Epidermal Structures and Stomatal Ontogeny in Terminalia catappa L. (Combretaceae)

Abstract

A B S T R A C T Stomatal ontogeny and epidermal characteristics of Terminalia catappa L., an important tropical economic plant, were studied and described. The central portions of cotyledonary and mature leaves were peeled, stained with acetocarmin, 1% safranin and fast green stains as required, mounted on microscope slides and observed under Olympus photomicroscope for stomata ontogeny and developmental stages. The cells of the epidermis of the species are polygonal, isodiametric or elongated in various directions and arranged irregularly. The anticlinal epidermal walls are sinuous, undulating, straight or arched. Combretaceous eglandular trichomes were observed on the abaxial surface of the cotelydonary leaves. Six types of stomata (anomocytic, tetracytic, stuarocytic, anisocytic, isotricytic, diacytic) and different transitional stages were also observed. Stomata occurrence in cotyledonary leaves was observed to be amphistomatic but hypostomatic in mature leaves. The adaxial stomatal index on the cotyledonary leaves ranged from 3.57-14.29 (9.61±3.15) while on the abaxial surface it varied from 12.50-31.25 (23.50±5.13). The ontogeny of isotricytic stomata is mesogenous; it is however mesoperigenous in anomocytic, tetracytic and anisocytic stomata types. Stomata clusters are frequent on the abaxial surface of mature leaves while contiguous stomata and abnormal stomata with unequal guard cells are rare. Stomatal ontogeny, an important taxonomic character, is described for the species.

Taxonomic significance of leaf morpho-anatomical markers in identifying <em>Ficus exasperata </em>Roxb.<em>, Ficus mucuso Welw. ex Ficalho </em>and <em>Ficus thonningii</em> Blume in Nigeria

“…On the other hand, considering the epidermal features on the adaxial layer, Ficus exasperata is distanced from F. muscuso and F. thonningii by having hypostomatic leaves. There exist studies [23][24][25][26][27][28] in which the positioning of stomata on the epidermal layer was used to delimit the taxa of plants. However, there is presently scarce information according to the literature on the discrimination of Ficus species based on the positioning of stomata but there is replete information on other epidermal indices such as stomatal types and epidermal cell shape [29].…”

Inventory of species and analysis of stomata characteristics of shade trees at UIN Walisongo Semarang

“…Our finding was different from the results of Des et al (2021) who reported that in Ketapang leaves, stomata were only found on the abaxial surface, therefore they were classified as hypostomatic type. However, Ekeke & Agbagwa (2015) reported that the distribution of stomata on Ketapang leaves between cotyledon leaves and mature leaves was different. In cotyledon leaves, stomata were found on both adaxial and abaxial surfaces while in mature leaves, stomata were found only on the abaxial surface.…”

“…Paracytic stomata were also found in Pucuk Merah leaves (Myrtaceae). Paracytic stomata were defined as possessing one or more pairs of lateral subsidiary cells oriented parallel with the guard cells (Ekeke & Agbagwa, 2015). Anomocytic stomata were found on several other species leaf such as Mahogany, Glodogan Tiang, Ketapang, Ketapang Kencana, Nyamplung, Bungur, Beringin, Ketapang Biola Cantik, and Sawo Kecik.…”

“…Anomocytic stomata were found on several other species leaf such as Mahogany, Glodogan Tiang, Ketapang, Ketapang Kencana, Nyamplung, Bungur, Beringin, Ketapang Biola Cantik, and Sawo Kecik. Anomocytic stomata were stomata in which the guard cells remained surrounded by several subsidiary cells whose size and shape cannot be distinguished from other epidermal cells (Ekeke & Agbagwa, 2015). There were only one type of anisocytic stomata found in Tanjung leaves.…”

“…There were only one type of anisocytic stomata found in Tanjung leaves. Anisocytic stomata (unequal celled) were stomata in which the guard cells were surrounded by three subsidiary cells (two larger subsidiary cells and one distinctly smaller (Ekeke & Agbagwa, 2015). Cyclocytic stomata were found on Kiara Payung leaves.…”