Comparative foliar anatomical and pollen morphological studies of Acanthaceae using light microscope and scanning electron microscope for effective microteaching in community

Abstract

In this study, foliar anatomy and pollen morphology of 10 species of Acanthaceae has been investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. The study was aimed to highlight the role of microscopy in microteaching at community for proper characterization of plants using palyno‐anatomical characters including pollen type, exine sculpturing, shape of epidermal cells, pattern of anticlinal wall, type and size of stomata, and trichome. Most of the species have polygonal cell shapes but some species have irregular, tetragonal, and pentagonal shape of epidermal cells. The largest epidermal cell length on adaxial and abaxial surface were observed in Asystasia gangetica 66.95 and 87.40 μm whereas least was observed on adaxial surface in Justicia adhatoda 36.9 μm and on abaxial surface in Barleria cristata 35.65 μm. In anatomy, species have diacytic type of stomata, whereas stomata of paracytic type observed in two species, while in A. gangetica cyclocytic type of stomata are present. Quantitively on abaxial surface, largest stomata length 29.9 μm and width 24.30 μm was noted in B. cristata. While shortest stomata length was observed in Ruellia prostrata 25.95 μm whereas minimum width of stomata was examined in Barleria acanthoides 2.05 μm. The diversity of trichomes are present in all species except in Ruellia brittoniana. Acanthaceae can be characterized by exhibiting different pollen morphology having five types of pollen shapes, prolate, spheroidal, perprolate, subprolate, and oblate spheroidal. Exine peculiarities showing variations such as reticulate, granulate, coarsely reticulate, lophoreticulate, perforate tectate, and granulate surface were examined.

Scanning electron imaging of mellitophilous and allergenic pollen grain of arid and northern irrigated agroecological zones of Pakistan

“…Its allergenic significance is not reported from Pakistan. A detailed study of Acanthaceae pollen can be found in the study by Raza et al (2020).…”

Implication of scanning electron microscopy as a tool for identification of novel, nonedible oil seeds for biodiesel production

“…Micromophological characteristics, oil content, FFA content, and biodiesel potential of these nonedible oil yielding seeds have been displayed in Table 1. Whereas, photographs of selected plant species and seeds along with their SEM micrographs have been shown in Figures 1a-d (Ahmad, Samuel, et al, 2011;Gupta, Bhaskar & Andola, 2011;Nabila et al, 2021;Raza et al, 2020;Shah et al, 2013). Classification in the modern synthetic systems and evolutionary study of angiosperm plants relies on ultrastructural and micromophological study of seeds which serves as a valid source of information in this regard (Fatima et al, 2018;Mokbli et al, 2018;Rashid et al, 2018).…”

“…A great distinctive variation was observed among these micromophological characteristics, seed sizes, and shapes which can serve as valid pointers for recognition of particular taxa. SEM is one the most dependable and advanced techniques of the present time which can intensely help in resolving various taxonomical issues related to seeds identification and classification (Ahmad, Samuel, et al, 2011; Gupta, Bhaskar & Andola, 2011; Nabila et al, 2021; Raza et al, 2020; Shah et al, 2013). Classification in the modern synthetic systems and evolutionary study of angiosperm plants relies on ultrastructural and micromophological study of seeds which serves as a valid source of information in this regard (Fatima et al, 2018; Mokbli et al, 2018; Rashid et al, 2018).…”

Microscopic techniques for fabrication of polyethersulfone thin‐film nanocomposite membranes intercalated with UiO‐66‐SO3H for heavy metal ions removal from water

“…Just like this research, microscopic techniques using SEM help in studying outer layer of exine and epidermal surfaces in plants (F. Khan et al, 2020;Gul et al, 2019;M. Ahmad, Ozdimir, Zafar, Ahmad, & Sultana, 2019;Mir et al, 2019;Nazish et al, 2020;Noor, Ahmad, Zafar, & Ashraf, 2017;Rahman, Ahmad, Zafar, Mumtaz, & Shah, 2017;Raza et al, 2020;Sadia et al, 2020;Shaheen et al, 2013;Shahzad et al, 2021;Zahra, Ahmad, Shinwari, Zafar, & Sultana, 2014).…”