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Morphology of the unusual polyad in Amazonian Parkia legume trees

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Abstract

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An unusual polyad occurs in three Parkia species, named cavitate polyad. It has an internal central space full of lipoprotein substances, contacting all pollen grains, probably aiding pollen germination.

Abstract

This study details the unusual morphology of polyads of three species of Parkia (P. multijuga Benth., P. ulei (Harms) Kuhlm., and P. pendula (Willd.) Benth. ex Walp.) and suggests functions for polyad adaptive traits that are linked to the reproductive success of the species. Polyads within the anthers of the three Parkia species were analysed by surface (scanning electron microscopy) and anatomical (light microscopy) studies. Ultrastructure and development studies were carried out for P. pendula polyads. Polyads are globose and cavitated, i.e., exhibit an internal cavity that varies in size, being more conspicuous in P. ulei and P. pendula. Other differences among species are related to the polyad size, exine ornamentation and the type of substances stored in the pollen grain. The polyad internal cavity is filled with an exudate that may be related to the pollen germination through the internal pores and/or translocation of substances from the anther loculus to the inside or vice versa. This inference is supported by the following observations: the spaces between the pollen grains in a polyad are also filled with the exudate, and the exudate inside the polyad is similar to the anther locular fluid. The morphology and substances stored within the pollen grains of Parkia polyads seem to be more related to polyad functionality and physiology than to the selective pressures exerted by different pollinators on the group.

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Author contribution statement

Liana worked in the data collection and interpretation, in the arrangement of figures in plates, in the bibliographical survey and writing the manuscript. Simone worked in the supervision of data collection, data interpretation, correction of the plates and of the text.

Acknowledgments

We thank Edmárcio S. Campos (FCFRP/USP), Maria Dolores S. Ferreira, José Augusto Maulin (FMRP/USP) and Rodrigo F. Silva (FFCLRP/USP) for technical assistance. The authors have grant from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Process Number 302204/2012-1).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PPG em Biologia Vegetal, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Campinas, SP, 13083-862, Brazil

    Liana Carneiro Capucho

  2. Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Av. do Café, s/n, 14040-903, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Simone Pádua Teixeira

Authors
  1. Liana Carneiro Capucho
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  2. Simone Pádua Teixeira
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Correspondence to Liana Carneiro Capucho.

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Communicated by M. Shane.

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Capucho, L.C., Teixeira, S.P. Morphology of the unusual polyad in Amazonian Parkia legume trees. Trees 28, 1507–1514 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1055-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1055-5

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