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Leaf periderm supports longevity and functionality of crown leaves in Agathis species (Araucariaceae)

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Abstract

Periderm of the leaves of two Agathis species was studied. Agathis leaves are long-lived and remain alive for more than 25 years. Periderm occurs regularly and can be initiated in the epidermis, mesophyll, phloem parenchyma of the leaf veins and in the ground tissue of the petiole. Periderm lies on the surface, is located in the mesophyll or splits it. Periderm structure is either typical, consisting of phellogen, multilayered phellem and phelloderm or disordered. Agathis leaves are able to form true wound periderm, which has been shown experimentally. We believe that at least some of the factors inducing periderm initiation are identical both in leaves and in stems. Mechanical tension in the tissues and cell deformation plays an essential role in the periderm initiation. Leaf tissues isolated due to the suberinization process may function as a storage site for the substances not involved in the plant metabolism or excluded from it. Periderm gives an opportunity to keep such substances away from functional tissues, which is important for evergreen plants with long-lived leaves.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Grant 17-04-01213A to AAP). The study was carried out using laboratory facilities of the Research Resource Center for molecular and cell technologies and Resource Center ‘Chromas’ of St Petersburg State University Research park, as well as the Center for Collective Use ‘Cellular and Molecular Methods for Studying Plants and Fungi’ at the Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. We thank Irina Korshunova, curator of the Komarov Botanical Gardens for providing plant material of the studied species.

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Correspondence to Alisa I. Arbicheva.

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Arbicheva, A.I., Pautov, A.A. Leaf periderm supports longevity and functionality of crown leaves in Agathis species (Araucariaceae). Braz. J. Bot 41, 155–165 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-017-0429-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40415-017-0429-5

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