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Hydathodes in ferns: their phylogenetic distribution, structure and function.

Klaus Mehltreter^1,2, Hanna Wachter², Christophe Trabi²

¹Red de Ecología Funcional, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91073, Veracruz, México.

Annals of Botany

|June 13, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Fern hydathodes, secretory tissues on leaf veins, have evolved multiple times and may help regulate plant nutrients. Their function is linked to positive xylem pressure and guttation, releasing minerals like calcium and silicon.

Keywords:

Aglaomorpha Campyloneurum Nephrolepis Phlebodium Pyrrosia ferns guttation hydathodes leaf venation plant nutrients positive xylem pressure salt glands

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Area of Science:

Plant anatomy and physiology
Evolutionary biology
Biogeochemistry

Background:

Ferns are diverse vascular plants with poorly understood hydathodes, secretory tissues on leaf vein endings.
Existing research on fern hydathodes is limited, creating a gap in functional anatomy knowledge.

Purpose of the Study:

Investigate the phylogenetic distribution of fern hydathodes.
Determine the structure and function of these secretory tissues.
Understand the evolutionary history and ecological role of hydathodes.

Main Methods:

Global review of fern hydathodes and their phylogenetic distribution.
Ancestral character state reconstruction.
Structural and functional analysis (guttation, elemental composition, xylem pressure) of eight fern species.

Main Results:

Hydathodes are present in 1189 fern species across 19 families, with multiple evolutionary origins and losses.
Hydathodes feature a pore-free epidermis and function post-leaf expansion, facilitated by positive xylem pressure and guttation.
Guttation fluid is rich in Ca, Si, P, Mg, Na, and Al, indicating potential nutrient regulation and leakage.

Conclusions:

Fern hydathodes have undergone multiple independent origins and secondary losses throughout evolution.
Positive xylem pressure and high humidity drive guttation, with hydathodes potentially regulating leaf nutrient stoichiometry.
The elemental composition of guttation fluid suggests a role in nutrient balance and possible leakage of essential compounds.