Abstract
The leaves, flower and stems of the southern African angiosperm resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia were investigated at the ultrastructural level to determine the source of previously reported fungal contamination. Fungal mycelia and hyphae of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were found localized to the hydathodes of the leaves and stigmatic surfaces of the female flowers in both desiccated and hydrated specimens. A waxy bacterium of the genus Bacillus was found to colonise the waxy epidermal surfaces of the leaves and flowers which was also where fungal cells were found to be absent. It is suggested that the wax like deposits within the leaves and stems as well as over the epidermal surface prevent the growth of the fungal organisms. These fungi opportunistically invade moist surfaces, such as the floral stigmas, during periods of moisture availability and may thus negatively impact plant development.
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Claims 5
Claim · model-written summary
Aspergillus fungal structures were localized to leaf hydathodes and female flower stigmas in desiccated and hydrated plants.
- Taxon
- Myrothamnus flabellifoliat0
- Organ / stage
- hydathodes of the leaves and stigmatic surfaces of the female flowerse0
- Interactor
- Aspergillus
Aspergilluse0other - Outcome
- Fungal mycelia and hyphaee0
- Qualifier
- both desiccated and hydrated specimense0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Myrothamnus flabellifolia”
e0“Fungal mycelia and hyphae of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were found localized to the hydathodes of the leaves and stigmatic surfaces of the female flowers in both desiccated and hydrated specimens”
Claim · model-written summary
Penicillium fungal structures were localized to leaf hydathodes and female flower stigmas in desiccated and hydrated plants.
- Taxon
- Myrothamnus flabellifoliat0
- Organ / stage
- hydathodes of the leaves and stigmatic surfaces of the female flowerse0
- Interactor
- Penicillium
Penicilliume0other - Outcome
- Fungal mycelia and hyphaee0
- Qualifier
- both desiccated and hydrated specimense0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Myrothamnus flabellifolia”
e0“Fungal mycelia and hyphae of the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium were found localized to the hydathodes of the leaves and stigmatic surfaces of the female flowers in both desiccated and hydrated specimens”
Claim · model-written summary
Bacillus colonized waxy leaf and flower epidermis where fungal cells were absent.
Verbatim
t0“Myrothamnus flabellifolia”
e0“A waxy bacterium of the genus Bacillus was found to colonise the waxy epidermal surfaces of the leaves and flowers which was also where fungal cells were found to be absent”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest that wax deposits prevent fungal growth on Myrothamnus.
Verbatim
t0“Myrothamnus flabellifolia”
e0“It is suggested that the wax like deposits within the leaves and stems as well as over the epidermal surface prevent the growth of the fungal organisms”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors suggest fungi invade moist floral stigmas during moisture availability and may harm plant development.
Verbatim
t0“Myrothamnus flabellifolia”
e0“These fungi opportunistically invade moist surfaces, such as the floral stigmas, during periods of moisture availability and may thus negatively impact plant development”