Trichome structure and evolution in Neotropical lianas

• Published in: Annals of botany 2013-11, Vol.112 (7), p.1331-1350
• Main Authors: Nogueira, Anselmo, El Ottra, Juliana Hanna Leite, Guimarães, Elza, Machado, Silvia Rodrigues, Lohmann, Lúcia G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bignoniaceae; Bignoniaceae - anatomy & histology; Bignoniaceae - ultrastructure; Biological Evolution; Biological taxonomies; Epidermal cells; Evolution; ferns and fern allies; herbivores; Lianas; Likelihood Functions; Nectaries; Original; Petioles; Phylogeny; Plant anatomy; Plants; Species; stems; topology; Trichomes; Trichomes - anatomy & histology; Trichomes - ultrastructure; Tropical Climate; tropics
• ISSN: 0305-7364; 1095-8290
• DOI: 10.1093/aob/mct201

Background and AimsTrichomes are epidermal outgrowths generally associated with protection against herbivores and/or desiccation that are widely distributed from ferns to angiosperms. Patterns of topological variation and morphological evolution of trichomes are still scarce in the literature, preventing valid comparisons across taxa. This study integrates detailed morphoanatomical data and the evolutionary history of the tribe Bignonieae (Bignoniaceae) in order to gain a better understanding of current diversity and evolution of trichome types.MethodsTwo sampling schemes were used to characterize trichome types: (1) macromorphological characterization of all 105 species currently included in Bignonieae; and (2) micromorphological characterization of 16 selected species. Individual trichome morphotypes were coded as binary in each vegetative plant part, and trichome density and size were coded as multistate. Ancestral character state reconstructions were conducted using maximum likelihood (ML) assumptions.Key ResultsTwo main functional trichome categories were found: non-glandular and glandular. In glandular trichomes, three morphotypes were recognized: peltate (Pg), stipitate (Sg) and patelliform/cupular (P/Cg) trichomes. Non-glandular trichomes were uniseriate, uni- or multicellular and simple or branched. Pg and P/Cg trichomes were multicellular and non-vascularized with three clearly distinct cell layers. Sg trichomes were multicellular, uniseriate and long-stalked. ML ancestral character state reconstructions suggested that the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of Bignonieae probably had non-glandular, Pg and P/Cg trichomes, with each trichome type presenting alternative histories of appearance on the different plant parts. For example, the MRCA of Bignonieae probably had non-glandular trichomes on the stems, prophylls, petiole, petiolule and leaflet veins while P/Cg trichomes were restricted to leaflet blades. Sg trichomes were not present in the MRCA of Bignonieae independently of the position of these trichomes. These trichomes had at least eight independent origins in tribe.ConclusionsThe patterns of trichome evolution indicate that most morphotypes are probably homologous in Bignonieae and could be treated under the same name based on its morphological similarity and common evolutionary history, in spite of the plethora of names that have been previously designated in the literature. The trichome descriptions presented here will facilitate compa