Format: ORAL

Makeli G. Lusa1, Benoit F. P. Loeuille2

1. Department of Botany, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil. 2. Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom.

Plant anatomy used to be considered an ancient science, or a simple tool for answering equally simple questions. Thanks to recent advances in the molecular era, the understanding of systematics of the large and complex family Asteraceae has greatly advanced. In this process, plant anatomy has re-emerged as an important ally, enabling the investigation of complex evolutionary questions, answering new and old taxonomic questions, and, jointly with plant molecules, providing a wide range of data for the arsenal of new, species-level information, in addition to helping detect sources of secondary metabolites, through the integration of histochemistry and phytochemistry. The present work aims to address the most recent plant anatomy techniques used in investigations in the Asteraceae, focusing on methodological advances in the following sectors: evolutionary studies of morphoanatomical diversity; morphoanatomy to answer complex taxonomic questions; integration of anatomy and phytochemistry through histochemistry and in situ hybridization; and new developments in investigations using Transmission Electron Microscopy. Thus, this proposal intends to show botanists that this ancient science persists and thrives, uniquely contributing to increasing our knowledge of plants.