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Apoplasmic barrier in the extrafloral nectary of Citharexylum myrianthum (Verbenaceae)

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Abstract

Main conclusion

The cytological changes underlying the formation of an apoplasmic barrier in the multi-layered extrafloral nectaries of Citharexylum myrianthum are compatible with the synthesis, transport and deposition of suberin. In terms of ontogenesis and function, the intermediate layers of these nectaries are homologous with the stalks of nectar-secreting trichomes.

Abstract

Anticlinal cell wall impregnations are common in trichomatic nectaries and their functions as endodermis-like barriers have been discussed because of possible direct effects on the nectary physiology, mainly in the nectar secretion and resorption. However, the cytological events linked to nectary wall impregnations remain little explored. This study documents the ontogenesis and the fine structure of the EFN cells, and cytological events linked to the wall impregnations of multi-layered extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) in Citharexylum myrianthum Cham. (Verbenaceae). EFNs are patelliform, and differentiated into (a) a multicellular foot, which is compound in structure and vascularised with phloem strands, (b) a bi-layered intermediate region with thickened cell walls and (c) a single-layered secretory region with palisade-like cells. EFNs are protodermal in origin, starting with a single protodermal cell and ending with the complex, multi-layered structure. The cell wall impregnations first appear in the very young EFN and increase towards maturity. Lipid patches (assumed to be suberin) are deposited on the inner faces of the primary walls, first along the anticlinal walls and then extend to the periclinal walls. On both walls, plasmodesmata remain apparently intact during the maturation of the EFNs. In the peripheral cytoplasm there are abundant polymorphic plastids, well-developed Golgi bodies often close to rough endoplasmic reticulum profiles, mitochondria and polyribosomes. Cytological events linked to the wall impregnations are consistent with suberin synthesis, transport and deposition. Our findings offer new insights into the structure-properties of specialised nectary cell walls and so should contribute to our knowledge of the physiological and protective roles of this structure in nectar glands.

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Data availability

The authors declare that all data supporting the findings of this study are provided in full in the results section of this paper.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development—CNPq for financial support (Process number 401053/2016-4 and for the research Grants to T. M. Rodrigues (Process number 303981/2018-0) and S. R. Machado (Process number 308982/2020-7); and the staff of Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica (CME), IBB, UNESP, for helping with sample preparation. We are grateful to Eliete Correa Soares for help with in loco photography, and to Dr. Sandy Lang (Rescript.co.nz) for helping with the review and editing of the English language.

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  1. Centre of Electron Microscopy (CME), Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu (IBB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Silvia Rodrigues Machado

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Plant Biology, Parasitology and Zoology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu (IBB), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

    Tatiane Maria Rodrigues

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Machado, S.R., Rodrigues, T.M. Apoplasmic barrier in the extrafloral nectary of Citharexylum myrianthum (Verbenaceae). Planta 254, 19 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-021-03663-8

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