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Anatomical and ultrastructural studies reveal temporal and spatial variation in the oil production in leaves of the diesel tree (Copaifera langsdorffii, Leguminosae)

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Abstract

The oily resin produced by Copaifera langsdorffii, commonly called oil of copaiba, is widely exploited by the drug, cosmetic, and biodiesel industries. The distribution of oily secretory cavities and canals (secretory spaces) over the vegetative body characterizes this species. Oil is stored inside the lumen of the secretory spaces and only reaches the organ surface after injuries. Nonetheless, translucent oily deposits occur on the adaxial surface of intact young leaves. In this study, we searched for further sources of oil production in C. langsdorffii leaves in addition to the well-known secretory cavities and investigated the mechanisms of secretion. Leaves in different developmental stages were collected from adult plants and processed for studies on light and transmission electron microscopies. The primary finding of this study was the involvement of the chlorenchyma cells in lipid biosynthesis, in addition to the secretory cavities. The secretory activity of cavities and chlorenchyma cells overlapped in young leaves. Ultrastructurally, secretory cavity cells exhibited abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum profiles and oleoplasts, whereas the chlorenchyma cells had large chloroplasts with oil inclusions. Our data suggest that the oily material on the leaf surface arose from the chlorenchyma and was transported via the apoplast. These findings open new avenues for understanding oil biosynthesis regulation in mesophyll cells and planning of future strategies for the biotechnological application of C. langsdorffii leaves.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the staff of the Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica, IBB/UNESP, for helping with sample preparation for TEM and Gregório C.T. Ceccantini, São Paulo University, for helping with pictures in the field.

Funding

We thank the São Paulo Research Foundation – FAPESP (2008/55434-7) and PROPE/UNESP (05/2010) for the financial support; the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for the research productivity fellowship granted to T. M. Rodrigues (303981/2018-0) and S.R. Machado (304396/2015-0). This study was also financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brasil – CAPES (Finance Code 001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Biological Sciences (Botany), Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu City, São Paulo State, Brazil

    Plácido Fabrício Silva Melo Buarque

  2. Goiás State University (UEG), Iporá City, Goiás State, 76200–000, Brazil

    Plácido Fabrício Silva Melo Buarque

  3. Department of Botany, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu City, São Paulo State, 18618–970, Brazil

    Silvia Rodrigues Machado & Tatiane Maria Rodrigues

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  1. Plácido Fabrício Silva Melo Buarque
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  2. Silvia Rodrigues Machado
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  3. Tatiane Maria Rodrigues
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Correspondence to Tatiane Maria Rodrigues.

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Buarque, P.F.S.M., Machado, S.R. & Rodrigues, T.M. Anatomical and ultrastructural studies reveal temporal and spatial variation in the oil production in leaves of the diesel tree (Copaifera langsdorffii, Leguminosae). Protoplasma 257, 1447–1456 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-020-01519-8

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