Method for drafting a morpho-anatomical description of the fruit using light microscopy

Abstract

Light microscopy, along with the newest methods of studying the morpho-anatomic structure of the fruit, remains relevant in current carpology as a simple and universal tool for obtaining new scientific data. In this article, we represent the widest information on the characteristics of fruit parts which can be investigated on fresh or fixed material by microscopy procedure. We submitted the guidelines on preparation of the material for study, using the microtechnique, histochemistry, and microscopy, the consequence of drafting the description, as also, as a list of the examined fruit parts on studied material, i. e. occurrence of this part and its features. In the description, we propose to compose the data in that order: exomorphic fruit characteristics, micromorphology and anatomy of the fruit, and mode of fruit disintegration. Exomorphic fruit characteristics comprise localization, form, size, color, surface, pubescence, of the fruit parts, their abscission after anthesis, and other features. The characteristics of the peduncle, fruit coverings, fruiting receptacle, fruiting ovary, style, and the other fruit parts were considered. Micromorphology of the fruit comprises the study of the inner ovary structure, detected by the anatomic and microscopic methods, on the sectioned fruit, presented on the temporary or permanent slides, particularly: the number and form of locules, the structure of septae, central column, placentae, seeds, as also vertical zonality of the gynoecium. The general anatomy of the fruit is described as stem or leaf anatomy, depending on the identity of the fruit part as the axis (receptacle) or phyllome (carpel). The vascular anatomy of the fruit is characterized as a part of the nodal structure of the receptacle, as follows: the formation of carpel and ovule traces, the number, type, and localization of vascular bundles in the fruit parts. The structural traits of fruit disintegration involve differentiation of the separation layers, mechanical tissues, and grooves along the lines of upcoming dehiscence, splitting, or abscission of the fruit. The awareness of the detailed record of morpho-anatomic characteristics of the fruit makes it possible to reveal the features, which are at the first time observed in the object under study, and which potentially can be used for taxonomy, evolutionary morphology, and the other fields of plant science.