INTRODUCTION

Campo rupestre is a vegetation characterized by shrubby-herbaceous species growing on mountains of quartzite and sandstone in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia and Goiás, predominantly in areas with about 900 m altitude (^{Neves and Conceição 2010}). This Cerrado physiognomy presents a highly diverse and endemic flora with a high number of endangered species (^{Echternacht et al. 2011}). Several adaptive traits are exhibited by such species, which are interpreted as strategies to cope with unfavorable environmental factors including low availability of water and nutrients, and fire (^{Coutinho 2002}).

The presence of underground reserve organs is a distinct characteristic of several herbaceous species in the campo rupestre, which provides a rapid sprouting after fire (Neves and Conceição 2010, ^{Hoffmann et al. 2012}). In general, underground organs accumulate carbohydrates such as starch, sucrose, oligosaccharides and soluble polysaccharides when the production of photoassimilates exceeds the demand (^{Pollock 1986}). A screening of underground organs of Cerrado plants revealed the occurrence of soluble carbohydrates, starch and proteins in different species and types of underground systems, with soluble carbohydrates being more abundant than starch in several species (^{Figueiredo-Ribeiro et al. 1986}).

Asteraceae is one of the most endemic and abundant families in campo rupestre (^{Giulietti et al. 1987}). The abundance of secretory structures rich in secondary metabolites, in aerial and underground organs is an interesting feature of the Asteraceae, and is possibly related to defense mechanisms against herbivores, pathogenic microorganisms and/or associated with attraction of pollinators (^{Melo-de-Pinna and Menezes 2002}, ^{Vilhalva and Appezzato-da-Glória 2006}a, ^{Cury and Appezzato-da-Glória 2009}). Glandular trichomes accumulating several secondary substances were reported in both aerial (leaf and bud) and underground reserve organs of two Chrysolaena species (Vernonieae, Asteraceae) from the Cerrado (Appezzato-da-Glória et al. 2012). Another marked feature in Asteraceae is the diversity of underground reserve organs, as exemplified by Calea verticillata (Klatt) Pruski, Isostigma megapotamicum (Spreng.) Sherff (^{Vilhalva and Apezzato-da-Glória 2006}b), both presenting xylopodium, and Vernonia grandiflora Less (^{Hayashi and Apezzato-da-Glória 2007}), with tuberous roots and xylopodium. Generally, xylopodia are morphologically complex structures, originated from the radial growth of roots, stems or a mixture of both structures. Therefore, xylopodia are characterized by self-grafting of different stem axes with bud-forming capacity (Appezzato-da-Glória et al. 2008a).

Dimerostemma vestitum (Baker) SF Blake is an herbaceous-subshrubby species of the Heliantheae tribe (Asteraceae) with a typical and conspicuous xylopodium. This species is endemic to Brazil and abundant in campos rupestres from Goiás, Distrito Federal and Minas Gerais (^{Moraes and Semir 2009}), but it has not yet been studied with regards to fructan occurrence or the anatomy of the vegetative organs.

Many Asteraceae species accumulate fructans mainly in the vacuole of parenchyma cells of thickened underground organs, where they fulfill the main role of storing carbohydrates. In addition, these compounds are thought to stabilize membranes, to function as osmoregulators (^{Car valho et al. 2007}, ^{Livingston et al. 2009}) and to protect plants against reactive oxygen species (^{Peshev et al. 2013}). Fructans are fructose polymers containing one internal or terminal glucose unit. Inulin-type fructans consist of linear molecules with β 2,1 linkages, based on the trisaccharide 1-kestose, occurring mainly in eudicot species, and reaching nearly 80% of the dry mass in storage organs of temperate (^{Edelman and Jefford 1968}) and subtropical Asteraceae species (Carvalho et al. 2007).

In this work, we studied the anatomy and the location of reserve compounds in the vegetative organs of Dimerostemma vestitum from the campo rupestre and described accumulation of high amounts of inulin in the xylopodium. This feature, in addition to the presence of several secondary compounds in the buds are possibly related to the ecophysiological strategies of the plant to survive adverse conditions in a semi-arid region affected seasonally by water restriction and frequently by fire.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PLANT MATERIAL

For this study adult individuals of Dimerostemma vestitum were collected in the flowering phase with 7-9 fully developed nodal regions in a preserved area of campo rupestre at the "Reserva Biológica Prof. José Ângelo Rizzo - Serra Dourada" - Mossâmedes, Goiás, Brazil (16°06′02″ - 16°03′52″ S and 50°10′59″ - 50°10′12″ W). D. vestitum is a perennial herb or subshrub measuring 1 m, woody at the base, mostly caespitose, from the xylopodium. Leaf blades are chartaceous and tomentose to subtomentose (Moraes and Semir 2009). A voucher specimen (UFG 46597) was deposited in the Herbarium UFG of the Federal University of Goiás (Brazil).

Samples of the aerial parts (fully expanded leaves from the third nodal region and young stems from the first and the basal internodes) and of the underground organs (xylopodium and lateral roots) were selected for structural, histochemical and reserve carbohydrate analyses. The xylopodium was transversely divided into proximal, medium and distal regions for ultrastructural and histochemical analyses and sectioned in central (medullar parenchyma) and peripheral regions (cortex and vascular cylinder) for quantitative and qualitative analyses of reserve carbohydrates.

STRUCTURAL AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL ANALYSES

For light microscopy (LM) analyses, mature leaves, aerial stem internodes, lateral roots, and samples from the proximal, medium and distal regions of the xylopodium of six individuals were collected in the dry and rainy seasons and fixed in FAA 50 (formaldehyde, acetic acid and 50% ethanol, 1:1:18) (^{Johansen 1940}). Sections made by free hand and with a table microtome were cleared for approximately 15 min in 4% sodium hypochlorite, rinsed in distilled water, and double stained with 0.3% Astra blue and 0.1% basic fuchsin (^{Roeser 1972}, ^{Kraus et al. 1998}). Lateral roots and xylopodium samples were dehydrated in a graded ethanol series, and embedded in Leica Historesin^(r). Serial sections (7-10 µm thick) were cut on a rotary microtome RM 2245 (Leica, Germany), stained with 0.05% toluidine blue in a Mcllvaine buffer of pH 4.0 (^{Vidal 1977}) and mounted in synthetic resin.

For scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses, samples of mature leaves and xylopodia from three plants were fixed in ^{Karnovsky solution (Karnovsky 1965}), dehydrated in graded ethanol series and dried to the CO₂ critical-point. Following, the samples were mounted on stubs, coated with gold (30 - 40 nm) and examined under a JSM-6610 microscope (JEOL, Japan).

Free-hand sections from fixed and fresh material of six individuals were stained for the histochemical tests with Sudan IV (^{Gerlach 1984}) and Steinmetz reagent (^{Costa 1970}) for total lipids; Periodic acid-Schiff's reagent (PAS) for total neutral polysaccharides (^{McManus 1948}); Comassie blue (^{Fisher 1968}) and Xylidine Ponceau reagent (Vidal 1977) for total proteins; Zinc chloride iodine (Kraus and Arduin 1997) and Lugol reagent (Johansen 1940) for starch. Samples were also fixed in Formalin-ferrous sulfate reagent (Johansen 1940) for the detection of phenolic compounds. In order to identify inulin-type fructans, samples of the xylopodium were sectioned by free-hand and inulin sphero-crystals were visualized under polarized light. The presence of inulin crystals was confirmed by a treatment with Thymol-sulphuric acid reagent (Johansen 1940). Standard control procedures were performed simultaneously. Images were digitally captured with a ICC50 microscope with camera, using the software LAD EZ 1.8.1 version (Leica, Germany).

SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATE ANALYSES

For carbohydrate extraction, fresh samples (2 g each) of aerial and underground organs from three indivi duals collected in the end of the rainy season were boiled in 80% aqueous ethanol for 3 min, for enzyme denaturation. The mixtures were ground and the homo genate was kept in a water bath at 80°C for 15 min. They were then filtered, the residue re-extracted twice and the filtrates combined, constituting the oligosaccharide fraction. The residues were extracted twice in water at 60°C for 30 min, vacuum filtered through a cotton tissue and the filtrates were pooled, constituting the water soluble polysaccharide fraction (Carvalho et al. 1998). Free and combined fructose were measured by a ketose-specific modification of the anthrone reaction (^{Jermyn 1956}), using fructose (Sigma) as standard. Samples of fresh material were oven dried at 50°C for dry mass determination.

Aliquots of both carbohydrate fractions were purified in columns containing cation (Amberlite IRA 120) and anion exchange resins (Amberlite IRA 410). After purification, the samples were concentrated to dryness under vacuum (37°C) and re-suspended in ultrapure water (18.2 MΩ) to the final concentration of 400 µg.mL^-1. The samples were analyzed by high performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC/PAD) using a 4 × 250 mm CarboPac PA-100 column on a Dionex System ICS 5000 (USA). A gradient was established by mixing eluent A (100 mM NaOH) with eluent B (500 mM sodium acetate in 100 mM NaOH) as follows: 0-10 min, 5 mM; 10-35 min, 5-50 mM; 35-40 min, 50-375 mM; 40-45 min, 500 mM; 45.1-46 min, 5 mM, using a flow rate through the column of 1 mL min^-1. The applied PAD potentials for E1 (0-0.4 s), E2 (0.41-0.42 s), E3 (0.43 s) and E4 (0.44-1.00 s) were 0.1, -2.0, 0.6 and -0.1, respectively. Extracts of tubers of Helianthus tuberosus (Asteraceae) were used as reference for the inulin fructan series (Pollock 1986). All the analyses were performed in triplicate.

RESULTS

STRUCTURAL ANALYSES

Mature leaves of Dimerostemma vestitum are amphistomatic. The epidermis is single-layered and covered by cuticle, thicker in the adaxial than in the abaxial surface (Fig. 1A). The anomocytic stomata are located below the level of other epidermal cells, at the adaxial leaf surface (Fig. 1D), contrasting with the abaxial surface, where they are located above the level of the epidermal cells (Fig. 1H, I). Glandular and non-glandular trichomes are extensively distributed throughout the leaf epidermis. The latter is, in general, uniseriate, longer and composed by four cells (Fig. 1B, G) or alternatively by three cells, the middle one, similar to an inverted cup, and the apical is thin (Fig. 1E and K). Both cell types accumulate phenolic compounds in the lumen (Table I). Two types of glandular trichomes also occur on both leaf surfaces, one multicellular with a unicellular secretory head curved on the epidermis (Fig. 1E, F) and the other, a pedunculate and biseriate trichome (Fig. 1D, J, K and L). Lipids, proteins and phenols were the main secreted compounds detected in the glandular trichomes (Table I).

Figure 1. Mature leaf of Dimerostemma vestitum. (A) leaf mesophyll evidencing the palisade parenchyma (Pp), spongy parenchyma (Sp) and a cuticle layer (Cu) on the external periclinal wall of epidermal cells (Ep); (B) leaf vein, showing the mesophyll (Me) partly entering in the main vein and vascular bundles (*) surrounded by cortex with lignified cell walls and parenchyma cells in lignification process (Co). (C) Detail of the secretory canals associated with the vascular bundle in the central vein (arrow). (D-J) Scanning electron microscopy of the leaf. (D-F) Adaxial epidermis showing trichomes, non-glandular (Tt) and glandular (Gt), and stomata (arrow heads) in depressions at the epidermis; (GJ) Abaxial epidermis showing the presence of non-glandular trichomes (Tt) on main leaf vein (Lv), glandular trichomes (Gt) and stomata (arrow head) above the level of other epidermal cells. (K-L) Histochemical analysis of the leaf. Phenolic compounds in non-glandular trichomes evidenced by ferric chloride (K); glandular trichome evidencing the presence of lipophilic substances by the Sudam IV reagent (L). Scale bars: 100 µm (A, J, K, L); 500 µm (B); 60 µm (C); 20 µm (D, E); 10 µm (F); 200 µm (G); 5 µm (H); 160 µm (I). 

The mesophyll is dorsiventral, with one or two layers of overlapping columnar cells of the palisade parenchyma, and a variable number of layers of the spongy parenchyma (Fig. 1A). Lipid droplets occur all over the chlorenchyma. The mesophyll enters partially in the lateral region of the central vein, which has one to three vascular bundles with secretory canals with reduced lumen, surrounded by cortical parenchyma (Fig. 1C).

Both the apical and basal portions of the aerial stem present single-layered epidermis, covered by a thin cuticle and glandular and non-glandular trichomes (Fig. 2A, C, G), similar to those on the leaf blades. The cortex is composed of a maximum of four layers of angular collenchyma, sub epidermal cells accumulating phenolic compounds and starch (Table I), followed by parenchyma and isolated sclereids (Fig. 2E). Fiber bundles are associated with the primary phloem (Fig. 2E, F). Casparian strips are clearly visible in the aerial stem endodermis (Fig. 2F). Secretory canals with dividing epithelium (Fig. 2E, F) accumulate phenolic compounds (Table I) and are widely distributed in the cortex (Fig. 2F). The vascular cylinder consists of collateral bundles in the apical portion of the aerial stem (Fig. 2B) while in the basal portion the vascular cambium begins to differentiate from the secondary vascular tissues (Fig. 2C, D, G). The medulla is also distinct in the apical and basal portions of the stem: in the apical portion it is composed of a homogeneous parenchyma (Fig. 2A), whereas in the basal portion it is heterogeneous, presenting a central parenchyma with thick-walled cells surrounded by larger, thin-walled cells (Fig. 2C, G, H). The latter divide periclinally, forming radial layers (Fig. 2C, G, H).

Figure 2. Aerial stem of Dimerostemma vestitum. (A, B) Transversal sections of the apical portion (A) highlighting cell wall thickening in the medullar region (M), vascular cylinder (Vc) and cortex (Co). Details of the collateral vascular bundle (B) with primary xylem (Px), phloem (Ph) and sclerenchyma bundles (Sb); (C, D) Basal portion of the aerial stem. General view (C) highlighting medullar parenchyma (Mp), radially arranged cells (Rp), vascular cylinder (Vc) and cortex (Co). Detail of the vascular cylinder (D) showing the formation of the vascular cambium and xylem (X), phloem (Ph) and sclerencyma bundle (Sb). (E) Detail of angular collenchyma (Ac) layers beneath the epidermis, isolated sclereids (S), sclerenchyma bundles (Sb) and secretory canal (circle); (F) Formation of a secretory canal (circle) and evidence of endodermis with Casparian strips (arrow) and sclerencyma bundles (Sb). (G) Stem in the basal portion, showing detail of the vascular cylinder, cortical (Co) and medullar region (Rp, Mp). (H) Distinction of the medullar parenchyma (Mp) in a central region and another peripheral, with radially arranged cells (Rp). Scale bars: 1000 µm (A, C); 100 µm (B, E, F); 200 µm (D); 500 µm (G, H). 

The thickened underground system of D. vestitum consists of an extremely tuberized xylopodium, with the distal region oriented vertically in relation to the soil surface, about 5 cm deep and with several buds in the upper region, near the soil level (Fig. 3A). The buds originate from the cambium (Fig. 3B) and are covered by cataphylls with phenolic compounds evidenced by the blue-green color developed with toluidine blue staining.

Figure 3. Underground organs of Dimerostemma vestitum indicating the analyzed portions (A): Soil level (S); Proximal region (1); Median region (2); Distal region (3); Lateral root (4). Longitudinal sections of the buds of the xylopodium of D. vestitum stained with toluidine blue (B). Arrow heads indicate the vascular cambium; cataphyll (C); bud (B); periderm (Pe). (C-H) Transversal sections of the xylopodium. (C-D) Proximal region, detailing the centrifugal maturation (circle) of primary xylem (D). (E-F) Median region of xylopodium showing the formation of periderm, secondary xylem rays and vascular cambium (arrow). (G-H) Distal region of the xylopodium showing (G) periderm (Pe), secretory canals (*) and fibers associated to phloem (Sb). (H) Growth layers (arrow heads) of secondary xylem (X), xylem parenchyma (Xp) and phloem (Ph). Scale bars: 1cm (A); 1000 µm (B, E); 3000 µm (C, H); 500 µm (D, F, G). 

The proximal portion of the xylopodium is covered by the periderm, with a reduced cortex (Fig. 3C, D). This portion is constituted predominantly by secondary xylem, with parenchyma rays intercalated with vessel elements and fibers. The medulla is composed of parenchyma and sclerified cells. The primary xylem presents centrifugal maturation (Fig. 3D), which defines the stem nature of the proximal region of the xylopodium. In the median portion of the xylopodium there are bands of radial parenchyma intercalated with fibers and vessel elements (Fig. 3F). Cambial cells and a reduced amount of phloem were observed towards the outer side of the structure (Fig. 3E).

The distal portion of the xylopodium is covered by periderm and the cortex is reduced and composed by irregular and thin-walled parenchyma cells, fiber bundles adjacent to the phloem and secretory canals (Fig. 3G, H). In this portion, xylem predominates, especially the xylem parenchyma. Fibers and vessel elements are inserted between the rays and concentrated in the central region (Fig. 3H). The maturation of the primary xylem is centripetal, revealing the root nature of this portion of the xylopodium. Growth layers are clearly observed in this part of the structure (Fig. 3H). The lateral roots are small, slender, circular in cross-section, and covered by periderm. The cortex is compact and composed of parenchyma cells, secretory canals with large lumen and fiber bundles adjacent to the phloem. The secondary xylem occupies most of the organ, and consists primarily of fibers, vessel elements dispersed among fibers and only a few parenchyma rays.

Inulin sphero-crystals (Fig. 4E-H, Table I) and inulin globular bodies (Fig. 4A, B) were visualized in the xylopodium, mainly in the reserve parenchyma (Fig. 4G) and in the secondary xylem (Fig. 4C, D). In this tissue, the crystals are located in continuous groups of cells, including the parenchyma rays and vessel elements. The massive presence of inulin in these tissues was confirmed by the visualization of typical sphero-crystals under polarized light and by the positive reaction with specific tests such as thymol and PAS reagents (Fig. 4A-F, Table I).

Figure 4. Transversal (A-D) and longitudinal sections (E, F) of the distal portion of the xylopodium of Dimerostemma vestitum. (A) Overview of xylopodium showing positive reaction of fructans to PAS reagent (arrow head); (B) Detail of fructans accumulated in the xylem parenchyma cells (Xp) and vessel elements (arrow head); (C, D) Details of inulin accumulation (arrow heads) inside vessel elements (C) and in the parenchyma cells (D); (E, F) Inulin sphero-crystals viewed under polarized light (arrow heads) in parenchyma cells; (G, H) Scanning electron microscopy of inulin particles (arrow heads) accumulated in the parenchyma cells (G) and in vessel elements (H). Sclereids (S). Scale bars: 1000 µm (A); 100 µm (B, C, D); 250 µm (E, F); 10 µm (G); 5 µm (H). 

SOLUBLE CARBOHYDRATE ANALYSES

The central region of the xylopodium had higher amounts of total fructose in both oligo- and polysaccharide fractions, followed by the peripheral region. Total fructose content was four times greater in the polysaccharide than in the oligosaccharide fraction of the peripheral region and seven times greater in the central region, reaching about 40% of the xylopodium dry mass. Conversely, total fructose levels were lower than 1.5% in lateral roots, aerial stem and leaves, indicating that the xylopodium is in fact the storage organ of D. vestitum. The lowest amount of total fructose was observed in the leaves (Table II).

Qualitative analysis of soluble carbohydrates by HPAEC/PAD (Fig. 5) showed that all analyzed organs of D. vestitum, except leaves, presented glucose, fructose, sucrose, 1-kestose, nystose and other components of the inulin homologous series. The main sugars identified in leaves were glucose, fructose and sucrose. Fructose polymers were not detected in any of the fractions of the leaves (Fig. 5A, B).

Figure 5. HPAEC/PAD profiles of soluble neutral carbohydrates of vegetative aerial and underground organs of Dimerostemma vestitum. Oligosaccharide (A, C, E, G, I) and polysaccharide (B, D, F, H, J) fractions of leaves (A, B); Stem (C, D); Lateral roots (E, F); Xylopodium: Peripheral (G, H) and central (I, J) regions.Fructose (F);Glucose (G);Sucrose (S); 1-Kestose (1K); Nystose (N); Arrows indicate the increase in degree of polimerization (DP). 

Fructans of the inulin series were found in aerial stems, mainly in the polysaccharide fraction (Fig. 5C, D), with higher proportion of larger fructans. The low-DP fructan peaks were proportionally lower than in the oligosaccharide fraction of the other organs of D. vestitum (Fig. 5E, G, I). The typical profile of the inulin homologous series was found in the underground organs, but mainly in the xylopodium. Fructans with DP higher than 50 were found in the polysaccharide fractions of the lateral roots and of the peripheral and central regions of the xylopodium (Fig. 5F, H, J).

DISCUSSION

Dimmerostemma vestitum is a herbaceous Asteraceae species well fitted in campos rupestres. This is probably due to the presence of several features in their shoots and underground organs that allow its resilience over seasonal drought and fire occurrence, environmental constraints typically found in rupes trian environments (^{Gomes et al. 2014}).

One prominent feature of D. vestitum leaves is the pubescence, a structural property that influences reflectance and contributes to temperature reduction in leaves, especially in plants from arid and warm environments (^{Press 1999}). Pubescence in D. vestitum leaves is constituted by a combination of non-glandular trichomes with phenolic compounds and glandular trichomes rich in phenols and lipids. This association may result, in addition to the physical barrier, in protection against biotic factors, since the chemical composition of pubescent surfaces may limit the attack of pathogens and herbivores (^{Dalin et al. 2008}, Fernández et al. 2011). The genus Dimerostemma, including D. vestitum is characterized by the presence of sesquiterpene lactones of the eudesmanolide type (^{Stefani et al. 2003}). These compounds have been considered as chemotaxonomic markers for this genus and some of them showed ecological and biological functions like anti-herbivore and anti-inflammatory activities (Stefani et al. 2006).

Secretory canals are a common feature in underground organs of Asteraceae species and can be found in Pterocaulon angustifolium (Appezzato-da-Glória et al. 2008b), Calea verticillata and Isostigma megapotamicum (Vilhalva and Appezzato-da-Glória 2006b). Several studies have described such structures (Melo-de-Pinna and Menezes 2003, Hayashi and Appezzato-da-Glória 2005, Vilhalva and Appezzato-da-Glória 2006a), whose secretions are thought to contribute to overcome biotic and abiotic pressures. However, their actual ecological functions remain to be elucidated.

Leaves of D. vestitum are amphistomatic, a relatively common feature in Asteraceae species (^{Budel et al. 2004}, ^{Milan et al. 2006}, ^{Dutra et al. 2010}). The occurrence of stomata in both sides of leaf surface shortens the distance to CO₂ diffusion in mesophyll cells (^{Parkhurst et al. 1988}). In D. vestitum this may result in the improvement of CO₂ conductance in mesophyll intercellular air spaces, a major limiting factor for photosynthesis (Parkhurst et al. 1988, ^{Terashima et al. 2005}). With efficient photosynthesis, the produced photoassimilates exceeding the demand for maintenance and aerial growth are exported from the source organs and stored in specialized sites (Pollock 1986), such as the underground organs of D. vestitum.

Although several herbaceous species from the Cerrado bear thickened underground organs (^{Filgueiras 2002}), the shallow soils and rocky outcrops of the campo rupestre may impose barriers for the development of deep root systems. This occurs in D. vestitum that presents thin and suberized lateral roots and the xylopodium located superficially in the soil. Xylopodia are considered adaptive characteristics that help plants to overcome environmental constraints, such as seasonal drought and fire, due to the prominent presence of buds in the upper portion of the organ, with the potential of vigorous sprouting when in appropriate conditions, (^{Ratter et al. 1997}, Hoffmann et al. 2012). The buds of the xylopodium of D. vestitum have cambial origin, as in other herbaceous species from the Cerrado (Appezzato-da-Glória and Estelita 2000, Appezzato-da-Glória and Cury 2011). Indeed, the development of the xylopodium in D. vestitum is thought to be subject to seasonal control, since in the present work, growth layers were clearly observed in this structure, similarly to what has been reported for Mandevilla species from the Cerrado (Appezzato-da-Glória and Estelita 2000).

Abundance of lignified cells is determinant of xylopodia hardiness, however, even with this rigid structure, the presence of buds in D. vestitum allows the plants to resprout, driven by the available resources (^{Clarke et al. 2013}), especially non-structural carbohydrates stored in the central region of the xylopodium. In other herbaceous species the xylopodia are associated to other storage organs such as tuberous roots (^{Isejima and Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993}, Appezzato-da-Glória and Estelita 2000, Hayashi and Appezzato-da-Glória 2007). However, this is not the case of D. vestitum, whose roots are thin and lignified, and produce fructans in low levels similar to the aerial stems. Therefore, contrasting to other Asteraceae, the xylopodium of D. vestitum is indeed the perennial reserve organ of this species, thus fulfilling the storage function of readily usable soluble carbohydrates. Additionally, this organ acts as a continuous source of buds, and store important classes of secondary metabolites in the epidermal glandular trichomes, with putative protective functions against biotic and abiotic environmental constraints, as reported for other Dimerostemma species (Stefani et al. 2003, 2006).

Fructans can be found in aerial organs, such as stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds (^{Muir et al. 2007}). Although fructans of the inulin series have been detected in the aerial stems of D. vestitum, the low amounts found, indicate they may play another role besides storage, possibly contributing to the protection of cell membranes and to osmotic adjustment under conditions of water restriction, as already emphasized. In this species fructans are stored mainly in the parenchyma of the central portion of the xylopodium and in the peripheral region of the organ. Thus the predominance of parenchyma cells in the core region of the xylopodium, enabling storage of high amounts of inulin, is consistent with the accumulation of these soluble carbohydrates in the vacuoles of living cells (^{Darwen and John 1989}). Although most plants store sucrose and starch in the reserve organs, the latter has not been identified in D. vestitum, which highlights the importance of fructan accumulation in the adaptation of species from environments such as the campos rupestres (Vilhalva et al. 2011).

The predominance of fructans in underground organs of several species of the Cerrado, primarily in the Asteraceae, has been extensively reported, as this family is widely distributed and diversified in this biome (Figueiredo-Ribeiro et al. 1986, Carvalho and Dietrich 1993, Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993, Isejima and Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993, ^{Tertuliano and Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993}, Hayashi and Appezzato-da-Glória 2005, 2007, Vilhalva and Appezzato-da-Glória 2006a, b, Vilhalva et al. 2011). Contrasting with other Asteraceae species containing inulin with average DP 30, D. vestitum presents a much higher polymer, since DP higher than 50 was detected in the central portion of the xylopodium of plants in the flowering phase. Considering that these polymers are generally hydrolyzed and mobilized during periods of high energetic demands, such as the reproductive phase, it can be expected that higher DP inulin can be found in other phenological phases, such as that reported for Viguiera discolor (Isejima and Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993), another Heliantheae from the Cerrado. From a utilitarian point of view, considering that high DP inulin is degraded more slowly in the gut, thus contributing to prevent cancer in the distal part of the colon (^{Roberfroid et al. 1998}), the presence of high DP inulin in the xylopodium of D. vestitum increases the importance of studies with such endemic species from the campos rupestres.

Although vacuoles are the major site of fructan storage, evidences of the presence of those carbohydrates have been reported in the apoplast (Livingston and Henson 1998, ^{Van den Ende et al. 2005}) and in various tissues, including xylem, phloem and parenchyma cells (^{Vieira and Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993}, ^{Wang and Nobel 1998}). In Asteraceae, inulin crystals were found in the medulla and xylem parenchyma in 70% of the species analyzed in a restricted cerrado area (Tertuliano and Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993), in the cortical parenchyma of C. chlorolepis tuberous roots (Vilhalva et al. 2011) and in the rhizophores of V. herbacea and V. platensis (Hayashi and Appezzato-da-Gloria 2005). Inulin sphero-crystals were also distributed in the parenchyma cells of secondary vascular tissue in the xylopodium of D. vestitum. The location of fructans in vascular tissues as already documented for other species (Vieira and Figueiredo-Ribeiro 1993), the rapid polymerization and depolymerization process of such polysaccharides (Pollock 1986) and their adherence to cell walls, as in C. chlorolepis (Vilhalva et al. 2011) provide evidences that fructans may play important roles in the adaptation of species to campos rupestres, as it has been proposed for other Cerrado physiognomies with fire occurrence (Gomes et al. 2014) and unfavorable conditions of soil, water and temperature (^{Dias-Tagliacozzo et al. 1999}, ^{Portes et al. 2008}).

In conclusion, the uncommon storage of fructans in the hard and lignified xylopodium of D. vestitum and the presence of other adaptive structural traits of the aerial stems and leaves highlighted in this study, demonstrates the significance of these features to the success of herbaceous species in potentially stressful environments, such as the campos rupestres.