ABSTRACT Chemical components act in plant defense and protection, but many of them are extracted and used medicinally. For Cerrado, active chemical components are used in the treatment of diseases, which strengthens the necessity for pharmacological studies of plants of that environment. The objective was to evaluate the histochemistry of the leaf blade of Byrsonima verbascifolia (L.) DC., Malpighiaceae, Campomanesia adamantium (Cambess.) O.Berg, Myrtaceae, Roupala montana Aubl., Proteaceae, and Solanum lycocarpum A. St.-Hil., Solanaceae, species that have been reported as producers of secondary metabolites for pharmacological use. The 3rd node leaves (median, intercostal and margin regions) were collected, fixed, included in Paraplast® or 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, sectioned in microtome, stained and photographed on microscope. This analysis aimed to find leaf regions which produced chemical compounds. For histochemical tests, intercostal areas were selected from median region leaf of the 3rd node. Samples fresh and newly collected and fixed and embedded in Paraplast® were used. Tests were conducted for lipids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, sugars and proteins. Alkaloids were observed only in R. montana, as well as the results for phenolic compounds. Flavonoids are present in B. verbascifolia and R. montana. The lipid composition was showed for the chemical compounds of B. verbascifolia and C. adamantium, which proved to be part of the essential oils or resins oils in C. adamantium idioblasts. The chemical compounds of B. verbascifolia, C. adamantium and R. montana are present mainly in idioblasts among the parenchyma and epidermal cells. C. adamantium has secretory cavities, but only with lipid content. The identification of chemical compounds has not been possible in mature leaves of S. lycocarpum.

RESUMO Os campos rupestres apresentam duas estações bem definidas ao longo do ano, com taxas pluviométricas que refletem nas estações chuvosa e seca. Essa distinção na disponibilidade hídrica afeta a morfologia, fisiologia, química, dentre outras características das plantas. Dessa forma objetivou-se avaliar o status hídrico foliar, o comportamento fenológico vegetativo e fotossintético de Campomanesia adamantium em campo rupestre durante a estação seca e chuvosa. O estudo foi conduzido na Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brasil. De novembro de 2011 a novembro de 2012 foi averiguado as fenofases vegetativas e o desenvolvimento de seis indivíduos. Potencial hídrico, condutância estomática, rendimento quântico e concentração de pigmentos foram adquiridos de quatro folhas do 3º nó por indivíduo (n= 4-5) nas estações seca e chuvosa. C. adamantium é uma espécie sempre-verde e apresenta folhas maduras e brotamento ao longo de todo o ano. Essa espécie demonstrou estratégias que minimizam a perda de água durante o período seco no campo rupestre, como diminuição na condutância estomática ao longo do dia na estação seca, associada também com redução nos valores de potencial hídrico foliar. Entretanto, a baixa disponibilidade hídrica não afetou no desempenho fotossintético, o que possibilita a construção de folhas novas e renovação da copa mesmo em períodos mais secos. Por fim, a pouca redução nos valores de Fv/Fm ao longo do dia e aumento nos valores de DF/Fm' em horários mais quentes, ambos na estação seca, reitera a capacidade de C. adamantium em ajustar sua fisiologia ao déficit hídrico sazonal do campo rupestre.

ABSTRACT The rupestrian fields have two well-defined seasons throughout the year, with rainfall rates that reflect the rainy and dry seasons. This distinction in water availability affects the morphology, physiology and chemistry of plants, among other characteristics. Thus, it is aimed at evaluating the leaf water status, vegetative phenology and photosynthetic behavior of Campomanesia adamantium from a rupestrian field during the dry and rainy season. The study was conducted in Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil. From November 2011 to November 2012 it was examined vegetative phenophases and development of six individuals. Water potential, stomatal conductance, quantum yield and concentration of pigments were evaluated from four leaves of 3rd node per individual (n = 4-5) in the dry and rainy seasons. C. adamantium is an evergreen type and presents mature leaves and sprouting throughout the year. This species showed strategies that reduce water loss during the dry season in rupestrian field, such as decrease in stomatal conductance throughout the day, also associated with a reduction in leaf water potential. However, low water availability did not affect the photosynthetic performance, which enables the construction of new leaves and renovation of the crown even in dry periods. Finally, little reduction in the values of Fv/Fm throughout the day and increase the values of ΔF/Fm' in warmer times, both in the dry season, reiterates the ability of C. adamantium to adjust their physiology to seasonal water deficit of the rupestrian field.