Rescue and vegetative propagation of Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish in natural stand

Resgate e propagação vegetativa de Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeish em povoamentos naturais

Abstract

The native stands of ‘candeia’ (Eremanthus erythropappus) have been explored through management plans due to the economic potential of essential oil. The rescue of adult trees, as well as the application of silvicultural techniques that favor the restoration of the stand, can contribute to the genetic conservation of this species. This study’s objective was to assess the efficiency of propagation techniques for the rescue of 26 matrices of ‘candeia’ in a natural managed stand and discussion about the rhizogenesis. In August 2017, trees were induced to regrowth by coppice, followed by exposure and scarification of roots. The emergence of shoots and morphology were evaluated according to the origin (i.e., stump or root). After that period, 19 matrices had their sprouts collected for the preparation of apical cuttings. Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was applied at the base of the cuttings. Cutting survival at greenhouse exit (GE), rooting at shade house exit (SHE), morphology and root anatomy were evaluated. In 189 days, the scarification of roots promoted 76.92% of budding. The percentage of sprouted matrices, number of shoots per matrice, length, diameter, and shoot length/diameter ratio increased over time. Only 12.2% of the cuttings survived in GE, and of these, 7.9% rooted in SHE. The cutting resulted in the formation of a clonal mini-garden of ‘candeia’, with seven of the 19 matrices submitted to propagation. The anatomical analyses showed that bud formation occurs from cell redifferentiation in the phloem parenchyma, and presence of crystals on the walls of the vessel elements of the secondary xylem. The shoots induction from scarification of roots could be used as a silvicultural practice for the reestablishment of the native fragments handle.

Keywords:  ‘candeia’; cloning; cutting technique; adventitious rooting

Resumo

Os povoamentos nativos de candeia (Eremanthus erythropappus) vêm sendo explorados por planos de manejo devido ao potencial econômico do óleo essencial. O resgate de árvores adultas, bem como a aplicação de técnicas silviculturais que favoreçam o restabelecimento do povoamento podem contribuir para a conservação genética dessa espécie. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de técnicas de propagação para o resgate de 26 matrizes de candeia em um povoamento natural manejado e discutir sobre a rizogênese. Em agosto de 2017, as árvores foram induzidas à rebrota por meio da decepa, seguida da exposição e escarificação das raízes. A emissão brotações e morfologia foram avaliadas de acordo com a origem (toco ou raiz). Após esse período, 19 matrizes tiveram as brotações recolhidas para o preparo de estacas apicais, que foram tratadas com ácido indolbutírico (AIB). A sobrevivência das estacas na saída da casa de vegetação (SCV), o enraizamento na saída da casa de sombra (SCS), a morfologia e a anatomia da raiz foram avaliados. Aos 189 dias, a escarificação das raízes resultou em 76,92% de emissão de brotos. O percentual de matrizes brotadas, número de brotos por matriz, comprimento, diâmetro e relação comprimento/diâmetro dos brotos aumentaram ao longo do período avaliado. Somente 12,2% das estacas sobreviveram na SCV e 7,9% enraizaram na SCS. A estaquia resultou na formação de um minijardim clonal de candeia com sete das dezenove matrizes submetidas à propagação. As análises anatômicas mostraram a diferenciação das células na região do parênquima floemático e a presença de cristais de inulina nas paredes dos elementos de vaso do xilema secundário. A indução de brotos radiculares pode ser usada como prática silvicultural visando o restabelecimento de fragmentos nativos manejados.

Palavras-chave:  candeia; clonagem; estaquia; raiz adventícia

1. Introduction

Eremanthus erythropappus (Asteraceae) is a forest species of relevant commercial interest, considering the chemical properties present in essential oils extracted through the distillation of wood (Dutra et al., 2010). The species is typically found in highland areas of the Mantiqueira Range, in the southern region of Minas Gerais (MG), forming homogeneous masses in soils characterized by low fertility and the presence of rocky outcrops (Scolforo et al., 2012). Plants that have a high degree of specificity regarding reproduction, auto-ecology, morphology, and life cycles occupy these environments, needing differentiated conservation strategies (Scarano, 2007).

Currently, legal limitations for ‘candeia’ management have technical implications, including matters for its cultivation and management. The legislation foresees that natural stands that can be exploited should hold at least 70% of these tree species and that this predominance is reestablished through the conduction of natural regeneration in the exploited area (Belo Horizonte, 2013). Although seminal propagation is considered to be the main strategy adopted in the current ‘candeia’ management plans (Pérez et al., 2004), alternative forms of plant perpetuation may occur through periodic restriction of the environment (Appezzato-da-Glória et al., 2008; Silva et al., 2015). These authors have been conducted morpho-anatomy studies in root plants of Asteraceae family with the aim to identify structures and sources able to promote the regenerative shoots in plants, after natural or anthropogenic disturbances.

Vegetative propagation methods can be used for the rescue and multiplication of genotypes of interest or for the genetic conservation of the species. But, establishing efficient rescue protocols for tropical forest species is a challenge to be overcome, given the plasticity with which these species respond to conventional treatments with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (Santos et al., 2011; Barbosa Filho et al., 2018; Barroso et al., 2018; Araújo et al., 2019). However, once established, vegetative propagation can overcome problems such as the restricted period of the year in which perennial species produce seeds, variation in the physiological vigor of seeds, difficulties in seed collection, processing and storage, and genetic variations between progenies.

Based on the foregoing, the aim of this work was testing the efficiency of an induction method for adventitious Eremanthus erythropappus budding in a natural stand and vegetative propagating selected matrices in the field. In addition, anatomical analyses were performed to illustrate the cellular roots differentiation and the type of sources reserves presents.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Study area

The experiment was conducted in a native stand of Eremanthus erythropappus, located in the municipality of Conceição das Pedras/MG, Brazil at the geographic coordinates 45°22’16.26”W and 22°7’35.05”, and 1,100 m of altitude. The municipality is inserted in the ‘Serra da Mantiqueira’, southern region of the MG State and has mountainous relief with high slope. The climate, according to Köppen-Geiger, is classified as altitude tropical - Cwb, with dry winters and temperate summers (Alvares et al., 2013).

2.2. In situ rescue

In August 2017, 26 adult trees with approximately thirty years-old, were selected (E.e₁ at E.e₂₆) from native forest explored by Sustainable Management Plan, previously approved by Forest State Institute – IEF/MG, taking into account their vigor, size, and phytosanitary status. Rescue technique consisted in felling the tree (coppice) with a chainsaw at a length of 0.30-0.40 m, followed by root exposure and scarification, as proposed by Melo et al. (2012). Shoot induction was evaluated for the origin (i.e., stump or root), percentage of matrices sprouted, number of shoots per matrice, length (cm), diameter (mm) and length/diameter ratio at intervals of 30, 60, 90, 120, 157, and 189 days after induction (DAI), for each induced matrice. Control of the weed grass close to the strain was carried out, where appropriate, at each evaluation. The experimental design was completely randomized with subdivided plots in time, where each matrice was considered a replication within each plot.

During the experiment, climatological data were collected from the A-531 Automatic Station, located at the geographic coordinates 45°22’22.97”W and 22°18’52.44”S, and near 21 km of the experimental area. The highest precipitation register occurred between December 2017 and January 2018, which 258.4 mm of rainfall accumulated. In the same period, the highest average temperature was 19.4°C.

2.3. Vegetative propagation by cutting technique

At 204 DAI, shoots of 19 matrices were collected from a native forest with approximately thirty years-old. Shoots were then placed in black plastic bags, moistened and sealed with string, and were transported to the Forest Nursery of the Federal University of Lavras. The time of displacement between the field and the nursery was approximately 3 h. After cleaning the shoots in solution of hypochlorite (concentration 0.05% for 10 min), apical cuttings between 7.5 and 12.0 cm of length, were made with a 50% reduction in leaf area. Thus, 4 g L^-1 IBA in liquid solution was applied in the cutting base for 10 s. The control group did not receive IBA. Tubes of 55 cm³ were used as containers, filled with substrate containing vermiculite of medium granulometry, carbonized rice husk, and sand in the ratio 4.5:4.5:1.0 (v^-1 v^-1 v^-1), enriched of 4 kg m^-3 of Osmocote® fertilizer, in the NPK 19:06:10. The cuttings were conditioned in a greenhouse with scheduled temperatures between 25 and 35°C, and relative humidity of more than 80%. At 57 days, cutting survival at greenhouse exit (GE) was evaluated. Then, the cuttings were transferred to the shade house, with 50% shade, where they remained for 27 days. The adventitious rooting at shade exit (SHE) was then evaluated.

The experimental design was completely randomized, and each matrice was considered a sampling unit, and the cuttings its replicates. The factors of variation were the levels of auxin applied on the cuttings (i.e., presence and absence). Altogether, 362 cuttings were made, 181 were submitted to plant growth regulator treatment, and 181 to the control group.

2.4. Statistical analysis

The data was submitted to Shapiro-Wilk’s normality test (p < 0.05), and homogeneity of variance by the Bartlett’s test (p < 0.05), and later were transformed by Box-Cox, by equation 1/[(x +0.5)^2], where x represents the sampled variable. Analysis of variance (ANOVA, p < 0.05), regression analysis (logistic model) to in situ rescue experiment, and Duncan’s test (p < 0.05) to vegetative propagation experiment were performed with SOC (EMBRAPA, 1990) and R (R Development Core Team, 2012).

2.5. Anatomical analyses

Root segments were collected from a planted forest with 13-year-old, localized in the Federal University of Lavras – UFLA, after applied the same rescue technique describe before. Then, two analyses of root were performed. To illustrate the cellular roots differentiation, the samples were fixed at FAA70 (Johansen, 1940) for 150 days, and treated with a vacuum pump at 160 mm Hg pressure. They were then dehydrated in an ethanol series with concentration 80, 90 and 100% with two hours of rest and the material overnight in Leica Historesin® infiltration resin in the resin: alcohol (1:1) mixture. Then, the material was transferred to pure resin, for a further 30 days, and then blotted into historesin. Cross sections were performed on a table microtome of 6 μm thickness. The sections were dehydrated in ethyl alcohol, stained with toluidine blue pH 4.7 solution. Acrilex® assembly medium, mixed in 50% glycerin (Paiva et al., 2006), was used to prepare the permanent slides.

To identify the type of source reserve present in the root cellular, fresh root samples collected from the planted forest were taken to the Wood Anatomy Laboratory of UFLA and placed in 70% ethyl alcohol for crystal visualization. After harvest, the roots were cut crosswise into a 7 μm thick table microtome, and the slides visualized under polarized light. Histochemical tests with 15% ethyl thimol and concentrated sulfuric acid (Johansen, 1940) were conducted to confirm the nature of the crystal. Considering the vegetative propagation experiment, one stake in the Shade House was sample and the material was fixed in FAA70 (Johansen, 1940) for three days and then transferred to 70% alcohol for twelve hours. Thereafter, dehydration in 80, 90 and 100% ethyl series were made at 90-minute intervals. After 24 hours in resin: alcohol (1:1), the material rested for a further 30 days on pure resin, to then be stored in the historesin. Cross sections were made in a 10 μm thick table microtome, and sections were stained with toluidine blue - pH 4.7. Permanent slides were made using Acrilex® stained glass varnish (Paiva et al., 2006).

3. Results

3.1. In situ rescue

At 189 days after installation (DAI) of the experiment, four matrices did not show shoot emission and two were lost due to the fall of nearby trees on the exposed root area. The applied technique promoted the sprouting of 76.92% of the matrices (Figure 1A), which at the end of the follow-up period totaled 396 shoots, exclusively of root origin, without shoots issued from stump (coppice). The matrices Ee₆, Ee_8, Ee_16, Ee_19, and Ee₂₀ accounted for 68.93% of the total number of shoots counted, which influenced variation coefficients for the percentage of sprouted matrices and number of shoots per matrice (Table 1). Furthermore, the emission of new shoots by E. erythropappus roots, at each evaluated interval, resulted in mean length and diameter variation (Table 2).

Figure 1
Eremanthus erythropappus matrices behavior for (A) percentage of sprouted matrices, (B) number of shoots, (C) length of shoots, (D) diameter, and (E) length/diameter, as a function of the time (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 157, and 189 days after induction).

Table 1
Summary of the analysis of variance for the sprouted matrices of Eremanthus erythropappus and for the number of shoots per matrices counted over time (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 157, and 189 days after induction) and shoot origin (i.e., stump and root).

Cause of variation	Mean square		Mean square
	Df	Sprouted matrices(1) (%)	Df	Number of shoots(1) (shoot matrice-1)
Time (Tim)	6	22.10**	6	32.59**
Residue-Tim	175	0.78ns	147	0.70ns
Plot	181	-	153	-
Origin (Ori)	1	160.59**	1	236.62**
Ori × Tim	6	22.10**	6	32.59**
Residue	175	0.78	147	0.70
Subplot	363	-	307	-
Mean(2)	-	18.68	-	3.84
CVt (%)	-	26.48	-	26.89

• ^**
  Significant value at the 1% probability level of error by F test. ^ns Non-significant value at the 5% probability level by F test. Df: degrees of freedom. CVt (%): transformed coefficient of variation;
• ⁽¹⁾Data transformed by 1/[(x+0.5)^2], where x = sampled variable;
• ⁽²⁾Real mean.

Table 2
Summary of the analysis of variance for the length, diameter and length/diameter ratio of Eremanthus erythropappus shoots measured over time (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 157, and 189 days after induction) and shoot origin (i.e., stump and root).

Cause of variation	Df	Mean square
		Length(1) (cm)	Diameter(1) (mm)	Length/diameter(1) (cm mm-1)
Time (Tim)	6	666.16**	635.50**	647.75**
Residue-Tim	98	24.62**	23.56**	23.77**
Plot	104	-	-	-
Origin (Ori)	1	1,058.09**	1,008.70**	1,007.18**
Ori × Tim	6	145.25**	138.32**	139.82**
Residue	2,271	0.46	0.44	0.44
Subplot	2,382	-	-	-
Mean(2)	-	6.71	1.51	2.10
CVt (%)	-	33.68	32.29	32.14

• ^**
  Significant value at the 1% probability level of error by F test. Df: degrees of freedom. CVt (%): transformed coefficient of variation;
• ⁽¹⁾Data transformed by 1/[(x+0.5)^2], where x = sampled variable;
• ⁽²⁾Real mean.

Shoot emission occurred from 90 DAI, and regression analyses (Figure 1AE) revealed a trend of increase in the percentage of sprouted matrices, number of shoots per matrice, length, diameter, and length/diameter during the evaluated period. These parameters showed significant interaction with time and matrices (p < 0.01). Among the evaluation intervals, new shoots coexisted with those that were more developed.

3.2. Vegetative propagation by cutting technique

In propagation by cutting, only 12.26% survived GE, without significant difference between matrices (Table 3). Overall, the absence of IBA resulted in higher survival percentages, when compared to the 4 g L^-1 IBA concentration (Table 3), and there were no significant differences with the control treatment. From the surviving cuttings, only 7.9% formed roots in SHE, considering the treatment with IBA and the control (Table 3). Variance analyses revealed no interaction between the propagated matrices and IBA concentration applied. In spite of the low percentage of survival of the cuttings, 7 of the 19 matrices were rescued (i.e., Ee₃, Ee₆, Ee₈, Ee₁₅, Ee₁₈, Ee₂₀ and Ee₂₆).

Table 3
Mean survival and rooting percentages of Eremanthus erythropappus cuttings at greenhouse exit (GE), and shade house exit (SHE), according the matrices and IBA application.

Matrice	Greenhouse exit			Shade house exit
	0.0 IBA(1) (g L-1)	4.0 IBA (g L-1)	Mean	0.0 IBA (g L-1)	4.0 IBA (g L-1)	Mean
2	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00C(±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
3	25.00 (±25.00)	25.00 (±25.00)	25.00ABC (±16.36)	25.00 (±25.00)	25.00 (±25.00)	25.00AB (±16.36)
4	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00C (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
6	45.83 (±10.38)	20.83 (±8.46)	33.33ABC (±6.87)	33.33 (±9.82)	20.83 (±8.46)	27.08AB (±6.48)
7	25.00 (±25.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	14.28ABC (±14.28)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
8	34.78 (±10.15)	13.63 (±7.48)	24.44ABC (±6.47)	17.39 (±8.08)	9.09 (±6.27)	13.33AB (±5.12)
9	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00C (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00	0.00B (±0.00)
10	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00C(±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
14	0.00 (±0.00)	50.00 (±50.00)	25.00ABC (±25.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
15	0.00 (±0.00)	66.66 (±33.33)	40.00A (±24.49)	0.00 (±0.00)	66.66 (±33.33)	40.00A (±24.49)
16	2.00 (±2.00)	2.04 (±2.04)	2.02BC (±1.42)	2.00 (±2.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
18	50.00 (±28.86)	25.00 (±25.00)	37.50AB (±18.29)	25.00 (±25.00)	25.00 (±25.00)	25.00AB (±16.36)
19	7.14 (±7.14)	7.14 (±7.14)	7.14ABC (±4.95)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
20	6.25 (±6.25)	12.50 (±8.53)	9.37ABC (±5.23)	0.00 (±0.00)	12.50 (±8.53)	6.25B (±4.34)
21	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00C (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
22	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00C (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
23	0.00 (±0.00)	50.00 (±50.00)	25.00ABC (±25.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
24	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00C (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	0.00B (±0.00)
26	25.00 (±25.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	12.50ABC (±12.50)	25.00 (±25.00)	0.00 (±0.00)	12.50AB (±12.50)
Mean	14.75 (±2.62)	9.78 (±2.19)	12.26 (±2.40)	8.74 (±2.09)	7.06 (±1.89)	7.90 (±1.99)

• ⁽¹⁾IBA = indole-3-butyric acid. In the columns mean values followed by letter do not statistically differ by Duncan’s test at 5% probability of error. Data presented as: mean ± standard error.

3.3. Anatomical analyses

The anatomy performed on the E. erythropappus root revealed the ability of sprouting from redistribution of phloem cells (Figure 2A). Secondary roots have uniseriate parenchyma rays that divide and organize the xylem vessel elements. Organized radially in line, vessel elements are numerous and dense (Figure 2B). Secondary phloems are characterized by bundles of fibers interspersed with parenchyma and crimped tube elements that accompany the direction of xylem rays (Figure 2C). Bud formation occurs from cell redifferentiation in the phloem parenchyma region, marked by the alteration in the cellular organization pattern and evidenced by the thickening of the fiber bundles in this area (Figure 2D).

Figure 2
Anatomy of Eremanthus erythropappus. (A) Anatomy of the root, with differentiation in aerial part (4x); (B) Secondary growth root (4x); (C) Secondary phloem region without gem differentiation (10x); (D) Phloem region with alteration of periclinal and anticline divisions of parenchyma cells (10x); (E) Radial segment (dashed line: cross-section); (F) Anatomical cut of the root seen under polarized light (10x). In particular, the distribution of the crystals along the walls of the vessel elements of the secondary xylem; (G) Histochemical test result with thimol 15% ethylic solution; (H) Stake used for anatomical analyses and place of embedding; (I) Distribution of vascular bundles forming a cylindrical ring around the medulla (M) (4x); (J) Vascular cylinder with interfascicular parenchyma (10x); (K) Adventitious root establishing vascular attachment with stem change (20x). Legend: P: periderm; Ph: secondary phloem; X: secondary xylem; F: fibers; Ca: cambium; V: vessels; G.r.: gemiferous region; S: sprout; R: root; E: epiderm; Co: cortex; Vc: vascular cylinder; Ic: interfascicular cambium; Ar: adventitious root; M: medula center.

Under polarized light, ‘candeia’ roots formed crystals on the walls of the vessel elements of the secondary xylem (Figure 2F). Histochemical tests were positive for inulin, indicating that the species stores type fructan inulin in the root cells (Figure 2G). The vascular bundles form a cylindrical ring around the stem, with interfascicular parenchyma in the vascular cylinder region (Figures 2HJ). The vascular connection between the adventitious root and the cambium is shown in Figures 2JL.

4. Discussion

4.1. In situ rescue

The applied rescue technique revealed that the E. erythropappus species, even under natural conditions, has great potential for the emission of shoots from the root. This characteristic is particularly important for the genetic conservation of the managed natural stands, since asexual reproduction mechanisms can promote the spontaneous vegetative propagation of the regenerants, guaranteeing the survival of a species in a certain place (Rodrigues et al., 2004; Vacek et al., 2012).

The emission shoots by adult trees under coppicing, have been associated to imbalance endogenous level of auxin and cytokinin able to promote the genes expression, enzymes and proteins, which aid auxin translocation between plant parts and results at differentiation of tissues (Xiong and Zhu, 2003). The origin of shoots, exclusively radicular, could occurred in reason of injury caused by roots scarification, which would act at physiological and cellular levels, demanding from the plant large amounts of solutes to the damage region. In other hand, the thickness of the rythidoma, typical of the E. erythropappus species, may have acted as a physical barrier to emission and development of buds.

The data recorded in this study, with matrices at thirty years-old, differ from those found by Melo et al. (2012). Using the same technique and species, they recorded 1,764 shoots in 24 matrices planted at four years of age. This difference underscores the strong influence of the genotype, the juvenile degree of the matrices, natural environmental conditions, and the nutritional reserves of the stump and root (Wendling et al., 2014a). It is possible that the physiological vigor and ontogenetic age of some plants have been a limiting factor, given that matrices induced by sprouting developed under natural conditions without any fertilization or silvicultural treatment that favors growth (Wendling et al., 2014b). This fact explains why differentiated emission of shoots occurred in the Ee₆, Ee₈, Ee₁₆, Ee₁₉ and Ee₂₀ matrices, which together accounted for 68.93% of shoots, at 189 DAI. Borges-Júnior et al. (2004), considering shoots from stump, showed seasons influence on the percentage of sprouted matrices and number of sprouts per stump in a five-year-old Acacia mearnsii De Wild cultivar, with better results in the spring, registering an average of 24 and 35 shoots per tree from stumps with length 0.30 and 0.45 m, respectively, and at 90 days. Regarding E. erythropappus, accounting only the individuals at 189 DAI, the average was 19.8 shoots per matrice, emitted from 90 DAI, when the recorded rainfall went from 135 to 258.4 mm and the average temperature was 17.9-19.4°C. New shoots and the increase growth in length and diameter over time are important guides for future clonal programs with ‘candeia’, and to establish the use of different silvicultural methods for management, like coppice method as well as proposed by Melo et al. (2012).

The average shoot length and diameter were 21.09 cm and 3.52 mm, at 189 DAI, respectively (Figure 1CE). These values are similar to those reported by Stuepp et al. (2016) for Ilex paraguariensis St. Hill, with mean values of 19.95 cm in length, and 3.7 mm in diameter, registered in matrices of over 17 years, to 180 DAI. Souza et al. (2016) reported that the initial growth of sprouts in Eucalyptus contributes for carbohydrate reserves of the remaining parts of the tree. However, Klimeš and Klimešová (1999) found no evidence of nutritional support among root-linked Rumex acetosella (L.) shoots subjected to different nutritional conditions.

During the evaluation period new shoots were emitted and coexist with older shoots, still connected with the matrices by roots. This behavior allows the use of different strategies of vegetative propagation, because the explant pattern was very broad. Thus, others alternative propagation techniques can be tested for ‘candeia’. Considering the legal obligation to conduct natural regeneration of the ‘candeia’ after the exploitation of the managed stand (Belo Horizonte, 2013), the restoration of the forest managed by root shoots is a viable alternative to reestablish the predominance of this species, mainly in the first year after cutting, given that the first shoots were counted at 90 DAI.

4.2. Vegetative propagation by cutting technique

The high mortality of ‘candeia’ stakes can be attributed to the oxidation of phenolic compounds in the plant (Lattuada et al., 2011), verified in this work by the darkening of the apex towards the base of the stake. Leaves secrete phenolic substances responsible for the whitish coloration in this region (Dutra et al., 2010), because they have a large amount of tectonic trichomes in the abaxial part, which hinders propagation via cuttings.

Melo et al. (2012), working with the same species and method of propagation, recorded 100% survival in GE, and 35.15% rooting in SHE in four-year-old matrices. According to Ikeuchi et al. (2016), the parent plant’s youth is a characteristic directly related to the potential of cell regeneration and adventitious root formation. Thus, with the advancement of maturity the tissues lose their meristematic capacity and the formation of adventitious roots is difficult. Santos et al. (2011) tested the propagation by cutting in twenty forest species, obtaining rooting percentages that varied from 0.5% to 91.5% according to the species and the classes of diameter of the cuttings. In the same study, as a function of the concentration of IBA applied, the rooting percentage ranged from 0.5% to 88% among the species. This demonstrates that other factors besides the exogenous application of auxin are involved in the formation of adventitious roots by plants, like the ontogenetic age (Wendling et al., 2014a, b; Silva et al., 2020).

It is possible that the time elapsed between shoot collection in the field and the entrance of the cuttings in the greenhouse could have caused a biological stress at the cellular level, resulting in the loss of solutes and metabolites that contributed to the death of the cuttings. Rezende (2007) verified the presence of anatomical barriers in stem cuttings collected from trees at different stages of development. The author observed a difference in the sclerenchyma deposition around the stem cells, so that this substance was thicker and more continuous in adult trees compared to new trees, and minimal in mini-cuttings.

In spite of low cutting survival, seven of the 19 propagated matrices rooted and were placed in a clonal mini-garden (Ee₃, Ee₆, Ee₈, Ee₁₅, Ee₁₈, Ee₂₀ and Ee₂₆) (Table 3). Thus, cuttings may be an option for the formation of a clonal mini-garden, which can be achieved by means of serial mini-sequencing (Wendling et al., 2014a, b). This hypothesis needs to be tested.

4.3. Anatomical analyses

Anatomical studies performed on ‘candeia’ roots confirmed the great capacity of root blossom emission in species belonging to the family Asteraceae (Appezzato-da-Glória et al., 2008). Several authors have attributed this regrowth ability to the presence of fructan-type inulin crystals in the root cells (Assega and Carvalho, 2004; Assega et al., 2011; Santos et al., 2016; Silva et al., 2015). The occurrence of crystals on the walls of the vessel elements of the secondary xylem (Figure 2FG) is in accordance with what Tertuliano and Figueiredo‐Ribeiro (1993) described for other species of the Asteraceae family.

The fructan helps in shoot emission, yet it is still not clear how. Valluru and Van den Ende (2008) stated that this substance is important to supply the plant’s energy demand between periods of availability and scarcity of resources. Morvan-Bertrand et al. (2001) reported a decline in the content of this carbohydrate in the leaf base of Lolium perene L. in the process of elongation, which was accompanied by a peak in the activity of the fructan enzyme: exohydroxylase in the growth zone, shortly after defoliation, suggesting the fructan as the source of carbon responsible for sustaining growth resumption. Santos et al. (2016) reported seasonal variation in the amount and location of crystal accumulation in Chrysolaena simplex (Less.) Dematt. The crystals fill the cellular lumen and occur in larger amounts in the driest seasons of the year. On the other hand, the crystals were visualized near the cell wall and in smaller amounts in the rainy season, which was related to the regrowth of the vegetative structures in this period. Rigui et al. (2015) working with Chrysolaena obovata (Less.) Dematt, observed a great quantity of this carbohydrate and low concentration of abscisic acid (ABA) in the beginning of the spring, favoring shoot formation. By the end of this season, the authors reported a lower amount of fructan, accompanied by an increase in the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentration, promoting the cellular stretching of shoots. More detailed anatomical and molecular studies can identify a possible seasonal variation of fructan in the radicular ‘candeia’ cells and also, to relate the amount of this carbohydrate with the production of hormones by the plant. Such advances would help in the development of more efficient protocols of rescue and vegetative propagation of this species, and may be tested in other native tropical species.

In this study, the rescue methodology applied was efficient to induce sprouting in adult trees from a natural stand, since 76.92% of the selected matrices were able to sprout at 189 DAI. In the E. erythropappus, sprouting occurs primarily at the root, therefore, an important tool for the genetic conservation of explored stands and an alternative for the reestablishment of the ‘candeia’ predominance in managed areas. The IBA concentration applied at the base of the stakes was not efficient for the formation of adventitious roots, not differing from the control treatment.

Considering that length, diameter and length/diameter ratio measured in shoots still attached to the matrice, the data recorded in this study can be considered pioneering work regarding the E. erythropappus species, as it is useful for comparing plant growth produced in nurseries and under natural conditions.

Acknowledgements

We thank the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, Brazil (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq), Coordination for Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Brazil (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – CAPES), and Foundation for Research of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais – FAPEMIG) for their financial support and scholarships for the students.

• (With 2 figures)

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  14 Aug 2020
• Date of issue
  Jul-Sep 2021

History

• Received
  11 June 2019
• Accepted
  14 Feb 2020