Laboratory of Plant Anatomy (LAVeg), Institute of Biosciences, Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Graduate Program in Botany, Institute of Biosciences, Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Graduate Program in Design - PGDesign, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS, Av. Osvaldo Aranha 99/607, 90035-190, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Micron. 2019 Sep;124:102714. doi: 10.1016/j.micron.2019.102714. Epub 2019 Jul 10.
In Bromeliaceae, various traits have evolved for the uptake and storage of water; however, their roles in bromeliad inflorescences remain unresolved. This study investigates the role of water in the flowers and inflorescences of Nidularium innocentii, and describes water as a protection mechanism. Individuals were divided into groups with and without water provision in inflorescences. Both groups were maintained with water in soil and leaves under the same environmental conditions. During anthesis, individuals were collected, and inflorescences were measured. Another specimen was prepared and scanned using X-ray microtomography (μCT), generating a high-resolution 3D model that was converted into a discretized geometry. Heat transfer finite element analysis (FEA) of the μCT-based geometry was then performed to simulate external temperature dissipation with the presence and absence of water in 3D. Flower size in the control group was significantly larger, and many injuries were observed in the drought group. FEA data indicated that the water environment led to lower temperature variation when compared to the air environment by significantly alleviating thermal amplitude. Water acted as a temperature stabilizer for the inflorescence, while its absence initiated physiological stress responses.
在凤梨科中，各种特征已经进化出了用于吸收和储存水分的功能；然而，它们在凤梨科花序中的作用仍未得到解决。本研究调查了水在鸟巢凤梨花朵和花序中的作用，并将水描述为一种保护机制。将个体分为花序中提供和不提供水分的两组。两组都在相同的环境条件下保持土壤和叶片中的水分。在开花期间，收集个体并测量花序。另一个标本使用 X 射线微断层扫描（μCT）进行准备和扫描，生成高分辨率的 3D 模型，并转换为离散化的几何形状。然后对基于 μCT 的几何形状进行传热有限元分析（FEA），以模拟在存在和不存在水的情况下 3D 中的外部温度耗散。对照组的花大小明显更大，干旱组观察到许多损伤。FEA 数据表明，与空气环境相比，水环境通过显著减轻热幅度，导致温度变化更小。水作为花序的温度稳定器，而其缺失则引发了生理应激反应。
