Ultrastructural findings in foliar lesions associated with ‘red vein’ in leather leaf fern

Abstract

The red vein leather leaf fern (Rumorah adiantiformis) is classifiedasadiseaseofunknownetiology,anditisnotknown what his agent or causal factor. This alteration, like Sterloff syndrome (SS) has been presenting for several years in Costa Rica, which has produced unfavorable economic conditions, reducing the area planted in 60% and causing a decrease in jobs 70%. Very little is recorded worldwide research that characterizes both conditions, so it is impossible to make an appropriate management strategy, which leads to increased economic costs, social and environmental dimensions of culture. In order to describe ultrastructural symptoms of the disease, leaf tissue was collected for a period of two years (2007 and 2008) in Poas, Alajuela, Costa Rica, and observations were made by scanning electron microscopy and transmission. Tissues with symptoms revealed the presence of laminated glass in spongy mesophyll cells and amorphous crystalline accumulations in the parenchyma of the vascular bundle, as well as lots of crystals in the spongy mesophyll vacuoles. These crystals are apparently calcium oxalate compounds, no evidence of crystals in the presence of asymptomatic tissues. This article describes the ultrastructural findings foliage with and without symptoms of red vein fern plants and mentioned as a possible cause stress conditions nutritional imbalances.