Foliar micromorphology and anatomy of Ugni molinae Turcz. (Myrtaceae), with particular reference to schizogenous secretory cavities

Abstract

Background

Ugni molinae Turcz. is one of the most studied species of South American Myrtaceae due to its edible fruits and foliar medicinal compounds. However, there is no anatomical study of the leaves or secretory cavities. This paper seeks to describe the leaf micromorphology and anatomy of the species using standard protocols for light and scanning electron microscopy. Secretory cavities were anatomically characterized in young and mature leaves. Histochemical staining of the cavities was performed.

Results

The leaves of U. molinae are hypostomatic, have a wavy surface and possess scattered hairs. Leaf anatomical features include dorsiventral mesophyll, two to three layers of palisade parenchyma with abundant chloroplasts, calcium oxalate crystals and internal phloem in vascular bundles. Schizogenous secretory cavities are present on the abaxial surface and are mainly located on the margins of the leaves. Histochemical tests of these cavities suggest the presence of lipophilic substances.

Conclusions

This is the first study of secretory cavities in Chilean Myrtaceae. In general, micromorphological and anatomical characters are similar to other species of the family. The present findings could provide valuable anatomical information for future research in South American Myrtaceae.

Background

Myrtaceae Juss. (Myrtales; Angiosperm Phylogeny Group [2009]) is a large family of angiosperms including approximately 5,500 species, divided into two subfamilies, 17 tribes and ca. 140 genera (Wilson et al. [2005]; Biffin et al. [2010]). It is a predominantly southern hemisphere family with a high diversity in South America and Australasia (Snow [2000]). The genus Ugni Turcz. comprises four species distributed in South America from the Andean region from Chile to Mexico (Wilson [2011]). Ugni molinae Turcz. (Myrtaceae) is a South American shrub that occurs in the humid temperate forests of south-central Chile and Argentina (Figure 1A) (Landrum [1988]). The species is known as ‘murta’ , ‘murtilla’ or ‘Chilean guava’ due to its edible fruits (Aguirre et al. [2006]). Other commercial products include tea, essential oils and alcoholic extracts (Landrum [1988]; Quilaqueo et al. [2012]). The leaves and fruits of U. molinae are rich in antioxidants and phytoestrogenic substances that are used to treat digestive disorders, inflammations, urinary infections and diabetes (Rubilar et al. [2011]; Avello et al. [2013]). A number of studies have investigated the chemical compounds and the biochemical activity in the leaves of U. molinae, identifying polyphenols (condensed tannins), terpenoids, flavonoids and nanocomposite films of carboxymethylcellulose (Aguirre et al. [2006]; Rubilar et al. [2006]; Avello et al. [2013]; Doll et al. [2012]; Quilaqueo et al. [2012]).

Figure 1

Ugni molinae , habit and leaf morphology. (A) Shrub. (B) Leaves.

The other three species of Ugni, namely, Ugni candollei (continental Chile), Ugni selkirkii (Juan Fernandez Archipelago) and Ugni myricoides (Mexico, Central America to Bolivia), are not considered equally important in economic terms as U. molinae (Wilson [2011]).

Secretory cavities are a common feature in Myrtaceae (Metcalfe and Chalk [1979]), but there are a few studies regarding the anatomy of these structures in the family. Chemicals produced by secretory cavities also need more investigation, as not many genera have been anatomically described (P.G. Wilson, pers. comm.). Similarly, development of secretory cavities in Myrtaceae has been scarcely investigated (Ciccarelli et al. [2003]). Although the leaf chemistry of U. molinae has been comprehensively studied, there is no information regarding its leaf anatomy and micromorphology. Since the leaf anatomy is unknown, anatomical structure and development of secretory cavities in the species remain without clarification. The aims of this paper are (1) to describe the surface micromorphology and internal anatomy of the leaves of U. molinae for the first time and (2) to investigate the anatomical structure of secretory cavities in early and mature stages.

Methods

Sampling

Fresh leaf material was collected from natural populations in Chile. Mature leaves were collected randomly from sun-exposed branches in different individuals from Futrono, Región de los Ríos (40° 7′ 28″ S/72° 22′ 51″ W) and Talcahuano, Región del Bio-Bio (36° 43 ′0″ S/73° 7′0″ W). Young leaves were also collected as trichomes, or certain structures are reported to be early caduceus (Landrum [1988]). Fresh leaves were fixed in FAA for 24 to 48 h. Specimens (Reta-04.1, Reta-04.2, Reta-04.3 and Reta-04.4) are currently housed at the Queensland Herbarium (BRI), Brisbane, Australia. Duplicates (Reta-04.5, Reta-04.6) are housed at EIF (Forestry Sciences, Universidad de Chile).

Scanning electron microscopy

Fixed leaf material was dehydrated using a graded ethanol series and then critical point dried (Anderson [1951]) in an Autosamdri-815 automatic critical point drier (Tousimis, Rockville, USA). Samples were mounted on stubs with self-adhesive double-sided carbon discs and sputter coated with gold palladium for 175 s using a Leica EM SCD005 gold coater (Leica Microsystems, Wetzlar, Germany). Examination and photography were conducted using a FEI Quanta 200 scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/ESEM (FEI, Hillsboro, OR, USA) operated at 10 kV.

Light microscopy

Fixed material was dehydrated through a graded ethanol series, infiltrated and embedded in paraffin wax (Johansen [1940]; Ruzin [1999]). Transverse sections were cut using a Leica RM2245 rotary microtome at 5 μm and placed onto microscope slides. The sections were stained using a 0.05% (w/v) of ruthenium red in distilled water for 2 min and counterstained with a 0.1% solution (w/v) of toluidine blue (TBO) in distilled water for 45 s. The sections were dehydrated post-staining through a graded ethanol series and mounted using Depex (Depex Colour Lab Ltd., Roseau, Dominica). Additional histochemical tests were performed using freehand sections of fixed leaves (Cutler et al. [2008]) stained with phloroglucinol-HCl, Sudan IV and IKI to test the composition of secreted chemicals if secretory cavities are present in the species. Leaf clearings were prepared by immersing tissue fragments of 1 to 2 cm² in 10% KOH at room temperature for 48 h followed by 7% NaClO for 2 h or until the leaves turned transparent. Cleared leaves were washed five times with distilled water, stained with Safranin O/TBO and mounted with lactoglycerol (lactic acid-glycerol 1:1). Slides were observed using a Nikon SMZ800 stereo light microscope (Nikon Eclipse 50i compound, Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) and images captured using the Nikon NIS-Elements imaging software.

Terminology

Terminology for describing the Myrtaceae leaf micromorphology was based on previous descriptions in van Wyk et al. ([1982]), Fontenelle et al. ([1994]) and Haron and Moore ([1996]). Terminology for leaf anatomy was based on Schmid ([1980]), Schmid and Baas ([1984]), Keating ([1984]), Cardoso et al. ([2009]) and Soh and Parnell ([2011]). Other general references consulted for anatomical terminology were Esau ([1953]), Gifford and Foster ([1989]), Dickison ([2000]) and Cutler et al. ([2008]).

Results

Leaf overview

The leaves of U. molinae are simple, opposite and lanceolata, elliptic or ovate in shape. The apex is acuminate and the base acute to rounded. The blades have a rough and uneven appearance on the adaxial surface (Figure 1B). The leaves are dorsiventral and have a noticeable depression directly above the midrib (Figure 2A). The leaves have numerous secondary and tertiary reticulate veins. Venation is pinnate and weakly to strongly brochidodromus (Figure 2B). Venation is barely visible externally.

Figure 2

Light micrographs (LM) of the leaves of U. molinae. (A) Anatomical overview of the leaf blade. (B) Leaf clearing showing reticulate tertiary venation. (C) Epidermal cells and cuticle. (D) Leaf clearing showing sinuous epidermal cells and anomocytic stomata on the abaxial surface. (E) Transverse section of the mesophyll showing stomata with cutinized outer periclinal walls of guard cells and stomatal chamber connected to the spongy parenchyma. cu, cuticle; ep, epidermal cells. Arrow: stomata. Scale bars = 100 μm.

Cuticle, epidermal cells and stomata

The adaxial surface has a prominent cuticle, which probably contains polyphenols due to bluish-green staining with TBO. On this surface, the cuticle has a wavy and undulate deposition and might be the reason for the rough appearance of the leaves (Figure 2C). Adaxial and abaxial epidermal cells are compressed, plano-convex, mainly isodiametric and containing abundant tannins (Figure 2C). In paradermal view, adaxial epidermal cells have straight cell walls and are very compressed, while abaxial epidermal cells are irregularly rounded and the anticlinal cell walls are strongly sinuous (Figure 2D). The leaves of U. molinae are hypostomatic and stomatal complexes are anomocytic (Figure 2D). The stomata are circular to elliptical and are located at the same level as the epidermal cells. The dimension of stomata is 10 to 15 μm long. Guard cells are kidney shaped, and the cell lumen between them is narrow at the equatorial region. Guard cells have cutinized thickenings on the outer periclinal walls, which are more visible in cross section (Figure 2E). Stomata are regularly distributed on the surface of the leaf (Figure 3A).

Figure 3

Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) of the leaves of U. molinae. (A) Abaxial surface showing stomatal distribution. (B) Adaxial surface showing impressed midrib and glabrescent wavy surface. (C) Unicellular hairs and bases of deciduous trichomes on the abaxial midrib (arrows). (D) SEM micrograph of subepidermal secretory cavity, visible as a pronounced swelling. Scale bars = 100 μm (A, B) and 50 μm (C, D).

Trichomes

The adaxial surface of the leaves is glabrous (Figure 3B), while abaxially, it has some scattered hairs, which are sparsely strigose on the midrib. Hairs are simple, unicellular, non-glandular, solitary, conical and slightly wavy. Both deciduous and persistent hairs are present (Figure 3C). Bases of deciduous trichomes are abundant on the midrib of the abaxial surface.

Midrib

The midrib is strongly impressed on the adaxial surface (Figures 1B and 3B) and slightly prominent below. There is a notorious depression on the adaxial surface above the midrib. This species has an internal phloem as in other Myrtaceae. The midrib is arc shaped with a strong curvature (Figure 4A). There is a strongly developed adaxial phloem partition. Incurved margins of the phloem are well developed. Adaxial and abaxial phloems are not confluent. Fibres are discontinuous around the midrib. Xylem vessels of the midrib show scalariform perforation plates and helical wall thickenings. Phloem sieve tubes and companion cells have thin primary cell walls. Phloem fibres have evident and thick secondary cell walls.

Figure 4

Light micrographs (LM) showing midrib, mesophyll and secretory cavities of U. molinae. (A) Detail of midrib showing developed adaxial phloem partition, incurved margins of the phloem and discontinuous fibres. (B) Transverse section of the leaf showing cells with idioblasts containing druses (calcium oxalate crystals) below the epidermis. (C) Transverse section of the leaf showing a secretory cavity and epithelial cells on the abaxial surface close to the leaf margin. (D) Early developmental stage of secretory cavity showing epithelial cells in formation. (E) Secretory cavity with eight epithelial cells in formation in young leaves. (F) Freehand section showing secretory cavity on the abaxial side of the leaf. Histochemical reaction indicates lipophilic compounds in the epithelial cells after testing with Sudan IV (orange colour). cr, crystals (druses). Arrows: internal phloem. Scale bars = 100 μm (A-C,E-F) and 10 μm (D).

An extension of the bundle sheath, composed of rounded-polygonal cells, is clearly visible under the midrib and slightly developed above.

Mesophyll

The mesophyll is formed by a three- to four-layered palisade parenchyma and a spongy parenchyma with abundant intercellular spaces (Figure 2A). The palisade parenchyma layer is somewhat dense and composed of rectangular, attenuated and vertical cells. These cells possess thin primary cell walls and numerous chloroplasts. The spongy parenchyma is composed of irregularly shaped cells (rounded to star shaped). Both palisade and spongy parenchyma contain mucilage. Subepidermal idioblasts with calcium oxalate crystals (druses) occur throughout the palisade parenchyma (Figure 4B).

Secretory cavities

Leaf secretory cavities are exclusively located under the abaxial epidermis of the leaves and in some cases as part of this layer. The cavities are slightly visible above the epidermis level and form a pronounced swelling (Figure 3D). Secretory cavities are composed of large spaces surrounded by a sheath of peripheral epithelial cells, which are almost disintegrated in mature leaves. These structures are particularly close to the margin of the leaves (Figure 4C). The presence of epithelial cells surrounding a cavity space demonstrates the schizogenous development of the cavities for separation of cells and not dissolution as the lysigenous type. Epithelial cells are initially developed from the protodermis and ground meristem as shown in leaf primordia (Figure 4D). These cells are small (12 ± 4 μm in diameter), compressed and have very thin cell walls. The final numbers of epithelial cells are reached quickly after the first periclinal divisions in the meristem. During leaf expansion and differentiation, secretory cavities increase their size and the area of the cavity becomes larger (Figure 4D,E). In mature leaves, these structures are abundant throughout the mesophyll and have variable dimensions (75 ± 35 μm in diameter). Histochemical reaction with Sudan IV reveals the presence of lipophilic substances in the epithelial cells (Figure 4D). This was the only positive reaction among the performed histochemical tests.

Discussion

Even though species of Myrtaceae are rich in essential oils and other chemical compounds, information concerning leaf anatomy and histochemistry is scarce. U. molinae is one of the most studied species of South American Myrtaceae, but mainly regarding chemical composition. Results of this investigation show that U. molinae shares a number of anatomical traits with other species of the family. These characters include druses (calcium oxalate crystals), adaxial phloem and secretory cavities. Calcium oxalate crystals are abundant in the leaves of U. molinae, especially in the palisade parenchyma, just below the adaxial epidermis. Druses are widely present in several genera of Myrtaceae, in diverse vegetative and reproductive structures. Donato and Morretes ([2007], [2009]) and Alves et al. ([2008]) described druses of calcium oxalate in South American species of Eugenia. Donato and Morretes ([2011]) reported the same structures for Myrcia multiflora. Polyhedral crystals, including druses, have been reported in Psidium, Eugenia, Gomidesia and Myrcia, among others (Cardoso et al. [2009]; Gomes et al. [2009]). The function of these structures is not completely clear but has been related to the regulation of calcium and other minerals (Volk et al. [2002]), as well as protection against herbivores and pathogens (Franceschi and Nakata [2005]; Korth et al. [2006]). The habitat preference of U. molinae supports this hypothesis, because the species normally occurs in calcium-rich soils and is severely attacked by insects (Kausel [1947]; Navas [1970]).

Internal phloem was found in midribs, either as continuous tissue or strands in the adaxial side of the midrib. This character is regarded as a typical anatomical character in the order Myrtales (Cronquist [1981]; Takhtajan [1980]) and is widely present in Myrtaceae (Schmid [1980]; Cardoso et al. [2009]). The development of the adaxial phloem and the confluence between adaxial and abaxial phloem and continuity of fibres around midrib are regarded as suitable characters to identify species in Myrtaceae (Cardoso et al. [2009]; Soh and Parnell [2011]).

Helical wall thickenings on vessel elements of the xylem tissue have been reported in a number of Myrtaceae genera, such as Myrceugenia, Myrtus, Austromyrtus, Myrcia, Myrcianthes and Psidium (Schmid and Baas [1984]). Similarly, scalariform perforation plates on vessels have been identified in Myrceugenia, Luma, Tepualia, Ugni, Neomyrtus and Myrtastrum (Schmid and Baas [1984]). Helical wall thickenings of vessels and scalariform perforation plates as observed in U. molinae have been attributed to putatively primitive species (Stern [1978]), the latter possibly as an adaptation of a common ancestor to cooler or mountain environments (Jansen et al. [2004]).

The secretory cavities follow the typical schizogenous pattern commonly observed in Myrtaceae (Alves et al. [2008]; Donato and Morretes [2007]; Gomes et al. [2009]). The observation of undifferentiated epithelial cells in leaf primordia and developed ones in mature leaves confirms this pattern. Similarly, Cicarelli et al. ([2003], [2008]) describe this type of initial development of secretory cavities in Myrtus communis. These authors report that the ontogeny of secretory cavities in M. communis follows a schizolysigenous development, which is a combination of lysigenous (due to disintegration of cells) and schizogenous. The origin of schizogeneous cavities in Myrtaceae has been suggested from protoderm or epidermal meristems, with the participation of the ground meristem (Arruda and Fontenelle [1994]; Fahn [1979]). In U. molinae, the origin has been identified from both of these tissues. Secretory cavities are produced by periclinal divisions of these meristems, which produce sets of internal and external cells. Internal cells produce the epithelial cells of the cavities, while the more external remain as epidermal cells. The development of secretory cavities matches with the descriptions of Fahn ([1979]).

The main chemical compounds identified in the leaves of South American Myrtaceae include cyclic sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes in Blepharocalyx (Godinho et al. [2014]), Eugenia, Myrcia and Psidium (Stefanello et al. [2011]). Other compounds are flavonoids (Wollenweber et al. [2000]), tannins (Tanaka et al. [1996]) and triterpenoids (Lee [1998]; Judd et al. [1999]). Triterpenoids are widely present in many families of plants and are produced in different parts of the leaves, not only in secretory cavities (Xiao et al. [2008]). Histochemical test with Sudan IV suggests that secretory cavities of U. molinae produce mainly lipophilic compounds, similar to those identified in South American Myrtaceae. Other tests with phloroglucinol-HCl and IKI were negative in secretory cavities.

Monoterpenes, among most members such as α- and β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene, sabinene, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol, have been detected in several species of Myrtaceae (Shellie et al. [2004]; Stefanello et al. [2011]; Victorio et al. [2011]). Secretory cavities in Myrrhinium atropurpureum have been confirmed as producers of these compounds (Victorio et al. [2011]). The role of terpenoids and monoterpenes has been associated to a number of plant functions. These roles are related to direct defense responses (Cheng et al. [2007]), metabolism of diverse chemicals (Banthorpe et al. [1972]), plant-environment interactions (Lange and Ahkami [2013]) and plant architecture, through inhibition of shoot branching (Akiyama et al. [2008]).

Conclusions

In this paper, the foliar micromorphology and anatomy of U. molinae have been described for the first time. Schizogenous secretory cavities are abundant in the leaves and produce mainly lipophilic compounds, according to histochemical staining. This is the first report regarding the anatomical structure, development and histochemistry of secretory cavities in the species. The species shares a number of anatomical and micromorphological characters with other Myrtaceae. Results from this investigation are potentially useful for future anatomical studies in South American Myrtaceae.