Abelardo C. Vegetti

The class I protein AtTCP15 modulates plant development through a pathway that overlaps with the one affected by CIN-like TCP proteins

The function of the class I TCP transcription factor TCP15 from Arabidopsis thaliana has been studied through the analysis of plants that express a fusion of this protein to the EAR repressor domain. Constitutive expression of TCP15-EAR produces growth arrest at the seedling stage, before leaf emergence. Expression of the repressor fusion from the AtTCP15 promoter produces small plants with leaves whose margins progressively curve upwards, starting from the basal part of the lamina. Leaves contain smaller and less differentiated cells, both on the adaxial and abaxial sides. The abaxial domain is relatively enlarged, with disorganized cells separated by empty spaces. TCP15-EAR also affects the growth of leaf petioles, flower pedicels, and anther filaments. Flowers show reduced elongation of the three outer whorls and altered gynoecia with irregular carpel surfaces and enlarged repla. Ectopic stigma-like structures develop from medial and basal parts of the replum. TCP15-EAR produces an increase in expression of the boundary-specific genes LOB, CUC1, and CUC2. Changes in CUC1 and CUC2 expression can be explained by the existence of lower levels of miR164 in leaves and the repression of IAA3/SHY2 and the SAUR-like gene At1g29460 in leaves and flowers. TCP15 binds to the promoter regions of IAA3/SHY2 and At1g29460, suggesting that these genes may be direct targets of the transcription factor. The results indicate that TCP15 regulates the expression of boundary-specific genes through a pathway that affects auxin homeostasis and partially overlaps with the one modulated by class II CIN-like TCP proteins.

Some evolution trends in the inflorescence of Poaceae

Summary It is postulated that the wide diversity shown by the inflorescence of grasses can be explained by means of a fairly restricted number of processes which have mainly reductive characteristics. Depending on the mode of action of these processes, a means is proposed by which the origin of different types of inflorescences can be recognized. In all cases, the starting point is a panicle with primary and secondary branches, from which, following four major evolutionary trends, the origins of other structures can be determined.

Inflorescence, spikelet, and floral development in Panicum maximum and Urochloa plantaginea (Poaceae)

Inflorescence development in Panicum maximum and Urochloa plantaginea was comparatively studied with scanning electron and light microscopy to test the transfer of P. maximum to Urochloa and to look for developmental features applicable to future cladistic studies of the phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) subtype of C(4) photosynthesis clade (P. maximum and some species of Brachiaria, Chaetium, Eriochloa, Melinis, and Urochloa). Eleven developmental features not discernable in the mature inflorescence were found: direction of branch differentiation; origins of primary branches; apical vs. intercalary development of the main axis; direction of spikelet differentiation; direction of glume, lemma and palea differentiation; position of the lower glume (in some cases); size of the floret meristem; pattern of distal floret development; pattern of gynoecium abortion; differential pollen development between proximal and distal floret; and glume elongation. Inflorescence homologies between P. maximum and U. plantaginea are also clarified. Panicum maximum and U. plantaginea differ not only in their mature inflorescence structure but also in eight fundamental developmental features that exclude P. maximum from Urochloa. The following developmental events are related to sex expression: size of floret meristem, gynoecium abortion, pollen development delay in the proximal floret, glume elongation and basipetal floret maturation at anthesis.

Structure of the Cyperaceae Inflorescence

This work presents the basics for interpreting the adult inflorescence structure in Cyperaceae. It provides an analysis of the variations of the synflorescence and inflorescence structure in the family. Three types of synflorescence may be recognized in this family: a synflorescence with a foliate stem, a terminal inflorescence and a variable number of lateral inflorescences; a synflorescence with a foliate stem and only the terminal inflorescence; and a synflorescence with a scape and a terminal inflorescence. Variations in the structure and form of the inflorescences are related to variations in inflorescence branching, inflorescence homogenization degree, presence or absence of the distal part of the inflorescence, phyllotaxis, inflorescence position, types of bracts and leaves subtending branches, elongation of inflorescence internodes and spikelet structure. These variations are correlated with some of the developmental processes that give origin to the inflorescence.

Diversification of inflorescence development in the PCK clade (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae).

In grasses, inflorescence diversification and its correlation with species evolution are intriguing and not well understood. Part of this problem lies in our lack of comprehension about the inflorescence morphological complexity of grasses. We focused our study on the PCK clade (named for phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase), a well-supported monophyletic group for which the relationships among its taxa are not well resolved. Interestingly, the PCK clade has an extensive diversity of adult inflorescence forms. A comparative developmental approach can help us to understand the basis of such morphological differences as well as provide characters that can be used in phylogenetic studies of the group. Using SEM studies, we demonstrate that inflorescence morphology in this clade is even more complex than what is typically observed in adult forms. We describe a number of new characters, and some classical features previously used for taxonomic purposes are redefined on the basis of development. We also define four morphological groups combining adult inflorescence form and development, and we discuss some of the evolutionary aspects of inflorescence diversification in the PCK clade. Taxonomic delimitation among genera in the PCK clade remains confusing and unclear where molecular and morphological studies support different classifications.

Development and Structure of the Grass Inflorescence

This work presents the basics for interpreting the adult inflorescence structure in grasses. It provides an analysis of the variations in the grass inflorescence structure and their correlation with some of the developmental processes that give origin to it.

Morphological characteristics of soybean root apexes as indicators of soil compaction

Plant soil compaction poses a serious problem to agriculture because it produces different types of changes in plant characteristics. No method has been implemented to date to use root morphological changes as indicators of soil compaction levels. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether or not the morphological changes in root apexes of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) can be used as indicators of soil compaction levels. To this end, a silt-loamy soil material (from a Typic Argiudoll, Esperanza series), sieved through a 2 mm mesh was used and the following soil bulk density levels were determined: 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g cm3 for which the corresponding mechanical resistances were < 0.1, 0.5 and 3.5 MPa, respectively. The distance from the apex to the first tertiary root and the root diameter at 1.5 cm from the apex were measured on the secondary root apexes. A form factor equal to the quotient between these two variables was subsequently calculated. An inverse relationship between soil mechanical impedance and secondary root length and form factor as well as a direct relationship with the secondary root diameter were observed. Changes in rhizodermis cells were also recorded. The following morphological characteristics were found to evidence the highest sensitivity to soil compaction: i) the form factor, ii) rhizodermis papillose cells, iii) apical malformations in root hairs, and iv) root diameter in expansion areas. Taken together, the morphological characteristics of root apexes could be considered to be indicative of soil compaction.

Macroevolution of panicoid inflorescences: a history of contingency and order of trait acquisition.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Inflorescence forms of panicoid grasses (Panicoideae s.s.) are remarkably diverse and they look very labile to human eyes; however, when performing a close inspection one can identify just a small subset of inflorescence types among a huge morphospace of possibilities. Consequently, some evolutionary constraints have restricted, to some extent, the diversification of their inflorescence. Developmental and genetic mechanisms, the photosynthetic type and plant longevity have been postulated as candidate constraints for angiosperms and panicoids in particular; however, it is not clear how these factors operate and which of these have played a key role during the grass inflorescence evolution. To gain insight into this matter the macroevolutionary aspects of panicoid inflorescences are investigated. METHODS The inflorescence aspect (lax versus condensed), homogenization, truncation of the terminal spikelet, plant longevity and photosynthetic type were the traits selected for this study. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo methods were used to test different models of evolution and to evaluate the existence of evolutionary correlation among the traits. Both, models and evolutionary correlation were tested and analysed in a phylogenetic context by plotting the characters on a series of trees. For those cases in which the correlation was confirmed, test of contingency and order of trait acquisition were preformed to explore further the patterns of such co-evolution. KEY RESULTS The data reject the independent model of inflorescence trait evolution and confirmed the existence of evolutionary contingency. The results support the general trend of homogenization being a prerequisite for the loss of the terminal spikelet of the main axis. There was no evidence for temporal order in the gain of homogenization and condensation; consequently, the homogenization and condensation could occur simultaneously. The correlation between inflorescence traits with plant longevity and photosynthetic type is not confirmed. CONCLUSIONS The findings indicate that the lability of the panicoid inflorescence is apparent, not real. The results indicate that the history of the panicoids inflorescence is a combination of inflorescence trait contingency and order of character acquisition. These indicate that developmental and genetic mechanisms may be important constraints that have limited the diversification of the inflorescence form in panicoid grasses.

The Flowering Unit in the Synflorescences of Amaranthaceae

The structure of the synflorescence and the flowering units in Amaranthaceae are characterized. The synflorescence is polytelic. In the flowering unit we recognize the main florescence and the enrichment zone. The florescences may consist of: (1) Fully developed partial florescences bearing three or more flowers; (2) Partial florescences reduced to one or a few fertile flowers having prophylls with more or less modified axillary productions; or (3) No partial florescences but solitary flowers having prophylls with no axillary productions. We described the flowering unit in species with florescences bearing a solitary flower and the flowering unit in species with florescences bearing partial florescences. Hypothesized developmental processes are described, with a view to finding relationships among different models characterized in the family as well as defining characters for cladistic studies, which may be useful to depict all the variations observed.

Inflorescence structure in species of Spartina Schreb. (Poaceae: Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae)

The typology developed by Troll was followed to describe inflorescence structures for 15 species of Spartina. In all species here studied, truncation of the terminal spikelet of the main axis and primary paracladium was observed. The truncation can also involve the short paracladia subzone so that the inflorescence is confined to just the long paracladia subzone. A great homogenization of paracladia and maximum ramification degree limited generally to the second order of branching are distinctive characteristics of the genus. Proximal paracladia with third-order branching were found in only three specimens, and in these exceptional cases, the homogenization is partial. Sometimes, in some species, a subzone of long and short paracladia can be distinguished. The absence of trophotagma paracladia in all the species studied was verified. The variation in the structure of the inflorescence among species is due to the differences in the number of short paracladia, long paracladia, total number of primary paracladia and also in the angle of divergence of the long paracladia from the main axis. The latter, in addition to variations in the intercalary growth of the internodes produces modifications in the general appearance of the inflorescences. The systematic and taxonomic value of the inflorescences in Spartina is discussed.