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Glandular trichomes of Tussilago Farfara (Senecioneae, Asteraceae)

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Abstract

Main conclusion

The glandular trichomes are developed on the aerial organs of Tussilago farfara ; they produce phenols and terpenoids. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum and leucoplasts are the main organelles of the trichome secretory cells.

The aim of this study was to characterise the morphology, anatomy, histochemistry and ultrastructure of the trichomes in Tussilago farfara as well as to identify composition of the secretory products. Structure of trichomes located on the peduncles, bracts, phyllaries, and leaves were studied by light and electron microscopy. The capitate glandular trichomes consist of a multicellular head and a biseriate long stalk. Histochemical tests and fluorescence microscopy reveal phenols and terpenoids in the head cells. During secretory stage, the head cells contain smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, diversiform leucoplasts with opaque contents in lamellae, chloroplasts, mitochondria, and microbodies. In the capitate glandular trichomes of T. farfara subcuticular cavity is absent, unlike glandular trichomes in other Asteraceae species. For the first time, content of metabolites in the different vegetative and reproductive organs as well as in the isolated capitate glandular trichomes was identified by GC–MS. Forty-five compounds, including organic acids, sugars, polyols, phenolics, and terpenoids were identified. It appeared that metabolite content in the methanol extracts from peduncles, bracts and phyllaries is biochemically analogous, and similar to the metabolites from leaves, in which photosynthesis happens. At the same time, the metabolites from trichome extracts essentially differ and refer to the above-mentioned secondary substances. The study has shown that the practical value of the aerial organs of coltsfoot is provided with flavonoids produced in the capitate glandular trichomes.

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Abbreviations

ACGT:

Capitate glandular trichomes collected in April

CGT:

Capitate glandular trichomes

FM:

Fluorescent microscopy

GC–MS:

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

LM:

Light microscopy

MCGT:

Capitate glandular trichomes collected in May

MSD:

Mass selective detector

NGH:

Non-glandular hairs

PCA:

Principal component analysis

SEM:

Scanning electron microscopy

TIC:

Total ion chromatograms

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Core Centre ‘Cell and Molecular Technology in the Plant Science’ at the Komarov Botanical Institute (St. Petersburg, Russia) for provision of equipment for light and electron microscopy and the Resource Centre at the St. Petersburg State University for providing with GC–MS equipment. The present study was carried out within the framework of the institutional research project (01201255608) of the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and supported by the Russian Foundation of Basic Research (Grant 13-04-00797).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Plant Anatomy and Morphology, Komarov Botanical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Popov Street, 2, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Lyudmila E. Muravnik & Olga V. Kostina

  2. Laboratory of Analytical Phytochemistry, Komarov Botanical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor Popov Street, 2, 197376, St. Petersburg, Russia

    Alexey L. Shavarda

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  1. Lyudmila E. Muravnik
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Correspondence to Lyudmila E. Muravnik.

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Muravnik, L.E., Kostina, O.V. & Shavarda, A.L. Glandular trichomes of Tussilago Farfara (Senecioneae, Asteraceae). Planta 244, 737–752 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-016-2539-x

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