Secretory Structures in Vascular Plants
Summary
Vascular plants deploy a diverse array of secretory structures—including glandular trichomes, colleters, nectaries and ducts—to synthesise, transport and release a wide spectrum of metabolites. These structures are distributed across vegetative and reproductive organs and serve roles in defence against herbivores and pathogens, in reduction of water loss and in the attraction of mutualists such as pollinators and protective ants. Glandular trichomes often produce terpenoids, phenolics or mucilage, while colleters generate hydrophilic exudates that safeguard emerging tissues. Nectaries may be floral or extrafloral and secrete nectar to mediate ecological interactions. Secretory ducts form channels lined by specialised epithelial cells that channel resins, gums or mixed secretions. Together, these secretory systems contribute to plant fitness by mediating chemical communication, enhancing resilience to abiotic stress and influencing community dynamics across ecosystems worldwide.
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Secretory Structures in Vascular Plants publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in secretory structures in vascular plants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Glandular trichome: hair-like epidermal appendage whose secretory cells synthesise and exude secondary metabolites such as terpenoids or phenolics.
Secretory duct: intercellular or schizogenous channel lined by a secretory epithelium, facilitating the transport and release of resins, gums or mixed compounds.
Nectary: specialised secretory tissue that produces nectar; can be floral (attracting pollinators) or extrafloral (attracting protective insects).
Colleter: multicellular gland on young vegetative or reproductive organs that secretes mucilaginous exudate to protect meristems from desiccation and pathogens.
Exudate: fluid or gel containing metabolites released by secretory structures into intercellular spaces or onto the plant surface, functioning in defence or ecological signalling.
References
- The Foliar Anatomy and Micromorphology of Cyphostemma hypoleucum (Vitaceae). Plants (2023).
- How does the nectar of stomata-free nectaries cross the cuticle?. Acta Botanica Brasilica (2017).
- Secretory ducts in Anacardiaceae revisited: Updated concepts and new findings based on histochemical evidence. South African Journal of Botany (2021).
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