Leonardo M. Versieux

Molecular phylogenetics of the Brazilian giant bromeliads (Alcantarea, Bromeliaceae): implications for morphological evolution and biogeography

The genus Alcantarea comprises near 30 species endemic to rocky outcrops from eastern Brazil. Most species are ornamental and several are threatened due to habitat loss and over collection. In this paper we examine the phylogenetics of Alcantarea and its relationship with the Brazilian members of Vriesea, a genus of which Alcantarea has been treated as a subgenus. We discuss the morphological evolution of the stamen position and its implication for pollination and the occurrence of Alcantarea in the Espinhaço mountain range rocky savanna-like habitat vegetation. DNA sequence data derived from two plastid markers (trnK-rps16, trnC-petN) and from a low copy nuclear gene (Floricaula/Leafy) together with 20 nuclear microsatellite loci were the data source to perform analyses and construct phylogenetic and Neighbor Joining trees for the genus. Alcantarea is well supported as monophyletic in both Bayesian and parsimony analyses, but sections of Vriesea, represented by the eastern Brazilian species, appear paraphyletic. Microsatellites delimit geographically isolated species groups. Nevertheless individuals belonging to a single species may appear related to distinct clusters of species, suggesting that hybridization and/or homoplasy and/or incomplete lineage sorting are also influencing the analysis based on such markers and may be the reasons for some unexpected results. Alcantarea brasiliana is hypothesized as putative hybrid between A. imperialis and A. geniculata. Spreading stamens, a morphological floral characteristic assumed to be related to Chiropterophily, apparently evolved multiple times within the genus, and invasion of rocky savanna-like habitat vegetation by Atlantic rainforest ancestors seems to have occurred multiple times as well.

Delimitation of the Alcantarea extensa complex (Bromeliaceae) and a new species from Espírito Santo, Brazil

O complexo de especies relacionadas a Alcantarea extensa e apresentado e delimitado como: A. extensa, A. vinicolor, A. burle-marxii, A. turgida, A. distractila, A. lurida, A. simplicisticha, A. nigripetala, A. mucilaginosa e A. trepida. Alcantarea trepida, conhecida do estado do Espirito Santo, e descrita como nova e ilustrada. E comparada com A. extensa, A. simplicisticha e A. vinicolor, das quais difere pela inflorescencia ereta e robusta com flores mais numerosas e pelas raquilas retas e mais grossas.

Transferability of 10 nuclear microsatellite primers to Vriesea minarum (Bromeliaceae), a narrowly endemic and threatened species from Brazil

Vriesea minarum is an endemic rupiculous bromeliad species, with naturally fragmented populations, restricted to the Iron Quadrangle, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is a threatened species, which is suffering from habitat loss due to the growth of cities and mining activities. Thus, it is extremely important to know its genetic structure to set strategies for its in situ and ex situ conservation. Here, we tested 14 nuclear microsatellite primers (SSRs) for one population of V. minarum to search for polymorphisms and evaluated the transferability of previously developed primers. We succeeded in the amplification of 10 loci in which we also found polymorphisms. The expected and observed heterozygosity found here is similar to other Bromeliaceae population genetics studies. Our results show the great potential in working with these co-dominant markers for V. minarum, which may help in developing conservation actions for the species in the future.

New genus and species records of Bromeliaceae in the Caatinga of Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil: Orthophytum disjunctum L.B. Sm. (Bromelioideae) and Tillandsia paraibensis R.A. Pontes (Tillandsioideae)

In the present work we describe the first occurrence of the genus Orthophytum (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioideae) and of the species Tillandsia paraibensis within the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. Both taxa were recorded on inselbergs in areas of caatinga. These findings are important, improving the knowledge of the Flora of Rio Grande do Norte and giving a better understand of the biogeography of Brazilian bromeliads.

A new species of Alcantarea (E. Morren ex Mez) Harms, Bromeliaceae

Alcantarea patriae Versieux & Wand. (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae), a new species from southeastern Brazil, is described and illustrated. It grows on inselbergs within the Atlantic Forest vegetation at Jeronimo Monteiro County, Espirito Santo State. The new taxon shows some morphological similarities with A. odorata (Leme) J.R. Grant, having ligulate long attenuate leaves and sweet scent yellow flowers. However, A. patriae has a very characteristic inflorescence, with the primary bracts shorter than the lateral peduncles, suberect to erect flowering branches (vs. patent to pendulous in A. odorata), with more spaced flowers (20-30 vs. 8-15 mm) and also a wider rosette, up to 1.6 m diam.

Aechmea muricata (Arruda) L.B. Sm. (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae): A new record of a threatened species for Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil

This paper records the first occurrence of Aechmea muricata (Bromeliaceae, Bromelioideae) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, northeastern Brazil. The taxon was found inside the Mata Estrela Private Reserve, Baia Formosa municipality, southern Rio Grande do Norte. This finding is important to increase the data about the Flora of Rio Grande do Norte, one of the poorest sampled states in Brazil so far, as well as to increase the knowledge about A. muricata distribution, since it is officially included in the Brazilian threatened species plant red list.

Avaliação da eficiência da propagação de Alcantarea imperialis (Bromeliaceae) cultivada in vitro e ex vitro

The in vitro cultivation of bromeliads has been considered an effective technique to improve its production. However, there are no studies that compare the efficiency of the methods of in vitro propagation versus ex vitro for the Brazilian giant bromeliad Alcantarea imperialis (Carriere) Harms used in landscaping and considered to be endangered due to illegal extraction. The in vitro culture appears as a good alternative to preserve the genetic diversity of this polymorphic species, assuring that the raw material for the contemporary evolution will be available. The aim of this study was to compare the growth of plants of A. imperialis in vitro and ex vitro obtained from seed, establishing the ideal transfer period. The seeds were disinfected before being transferred to culture conditions (culture medium or Pinus sp. bark substrate). After the pre-established growing time, in vitro plants were transferred to ex vitro (acclimatization). Plants from in vitro cultures showed higher values for all measured parameters compared to those grown ex vitro. The data showed that the acclimation of plants cultivated in vitro for 2, 4, and 6 months showed better growth compared to those acclimated after being cultured in vitro for longer time. These results show the efficiency of the in vitro culture method, indicating the ideal time for the maintenance of the plants in nutrient media, providing important cost-benefit ratio for production.

Pollen morphology of Alcantarea giant bromeliads (Bromeliaceae, Tillandsioideae)

Abstract Here we describe the pollen morphology of 19 species of Alcantarea, none of them fully described before, to contribute to the infra-generic delimitation of the genus. Pollen grains are heteropolar, amb ellipsoidal (although spheroidal pollen occurs in Alcantarea aurantiaca, A. burle-marxii, A. glaziouana, A. nahoumii, A. roberto-kauskyi and A. trepida), monosulcate, sulcus with margin, reticulate ornamentation of the exine on the central area of pollen grain (except in A. imperialis, which display foveolate ornamentation) and apex of equatorial axe with different ornamentation from the central area of pollen grain (microreticulate calota or psilate-perforate calota). The genus is considered stenopalynous due to the similarity in the pollen morphology. The new pollen characters obtained here are useful in understanding the infra-generic palynotaxonomy of the genus confirming the relationship between species that have been grouped together based on vegetative evidence and/or relationships suggested by analyses based on DNA sequences or microsatellite evidence, e.g. between A. aurantiaca, A. burle-marxii and A. nahoumii; between A. burle-marxii, A. glaziouana and A. trepida; between A. hatschbachii and A. duarteana, between A. roberto-kautsky and A. trepida. Our results improve the morphological characterisation of the genus and may contribute to phylogenetic analyses as well as the biosystematics approach to solve species complexes.

Insights on underestimated Lentibulariaceae diversity in northeastern Brazil: new records and notes on distribution, diversity and endemism in the family

Here we present 36 new records of 22 species of Lentibulariaceae from northeastern Brazil, expanding their distribution range and providing taxonomic, habitat and phenological comments, in addition to distribution maps and photographs of living specimens. Rio Grande do Norte is the state with the highest number of new records (12), followed by Alagoas, with eight. This is the first insight on the actual richness of the family in the region, and some species show interesting disjunct distributions and habitat restrictions. Only one species treated here is endemic to northeastern Brazil, ten species seem to be restricted to lowland white-sand wetlands, and three are restricted to high altitudes in campos rupestres or in campos de altitude. The remaining ones have a wider distribution. Our data support previous hypotheses on plant dispersal and past connections between Brazilian vegetation formations, shedding light for future studies on the dispersal history and biogeography of Lentibulariaceae.

Vriesea piscatrix (Bromeliaceae): uma nova epífita da Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Vriesea piscatrix, uma nova especie relacionada a Vriesea guttata G. Lodd. e descrita e ilustrada. O novo taxon e, ate o momento, endemico da Serra do Cipo, ocorrendo em matas nebulares distribuidas em meio ao campo rupestre.