Comparative floral spur anatomy and nectar secretion in four representatives of Ranunculaceae

• DOI: 10.1007/s00709-015-0794-5
• Publication Date: 2015-03-14T09:04:17Z
• Authors: Sebastian Antoń; Magdalena Kamińska
• Keywords: Ranunculaceae; Delphinium

Nectaries are common in Ranunculaceae. These secretory structures, however, have not been studied detail despite their importance plant-animal interactions, and data relating to the structure of nectary spurs, which so characteristic several genera this family, remain scarce. In order redress imbalance, we sought, present paper, analyze anatomical ultrastructural organization spurs four representatives Ranunculaceae, i.e., Aconitum lycoctonum L., Aquilegia vulgaris Consolida regalis Gray, Delphinium elatum L. Nectary were examined using light, fluorescence, scanning electron, transmission electron microscopy. The floral nectaries A. situated at apices whereas C. D. elatum, is located along floor surface spurs. Nectar exuded through micro-channels cuticle, vulgaris, it released by means cell wall disruption, indicating that method nectar secretion here holocrine. Structurally, all investigated species quite similar, its cells typical nectar-producing described literature. It proposed disruption release entire contents into spur cavity contribute composition latter contains, enriching with cytoplasmic components. We conclude manner exudation may vary considerably between closely related plant species, regardless geographical origin phylogeny.