the thickness of the cell walls of the hypodermis, the deformed cells of cortical parenchyma (asterisks), and a periclinal cell division (arrow). j View of a sectioned AR showing characteristic cracks on its surface, and a green cortex (arrow) indicating the presence of chloroplasts. k Radial section of the outermost cortex (UV light) with visible chloroplasts. Transverse, thin sections showing l asynchronous development of endodermis (UV light), m endodermis in state III composed of cells with thick, lignified, u-shaped walls, n emerging lateral root, and o parts of stele region with visible secondary growth. cp cortical parenchyma, en endodermis, hp hypodermis, lr lateral root, mc monocot cambium, ph phloem, s stele, sf sclerenchyma fibres, sg secondary growth, t tracheids, x xylem vessels

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We examined the anatomy of AR in the direction from the tip towards the base to assess anatomical changes during their ontogenetic development. Apart from the tip, which is protected by a root cap, the surface of the outermost tissue of the AR contained numerous cracks (Fig. 2b, h). When the AR was active, near the tip, a thin-walled rhizodermis (lacking root hairs) was observed (Fig. 2e). However, during elongation, the rhizodermis gradually peeled away, so that the underlying hypodermis became exposed and eventually became the outermost tissue (Fig. 2f). Additionally, AR tip was coated with mucilage-like covering (not shown). With increasing distance from the AR tip (and when AR entered the dormant state) the process of metacutization proceeded on the hypodermal cell layers. The hypodermis walls had a patchy appearance when viewed in thin sections under autofluorescence following UV excitation (Fig. 2g). In ontogenetically older regions of AR, the sub-hypodermal layers of cortical parenchyma became crushed, and individual periclinal (tangential) cell divisions were observed (Fig. 2i). Beneath the hypodermis, cortical parenchyma cells containing chloroplasts were present along the entire length of the AR (Fig. 2j, k). The endodermis, the innermost layer of the cortex, was characterized by three consecutive developmental states along the AR length: state I—deposited Casparian bands; state II—deposited suberin lamellae and state III—endodermal cells with thick, lignified, u-shaped walls. However, the distance between the AR tip and initiation points of states I–III varied considerably in investigated AR indicating an asynchronous development of endodermis in this organ (Fig. 2l). While endodermal cells in states I–II typically occurred close to the AR tip, endodermis in state III was typically developed at the distances of ~ 3.5 cm and greater from AR tip (i.e. in region produced during previous year; Fig. 2m). Within the stele, AR laterals originated from the cells of the pericycle (Fig. 2n) to form characteristic clusters (Fig. 1). In general, the primary vascular tissues were located far from the center of the organ and formed a cylinder around the wide pith, which was traversed by sclerenchymatous strands enclosing either vessels or sieve tubes (Fig. 2c–d, n). Secondary vascular tissues were arranged in amphivasal bundles embedded in the ground tissue (Fig. 2o). The investigated AR had relatively thin cylinder of secondary growth (18% of the total AR volume) at the base of the AR as well as near the insertion of the lateral root (Fig. 2n–o). The distance from the AR tip to secondary growth initiation varied considerably.

For comparison, we studied the structural configuration of the three different categories of soil roots of D. draco i.e. stem-borne, lateral and fine roots (Fig. 3a). There were substantial differences in occurrence and proportions of various types of protective (rhizodermis, hypodermis, storied cork) as well as secondary vascular tissue (i.e. a cylinder formed by monocot cambium containing amphivasal vascular bundles embedded in the ground tissue) across the examined root categories (Fig. 3f). The stem-borne roots were covered with layers of cells (storied cork) formed during periclinal divisions of cortex cells. The majority of the stem-borne root cross-section (69%) comprised of secondary vascular system enclosing small stele (Fig. 3b, f). Lateral roots were protected by a multilayered hypodermis and/or storied cork. The secondary vascular cylinder contained 16% of the root cross-section. In the fine roots, the stele was relatively small (Fig. 3d–f). The thinnest, fine roots contained the rhizodermis with root hairs, while the thicker ones (> 2 mm) were covered with multilayered hypodermis replaced gradually by storied cork (Fig. 3d–e). Parts of the stem-borne and lateral roots situated above/on the ground possessed chloroplasts within the cortex.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Structural detail of D. draco soil roots. a Distinguished root categories, letters refer to the following transverse sections b–e. b Stem-borne, thick, anchoring root. c Lateral, shallow root going horizontally. d Fine root with a multilayered hypodermis and storied cork beneath. Note dimensional relationship between b–d as these sections are at the same scale. e Fine, absorbing root; a part of a section across the root hair zone (UV) with visible the rhizodermis and exodermis. f Simplified scheme of the distribution of the primary and secondary vascular tissues in the distinguished root categories. cp cortical parenchyma, h hypodermis, rh rhizodermis, s stele, sc storied cork, sg secondary growth

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Discussion

AR vs. Soil Root Structure

In general, D. draco AR and soil roots have similar structure, although some differences relate to the contribution of secondary growth and protective tissue. Secondary growth of roots is a unique feature among monocotyledons, characteristic only for Dracaena spp. (Scott and Brebner 1893; Cheadle 1937; Carlquist 2012). Results of this and other studies demonstrated that the pattern of secondary growth in soil roots is similar to that in the stem (Tomlinson and Zimmermann 1969) and AR (Krawczyszyn and Krawczyszyn 2014). In all organs, amphivasal vascular bundles embedded in the ground tissue are formed during monocot cambium activity. Maximum contribution of secondary tissues is characteristic for the stem-borne roots (69%) which are responsible for supporting and anchoring the plant. In AR (of the first order), the contribution of secondary growth is similar to those of lateral soil roots (Figs. 2c–d, 3f).

The protective tissue of AR is relatively thin and in the older parts of this organ is about twice thinner than in the lateral soil roots. Thickening of the AR entails the individual periclinal (tangential) cell divisions in the sub-hypodermal layers of cortical parenchyma and the formation of protective tissue similar to that of the stem (storied cork, Jura-Morawiec et al. 2015).

AR Structure in Relation to Function

Based on the studies of different types of aerial roots, both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous species, it can be concluded that the principal physiological function of the aerial root system is similar to that of the primary root system—to extract water and nutrients from the surroundings (Barlow 1986). Lyons (1974) suggested that D. draco AR might be involved in the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere. Our studies demonstrated that AR do not possess special tissue like velamen. Nonetheless, the thickness and composition of protective tissue in the apical AR part depend on the phase of growth, as AR grow periodically (Jura-Morawiec 2019). AR water absorption could be possible during their active phase of growth, i.e. when rains occur. Then, the multilayered, lignified and cracked hypodermis with a superficial pectin layer protects the apical AR part. In contrast, during the dormant phase, metacutization proceeds and protects the AR from desiccation, thus possibly hindering water absorption. However, it can be expected that certain radial water transport is still possible through this modified (suberized) layers of cells (Kim et al. 2018). Considering the fact that AR significantly increase the total surface area of the aboveground organs, the contribution of AR in a dormant state to the overall plant water uptake may be significant, especially as dragon trees grow in areas with seasonally dry climate subject to fog occurrence (Marzol et al. 2011), that can be an additional water source.

The aboveground growth of AR is associated with exposure to light and the presence of chloroplasts. The AR of orchids, pneumatophores of mangroves and the stilt roots of some palms are believed to possess the ability to photosynthesize (Goh et al. 1983; Dromgoole 1988; Aschan and Pfanz 2003) and contribute to the carbon economy of the whole plant. The appearance of parenchyma cells bearing chloroplasts within D. draco AR, together with their lack of similarities to leaf tissue—absence of stomata or palisade layer (Pfanz and Aschan 2001), indicates the occurrence of corticular photosynthesis and a capability to assimilate respiratory carbon. The protective tissue of these organs usually masks the presence of chloroplasts, which are, however, noticeable along the entire length of the AR, even in the region of secondary growth. Pfanz et al. (2002) pointed out that corticular photosynthesis is reduced during plant organ ageing mainly due to the development of thicker outer bark layers. In such a situation, a tree has to provide a sufficient area of new parts to maintain a carbon budget. Krawczyszyn and Krawczyszyn (2014) described cases where clusters of AR cling tightly to the D. draco trunk and grow downwards, suggesting that such bonding revitalizes the tree and helps trunk to thicken considerably. It seems reasonable to assume that D. draco AR also contribute to rejuvenating the stem/branch photosynthetic abilities/tissues.

According to Jupa et al. (2017), soluble, non-structural carbohydrates are the major representatives of the carbohydrates in D. marginata and their concentration is significantly higher in the roots compared to the stem. The authors investigated this species at its primary state of growth and concluded that parenchyma-rich roots and stem together with an accumulation of osmotic compounds help the plant avoid excessive water loss, tolerate limited long-term water availability and restore their reserves after watering. The accumulation of the osmotically active substances described above is a common mechanism activated by plants under conditions of water stress (Martinez et al. 2004; Zlatev and Lidon 2012). Taking into account that D. draco AR are mainly composed of the parenchymatous thin-walled cells, the AR can be considered as an additional storage compartments of the dragon tree capable of storing water and releasing it to the stem or soil roots, although further studies are needed to clarify this issue.

To conclude, our results highlight structural changes along the D. draco AR against the background of the structural composition of its soil root system. In general, the AR are anatomically similar in terms of the distribution of the primary and secondary tissues to the lateral soil roots. The AR structure favours their principal function of increasing plant water absorption and storage surface in stress conditions. We hope that results of this study will help to streamline further research aiming at elucidation of physiological functions of AR of D. draco and their significance for the survival of this species.