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Bioscience Discovery, 8(3): 574-581, July - 2017
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Research Article
Stomatal Studies in the Genus Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae)
Nalawade A S* and R V Gurav
Department of Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur (MS)-416004
Article Info
Abstract
Received: 08-06-2017,
Revised: 29-06-2017,
Accepted: 30-06-2017
Genus Chlorophytum has been studied for various aspects such as taxonomy,
anatomy, molecular biology and ethnobotany by various workers but in the case
of epidermal and cuticular studies, less attention has been given. Data regarding
stomatal studies is either absent or obscure. In present investigation stomatal
studies has been carried out to know the size, structure and distribution of
epidermal cells, stomata, stomatal density and stomatal index of genus
Chlorophytum. In all the studied species stomata were predominantly
hypostomatic and anomocytic. Maximum length (L) and width (W) is observed
in C. indicum (50.7±0.9 µm & 42±0.8µm) and minimum in C. breviscapum
(25.2±0.7µm & 18.6±0.4µm). Highest stomatal density was observed in C.
gothanense (227±7.4/mm2) and lowest in C. indicum (25±7.5/mm
2). The
Stomatal index was highest in C. glaucoides (51.28) followed by C. gothanense
(46.9) and lowest on C. indicum (29.41) followed by C. kolhapurense (33.33). A
negative correlation was observed in respect to stomatal density and
chromosome number.
Keywords:
Asparagaceae,
Chlorophytum, Stomatal
Density, Stomatal Index.
INTRODUCTION
Stomatal characters are among the epidermal
characteristic, which has been very useful in
taxonomic delimitation apart from functional
relevance of epidermal structures (Hari Babu and
Savithramma, 2014) Distribution, size and
frequency of stomata have been reported to be
specific for a genus or a species (Miller 1938). The
leaf epidermal cells are of significant taxonomic
importance; the length and width are regarded as
useful aids in distinguishing varieties with similar
flowering dates in perennial rye grass (Wilkins &
Sabanci, 1990).
The Chlorophytum is old world genus
distributed in Africa, Australia and Asia and is
represented by about 214 species, 6 subspecies and
14 varieties (Govaerts et al., 2012). Formerly the
genus was considered under family Liliaceae then
in Anthericaceae and now it is being treated under
subfamily Agavoideae of family Asparagaceae
(APG III). In India, the genus is represented by
about 20 species and most of them occur in Western
Ghats (Adsul, 2014). Most of the Chlorophytum
species are usually forest dwellers and ephemerals
making it difficult to find them in flower and fruit.
(Chandore et al., 2012) The restricted distribution,
remote habitat, seasonal flowering and fruiting
period, most of the species have similar sized
flowers and leaf pattern and identification key with
overlapping characters have made the genus
difficult to identify (Adsul et al., 2014). However
there is no detail study done on stomatal and related
anatomical characters on genus Chlorophytum till
date. In present study an attempt was made on
cuticular and epidermal studies of genus
Chlorophytum from India.
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Nalawade and Gurav
MATERIALS AND METHODS
All the 16 species of Chlorophytum were collected
from various localities of India (Table 1) and
germplasm is maintained in the Botanical Garden of
Department of Botany, Shivaji University,
Kolhapur. The foliar epidermal peels were taken
from the middle of both surfaces of mature leaves.
Leaves of Chlorophytum species were collected,
washed and peeled off by tearing the leaf suddenly
and with forcing the lower epidermis upward. A
thin membranous epidermis gets separated near the
broken edges (Singha et al., 2013). These peels
were taken in the Petri plates containing distilled
water for study. These uniformed peels were taken
on glass slides and a drop of 1% safranin stain was
added, kept for 1 minute, washed with water and
then mounted in a drop of glycerine to prevent the
drying. A coverslip was placed and excess of water
was blotted with the help of blotting paper. Slides
were examined and photographed under Biological
research microscope LM 52 1803 with CMOS
15500 - 5.0MP Camera (figure 2). The stomata of
each species are illustrated line drawing (figure 3).
In the stomatal studies, images were analysed by
software TS View version 7.3.1.7 (figure 1) and
readings were noted in 10 randomly selected fields
and mean value was estimated. The values for the
stomatal index were calculated using Salisbury’s
formula (Salisbury, 1927).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Data on epidermal cells, stomatal cells, stomatal arc
and their density and stomatal index are presented
in Table 2.
Epidermal cell size: Lowest value for length is
noted in C. breviscapum (71.4±17.9 µm) and
highest in C. indicum (332.4±44.8µm) and however
minimum width is noted in C. gothanense
(25.9±2.8µm) and maximum in C. heynei
(70.5±4.1µm). On the adaxial surface of all taxa,
the leaf epidermal cells are either hexagonal or
rectangular.
Epidermal cell density: Density value is lowest in
C. laxum (58±10mm2) while highest value is
observed in C. gothanense (257±16.2mm2).
Stomatal distribution: Out of 16 species studied,
amphistomatic leaves were observed in C.
tuberosum with the maximum frequency of stomata
while in C. arundinaceum, C. breviscapum, C.
gothanense, and C. kolhapurense with lesser
frequency and all others have hypostomatic leaves.
Stomata in all are anomocytic. Meidner &
Mansfield (1968) reported linked chain of
epidermal cells with stomata at joints in family
Liliaceae. This type of arrangement was commonly
observed in all studied species.
Stomatal size: Minimum value for length and
width is observed in C. breviscapum (25.2±0.7µm
& 18.6±0.4µm) and maximum in C. indicum
(50.7±0.9 µm & 42±0.8µm).
Stomatal density: Lowest stomatal density is
observed in C. indicum (25±7.5/mm2) and highest
in C. gothanense (227±7.4/ mm2).
Stomatal index: Minimum value is obtained in C.
indicum (29.41) while maximum in C. glaucoides
(51.28).
Stomatal cell arc: Arc with angle, radius and
length in single guard cell of stomata is measured
which shows lowest value for all three parameters
of arc in C. breviscapum (133±11.90, 15.6±1.3µm,
33.9±1.5µm) while highest value for angle is found
in C. laxum (189±5.10) and for radius and length is
found in C. indicum (25.9±0.5 µm & 69.5±2.1 µm).
Plants or tissues with the smaller cell size are more
tolerant of low water potential (Ainsworth et al.,
2006; Muller et al., 2007; Weijschede et al., 2008)
but in present investigation it is found that C.
indicum, C. laxum, C. borivlianum and C.
kolhapurense have larger epidermal cell size though
they were collected from moist or dry deciduous
forest area. Epidermal cell density is higher than the
stomatal density in all taxa except C. glaucum. This
character is useful in identification of respective
species. Patil and Patil (1987) observed the
presence of stomata on adaxial surface of C.
tuberosum. During present study similar
observations were observed in the leaves of C.
arundinaceum, C. breviscapum, C. gothanense, and
C. kolhapurense. In all studied Chlorophytum
species stomata are aperigenous i.e., without
subsidiary cells. Present investigation supports
observations made by Stebbins & Khush (1961) that
plants without subsidiary cells are predominantly
geophytes. Naik and Nirgude (1981) observed that
taxa certain anatomical features such as stomatal
studies indicates close correlation with chromosome
number. In present study taxa with chromosome
number 2n=16 show higher length and width in
epidermal cells. However, stomatal density showed
a negative correlation with chromosome number.
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Bioscience Discovery, 8(3): 574-581, July - 2017
Figure 1. Measurement of dimension of A. Epidermal cell length and width (40X), B. Stomatal length
and width (100X), C. Stomatal density (10X), D. Stomatal arc (100X)
A negative correlation was also observed in
stomatal index, stomatal density and stomatal size.
Stomatal density and index decreases as stomatal
size increases.
Acknowledgment Authors are thankful to the Head, Department of
Botany, Shivaji University, Kolhapur for providing
research facilities and the financial assistance from
UGC-BSR Fellowship, New Delhi is gratefully
acknowledged.
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Nalawade and Gurav
Figure 2. Structure and distribution of stomata and epidermal cells. 1A-1B. C. arundinaceum, 2A-2B. C.
belgaumense, 3A-3B. C. bharuchae, 4A-4B. C. borivilianum, 5A-5B. C. breviscapum, 6A-6B. C.
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nimmonii, 16A-16B. C. tuberosum. (Magnification at A. 10X and B. 100X)
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Bioscience Discovery, 8(3): 574-581, July - 2017
Figure 3. Stomata and stomatal apparatus of A1-A2. C. arundinaceum, B1-B2. C. belgaumense, C1-C2. C.
bharuchae, D1-D2. C. borivilianum, E1-E2. C. breviscapum, F1-F2. C. glaucoides, G1-G2. C. glaucum,
H1-H2. C. gothanense, I1-I2. C. heynei, J1-J2. C. indicum, K1-K2. C. kolhapurense, L1-L2. C. laxum, M1-
M2. C. malabaricum, N1-N2. Chlorophytum sp. O1-O2. C. nimmonii, P1-P2. C. tuberosum (Scale bar
=12µm).
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Nalawade and Gurav
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How to Cite this Article:
Nalawade AS and RV Gurav, 2017. Stomatal Studies in the Genus Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae).
Bioscience Discovery, 8(3):574-581.