This work describes the leaf anatomy of 16 species belonging to three genera of the Malpighiaceae family found in the Cerrado (Minas Gerais State, Brazil). The scope of this study was to support the generic delimitation by contributing to the identification of the species and constructing a dichotomous identification key that includes anatomical characters. The taxonomic characters that were considered to be the most important and used in the identification key for the studied Malpighiaceae species were as follows: the presence and location of glands; presence of phloem in the medullary region of the midrib; mesophyll type; presence and type of trichomes; and presence, quantity, and disposition of accessory bundles in the petiole. It was also possible to indicate promising characters for future taxonomic and phylogenetic studies in the Malpighiaceae family, especially for the Banisteriopsis, Byrsonima, and Heteropterys genera.

Abstract In plant cells, environmental stressors promote changes in connectivity between the cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the plasma membrane (PM). Although this process is tightly regulated in space and time, the molecular signals and structural components mediating these changes in interorganelle communication are only starting to be characterized. In this report, we confirm the presence of a putative tethering complex containing the synaptotagmins 1 and 5 (SYT1 and SYT5) and the Ca2+- and lipid-binding protein 1 (CLB1/SYT7). This complex is enriched at ER–PM contact sites (EPCSs), has slow responses to changes in extracellular Ca2+, and displays severe cytoskeleton-dependent rearrangements in response to the trivalent lanthanum (La3+) and gadolinium (Gd3+) rare earth elements (REEs). Although REEs are generally used as non-selective cation channel blockers at the PM, here we show that the slow internalization of REEs into the cytosol underlies the activation of the Ca2+/calmodulin intracellular signaling, the accumulation of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) at the PM, and the cytoskeleton-dependent rearrangement of the SYT1/SYT5 EPCS complexes. We propose that the observed EPCS rearrangements act as a slow adaptive response to sustained stress conditions, and that this process involves the accumulation of stress-specific phosphoinositide species at the PM.

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Eugenia uniflora and Clusia hilariana seedlings were submitted to simulated acid rain, pH 3, for 40 days. The degree of visible injury and the anatomical and micromorphological alterations were determined 24 hours after the last simulation. E. uniflora presented a higher degree of leaf necrosis. The adaxial epidermis and part of the palisade parenchyma of the entire leaf blade were affected and hypertrophy, hyperplasia and cicatrization tissue differentiation occurred. Erosion and morphological modification of the epicuticular wax and alterations in the epidermis were detected on the upper and lower leaf surfaces. Stomata with deformed ostioles and rupture of the stomatal ledge were observed. C. hilariana presented necrosis in leaf margin and in abaxial leaf surface, showing collapsed cells or with plasmolized aspect, cicatrization tissue, epicuticular wax alterations, occasional leaf perforations, irregular arrangement of adaxial epidermis cells and twisted subsidiary cells. The structural alterations indicated a greater susceptibility of E. uniflora to acid rain. The lower sensibility of C. hilariana can be related with the anatomical characteristics as: thick cuticle with evident cuticular flanges, three layers of hypodermis and mesophyll more thick and compact.

RESUMO -Em diversos estudos interdisciplinares em que a Anatomia Vegetal é utilizada, análises quantitativas complementares são necessárias. Geralmente, a avaliação micromorfométrica é feita manualmente e/ou utilizando programas computacionais de análise de imagens não específicos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver um programa específico para Anatomia Vegetal quantitativa e testar sua eficiência e aceitação por usuários. A solução foi elaborada na linguagem Java, visando maior mobilidade em relação ao sistema operacional a ser usado. O software desenvolvido foi denominado ANATI QUANTI e testado pelos alunos, pesquisadores e professores do Laboratório de Anatomia Vegetal da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV). Todos os entrevistados receberam fotos para efetuarem medições no ANATI QUANTI e comparar com os resultados obtidos utilizando o software disponível. Os voluntários, através de questionários previamente formulados, destacaram as principais vantagens e desvantagens do programa desenvolvido em relação ao software disponível. Além de ser mais específico, simples e ágil do que o software disponível, o ANATI QUANTI é confiável, atendendo à expectativa dos entrevistados. Entretanto, há necessidade de acrescentar recursos adicionais, como a inserção de novas escalas, o que aumentaria a gama de usuários. O ANATI QUANTI já está em uso nas pesquisas desenvolvidas por usuários na UFV. Por ser um software livre e de código aberto, será disponibilizado na internet gratuitamente.Palavras-chave: análise micromorfométrica, Java, densidade estomática, índice estomático. ABSTRACT -Complementary quantitative analyses

RESUMO -(Estratégias anatômicas foliares de treze espécies de Orchidaceae ocorrentes em um campo de altitude no Parque Estadual da Serra do Brigadeiro (PESB) -MG, Brasil). O estudo objetivou caracterizar, anatomicamente, as folhas de Orchidaceae ocorrentes em um campo de altitude (PESB), identificando caracteres anatômicos úteis na interpretação das estratégias adaptativas. As treze espécies estudadas vivem em condições ambientais extremas tendo sido estudados apenas indivíduos terrestres, exceto Pleurothallis teres Lindl. espécie exclusivamente rupícola. Avaliando os caracteres anatômicos adaptativos, dois grupos podem ser distinguidos, os das espécies perenes (Epidendrum secundum Jacq., Epidendrum xanthinum Lindl., Oncidium barbaceniae Lindl., Oncidium blancheti Rchb. F., Pleurothallis prolifera Lindl., Pleurothallis teres Lindl., Zygopetalum brackypetalum Lindl. e Zygopetalum mackaii Hook.) e os das espécies com redução das partes aéreas no período seco (Cleistes gracilis Schdl., Habenaria hydrophila Barb. Rodr., Habenaria janeirensis Kraenzl, Habenaria macronectar Hoehne e Prescottia montana Barb. Rodr.). As espécies perenes apresentam caracteres xeromórficos: folhas coriáceas ou coriáceas suculentas, cutícula espessa e estriada, hipoderme, grupos de fibras esparsas no mesofilo homogêneo, parênquima aqüífero com espessamento em barras ou espiralados nas paredes, idioblastos de ráfides e feixes vasculares colaterais circundados e com calotas de fibras. Nas espécies com redução das partes aéreas ocorrem investimentos diferenciados e os caracteres xeromórficos não são acentuados. As folhas são delgadas, com células epidérmicas adaxiais altas sendo a cutícula delgada geralmente desprovida de estriamentos e a presença de idioblastos de ráfides freqüentes no mesofilo. Não ocorre hipoderme e os feixes vasculares são reduzidos e sem associações com fibras. Palavras-chave:Orchidaceae, anatomia, estratégias adaptativas, folha, campo de altitude ABSTRACT -(Strategies anatomy from thirteen Orchidaceae species occurring in a "high altitude grasslands" in the State Park of Serra do Brigadeiro (PESB) -Minas Gerais State, Brazil). The purpose of this work was to characterize the leaf anatomy of thirteen Orchidaceae species in a "high altitude grasslands", located at State Park of Serra do Brigadeiro, and identify anatomical characteristics helpful to the interpretation of adaptative strategies of these species. The species studied were all terrestrial plants except Pleurothallis teres Lindl. that occurring on granitic rock living in extremely conditions. Observations made in adaptative anatomic features showed that two different groups can be easily distinguished: perennial species (Epidendrum secundum Jacq., Epidendrum xanthinum Lindl., Oncidium barbaceniae Lindl., Oncidium blancheti Rchb. F., Pleurothallis prolifera Lindl., Pleurothallis teres Lindl., Zygopetalum brackypetalum Lindl. and Zygopetalum mackaii Hook.), and species with reduced aerial parts during drought periods (Cleistes gracilis Schdl., Habenaria hydrophila...

Nectaries in leaves of Gentianaceae have been poorly studied. The present study aims to describe the distribution, anatomy, and ecological aspects of extrafloral nectaries (EFNs) of three Calolisianthus species and in particular the ultrastructure of EFNs in Calolisianthus speciosus during leaf development, discussing its unusual structure. Leaves of Calolisianthus species were fixed and processed by the usual methods for studies using light, scanning microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ion chromatography was used to analyze the nectar exudates of C. speciosus. The distribution patterns of nectar secretion units were analysed by ANOVA and t-tests. Two EFNs that can be seen macroscopically were observed at the bases of C. speciosus and C. pendulus leaves. Such large nectaries are absent there in C. amplissimus. Another similarly large EFN is observed at the apex of each leaf in all species. The EFNs at the base of the young leaves in C. speciosus are visited by ants during the rainy season. EFNs are formed by several nectar secretory units (nectarioles) that are present throughout the leaves. Each nectariole is formed by rosette cells with a central channel from which the nectar is released. Channels of old C. speciosus and C. pendulus EFNs were obstructed by fungi. TEM of EFNs in young leaves showed cytoplasms with secretion, small vacuoles, mitochondria, cell wall ingrowth, and plasmodesmata. TEM of EFNs in old leaves demonstrated dictyosomes, plastids, mitochondria, segments of endoplasmatic reticulum, and lipid droplets. The nectar contains sucrose, glucose and fructose.

The restingas, a sandy coastal plain ecosystem of Brazil, have received an additional amount of iron due to the activity of mining industries. The present study aims to characterize morphoanatomically and histochemically the iron plaque formation on roots of Ipomoea pes-caprae L. and Canavalia rosea DC, cultivated in hydroponic solution with and without excess iron. The iron plaque formation as well as changes in the external morphology of the lateral roots of both species were observed after the subjection to excess iron. Changes in the nutrient uptake, and in the organization and form of the pericycle and cortex cells were observed for both species. Scanning electron microscopy showed evident iron plaques on the whole surface of the root. The iron was histolocalized in all root tissues of both species. The species of restinga studied here formed iron plaque in their roots when exposed to excess of this element, which may compromise their development in environments polluted by particulated iron.