Aluminium Accumulation in Leaves of 127 Species in Melastomataceae, with Comments on the Order Myrtales

Abstract

The distribution and systematic significance of aluminium accumulation is surveyed based on semi-quantitative tests of 166 species, representing all tribes and subfamilies of the Melastomataceae as well as a few members of related families within the Myrtales. The character is strongly present in nearly all members of the Memecylaceae and in most primitive taxa of the Melastomataceae, while non-accumulating taxa are widespread in the more derived tribes of the Melastomataceae. The variable distribution of Al accumulation in advanced clades of the latter family is probably associated with the tendency to herbaceousness, although it is unclear whether the more herbaceous representatives have developed more specialized Al-response mechanisms that may exclude high Al levels from the shoot. It is hypothesized that Al accumulation is symplesiomorphic for Melastomataceae and Memecylaceae, and that the feature characterizes the most primitive families in the Myrtales. Indeed, Al accumulation is also characteristic of Crypteroniaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae and Vochysiaceae. Crypteroniaceae and Rhynchocalycaceae probably take a basal position in a sister clade of the Memecylaceae and Melastomataceae, while Al accumulation suggests a basal position for Vochysiaceae in the Myrtaceae clade.

Morfologia e anatomia foliar de três morfotipos de Marcetia taxifolia (A. St.-Hil.) DC. (Melastomataceae) na Serra do Cipó, MG

“…Embora o maior número de espécies acumuladoras de alumínio ocorra em Rubiaceae (Gentianales), a família Melastomataceae apresenta muitos acumuladores (Chenery 1948). Essa característica poderá ser importante em futuros estudos, uma vez que as plantas acumuladoras de alumínio e os processos fisiológicos podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de cultivares mais resistentes (Jansen et al 2002).…”

Aluminum accumulation in nineteen Melastomataceae species from three contrasting plant formations in acid soils

“…Aluminum accumulation was reviewed for leaves of 127 species of Melastomataceae by Jansen et al (2002), who reported exact quantitative data only for 13 species. According to Chenery (1948a), the term "Al accumulators" was introduced by Hutchinson and Wollack (1943) and Robinson and Edgington (1945) to define plants with an Al concentration > 1000 mg (kg dry mass [d.m.])…”

“…-1 . Jansen et al (2002) referred as "Al hyperaccumulators" to those plants with an Al concentration of Al > 10 000 mg (kg d.m.) -1 , and this terminology is adopted in the present study.…”

“…A field survey was conducted in the present work to explore Melastomataceae Al-accumulating species in a vegetation continuum, which includes a savanna shrubland, a swamp community dominated by the palm Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae) and an evergreen forest. Jansen et al (2002) reported that Al accumulation is more common in the primitive taxa of Melastomataceae than in the derived ones, especially in some groups such as Miconieae and Merianieae. Chenery (1948a, b), Chenery and Sporne (1976), and Jansen et al (2000) also suggested a relation between the Al accumulation and a primitive status.…”

“…Chenery (1948a, b), Chenery and Sporne (1976), and Jansen et al (2000) also suggested a relation between the Al accumulation and a primitive status. In the derived members of the Melastomataceae, such as Melastomeae and Microlicieae (Clausing and Renner, 2001), the presence of Al accumulators is more variable (Jansen et al, 2002).…”