Morphological and developmental investigations of the underground system of Erythroxylum species from Brazilian cerrado

Abstract

Brazilian cerrado, a neotropical savanna, is characterised by a strongly seasonal climate with distinctive wet and dry seasons, and deep and well drained soils that are acidic and with high aluminium content. Recurrent fires in the dry season place additional stress on the survival of plants, which exhibit an array of strategies of survival. The purpose of this work was to study the underground system of Erythroxylum nanum A.St-Hil. and E. campestre A.St-Hil., two sub-shrubby species, and E. tortuosum Mart., a shrubby species, verifying the possible relationship between the morphology of the underground organs and the resprouting ability of these plants. Anatomical analyses followed the usual techniques of plant anatomy. The cotyledons of the three species were green, foliaceous and photosynthesising. The two sub-shrubby species (Erythroxylum nanum and E. campestre) showed slow development of the aerial shoot system and extensive growth of the primary root in the initial stage of development. E. tortuosum presented the most pronounced development of the aerial system and a poorly developed primary root compared with the sub-shrubby species. The sub-shrubby species occurred in clumps and had underground systems interlinked, consisting of a deep axial primary root system besides soboles in E. nanum and xylopodium in E. campestre. Plants of the E. tortuosum were isolated, highly branched and their underground system consisted of a superficial primary root system. Abundance of reserves and the bud-forming potential of the soboles, xylopodium and roots resulted in production of vigorous branches that are highly valuable in the regeneration of the aerial biomass following fire or seasonal dry in cerrado.