Michelle Fayad-Andre
University of Brasilia, Brazil
Title: The lack of aluminium has a negative impact on Qualea dichotoma (mart) warm (Vochysiaceae) metabolism and anatomical structure
Biography
Biography: Michelle Fayad-Andre
Abstract
Qualea dichotoma (Mart.) Warm. (Vochysiaceae) is adapted to high aluminum (Al3+) contents in soils. The present study seeks to contribute to the understanding of the role of this metal on growth and development of native species of Brazilian savanna. Therefore, Q. dichotoma seedlings were grown with and without Al for 120 days. After 60 days of cultivation, the control plants (no Al) presented reduced chlorophylls a e b and carotenoids contents when compared with those grown with Al. The histochemical analysis (hematoxylin) showed high coloration intensity in leaves (midveins), a well as in stems and roots of Al-treated plants. GC-MS based metabolic analysis also detected differences in metabolite contents between control and Al-treated plants. Leaves of control plants had significantly higher amounts of malate, citrate, glyceric acid, pyroglutamic acid. In Addition, in roots the amount of the amino acid serine was significantly higher in control plants. The data strongly indicates that control plants were under stress due to the lack of Al, which may be associated with the high levels of organic acids in these plants. Thereby, Al appears to be required for proper growth and development of this species. Additionally, myo -inositol and quinic acid and sucrose in leaves and roots of treated plants may be related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) assisting the plants better development and adaptation in acidic soils. Based on the results, Al may play an important role on Q. dichotoma metabolism.