Jerominek, Markus and Will, Maria and Claßen-Bockhoff, Regine
(2018)
Insights into the inside: a quantitative histological study of the explosively moving style in Marantaceae.
Frontiers in plant science, 9.
p. 1695.
ISSN 1664-462X
Abstract
This study aims to identify the histological basis for the extraordinary, fast movement of
the style in Marantaceae. Although this explosive pollination mechanism was subject of
many studies, quantitative measurements to document volumetric changes have never
been conducted. Based on physical parameters and limitations (poroelastic time), the
movement itself is by far too fast to be explained by turgor changes solely. Therefore, we
address the hypothesis that the style contains elastic structures to store energy allowing
the fast movement. We provide an experimental approach in Goeppertia bachemiana
to identify histological differences of styles in various states, i.e., steady, unreleased,
and released state. Cross and longitudinal sections were used to reconstruct the cell
volume in different sectors of the style. Histological data were discussed with respect to
a putative water shift (turgor movement) and elastic instabilities that were proposed
to explain the style movement of Marantaceae. Current data show, that the upper
epidermis is under tensile stress in the unreleased state. After style release, the lower
side of the style revealed an enormous water up-take. According to our results, we
hypothesize that the fast style movement of G. bachemiana is likely based on an
elastically stretched upper epidermis, whereas a “soaking tissue” at the lower side
presumably mediates the up curling of the style. The experimental data show that at
least for G. bachemiana, physical limitations such as the poroelastic time are suitable
parameters to predict movements that are based on elastic instabilities.
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