cells per square millimeter). Stomatal index (SI) was calculated as [SD/(SD + ED)] × 100. Total trichome density (TD; measured in trichomes per square millimeter) and the type of trichomes—namely, concave peltate and bladder ( Fig. 3 )—were recorded for
), Nemati and Roberts (1968) studied the SD of various pecan cultivars and reported that differences existed. A more recent study showed that SD, epidermal cell density [ED (epidermal cells/mm 2 )], and stomatal index {SI = [SD/(SD + ED)] × 100} did not
Stomatal density during plant development and inheritance of the trait were investigated with the goal of utilizing stomatal density as a correlated trait to cutflower postharvest longevity in Antirrhinum majus L. Inbred P1 (stomatal index = 0.2) was hybridized to inbred P2 (stomatal index = 0.3) to produce F1 (P1 × P2), which was backcrossed to each parent producing BCP1 (F1 × P1) and BCP2 (F1 × P2). P1, P2, F1, BCP1, and BCP2 were used to examine changes in stomatal density with plant development and early generation inheritance. An F2 (F1 self-pollinated), and F3, F4, and F5 families, derived by self-pollination and single seed descent, were used to obtain information on advanced generation inheritance. Stomatal density was stable over time and with development of leaves at individual nodes after seedlings reached two weeks of age. Therefore, stomatal density can be evaluated after two weeks of plant development from a leaf at any node. Stomatal density is quantitatively inherited with narrow sense heritabilities of h2 F2:F3 = 0.47 to 0.49, h2 F3:F4 = 0.37 ± 0.06 to 0.60 ± 0.07, and h2 F4:F5 = 0.47 ± 0.07 to 0.50 ± 0.07.
Abstract
‘Silvan’ blackberry (Rubus sp.) has 3 types of leaf hairs: multiseriate stalked, multicelled head colleters; thick-walled unicellular hairs; and setose hairs (multiseriate trichomes that taper from a stout base). In culture, ‘Silvan’ blackberry leaves were unifoliolate, smaller, and thinner, with less cuticle and a decreased number of trichomes compared to mature leaves of greenhouse-grown plants, which were tri- or pentafoliolate. Cultured leaves had permanently open stomata, raised guard cells, and an altered stomatal and trichome distribution compared to greenhouse-grown plant leaves. Stomatal index was unaffected, but leaf size in vitro was only 1% to 2% of greenhouse control leaf area. Leaves of shoots in multiplication medium were half as large as those of plantlets in rooting medium.
Abstract
Twenty well-watered Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) cultivars were evaluated for evapotranspiration (ET) under controlled environment, using the water-balance method. ET ranged from a low of 3.86 mm·day−1 for ‘Enoble’ to a high of 6.43 mm·day−1 for ‘Merton’, ‘Birka’, and ‘Sydsport’. Cultivars differed in shoot density, verdure, root density, stomatal density, and stomatal index. Only verdure was significantly correlated (r = 0.60) to ET for the 20 cultivars. Five cultivars were selected using cluster analysis to represent categories of high, medium, and low ET rates. ET for these cultivars increased from 1.1- to 1.7-fold when temperature was increased from 25° to 35°C, depending on cultivar. ET at 35° was positively correlated to vertical elongation rate (r = 0.96), and negatively correlated to shoot density (r = − 0.87) and verdure (r = − 0.83) under well-watered conditions.
storage and recovery. The obtained values were expressed in number of stomata per mm 2 . The stomatal index was calculated as SI = 100 SD/(SD + ECD) where SD is stomatal density and ECD is epidermal cells density as defined by Rengifo et al. (2002
The effects of elevated CO2 on stomatal density and index were investigated for five crop species currently being studied for NASA's Advanced Life Support program. Lettuce (cv. Waldmann's Green) and radish (cv. Giant White Globe) were grown at 400, 1000, 5000, or 10,000 μmol·mol–1 CO2, tomato (cvs. Red Robin and Reimann Philip 75/59) were grown at 400, 1200, 5000, or 10,000 μmol·mol–1 CO2, and wheat (cv. Yecora Rojo) and potato (cv. Denali) were grown at 400, 1000, or 10,000 μmol·mol–1 CO2 within controlled-environment growth chambers using nutrient film technique hydroponics. Leaf impressions were made by applying clear silicone-based RTV coating to the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of three canopy leaves of each crop at each CO2 treatment. Impressions were examined using a light microscope, whereby the number of stomatal complexes and epidermal cells were counted to calculate stomatal density and stomatal index. Results indicate that stomatal density increased for lettuce and radish at 10,000 μmol·mol–1 CO2, whereas tomato density was highest at 1200 μmol·mol–1 CO2. Potato had the lowest density at 1000 μmol·mol–1 CO2, and there was no effect of CO2 on density for wheat. Stomatal index correlated with density for lettuce and tomato; however, stomatal index for radish, potato, and wheat was not influenced by CO2. This suggests that there may be a species-specific CO2 response to epidermal cell size that influences stomatal density and stomatal index.
An assessment of anatomical traits of pecan cultivars (`Pawnee', `Mohawk', and `Starking hardy giant') collected from three locations (Tifton, Ga.; Chetopa, Kans.; and Stillwater, Okla.) was conducted at Texas A&M University. The objective of the study was to provide an understanding of patterns of geographic variation within the natural range for anatomical (stomatal density, stomatal index, and epidermal cell density) traits. Microscopy using acetate casts was used as the means to investigate the patterns of variation in the epidermal characteristics of pecan leaf. `Starking hardy giant' had the greatest number of stomates/cm2 (46,229, 47,807, and 45,990 at Tifton, Chetopa, and Stillwater, respectively) while `Mohawk' had the least (37,397, 36,217, and 35,305). `Pawnee' had the greatest number of epidermal cells/cm2 (251,806, 250,098 and 254,883 at Tifton, Chetopa, and Stillwater, respectively) while `Starking hardy giant' had the least (141,699, 138,405, and 142,155). Differences in stomatal index were observed between the three cultivars at Tifton and Stillwater. No differences in stomatal index were observed between `Pawnee' and `Mohawk' at Chetopa. The study showed that stomatal density as well as epidermal cell density of all the tested cultivars were significantly different (P < 0.05) at a particular location but no differences were observed in a given cultivar grown at different locations.
Micropropagated grapes (Vitis sp. `Valiant') were subjected to water stress while rooting with the addition of 2% (w/v) PEG 8000. PEG-treated plantlets exhibited reduced growth, as compared to control (in vitro, no PEG), but developed greater leaf epicuticular wax. PEG-treated plantlets had three times the wax level of control. Although treated plantlets showed changes in leaf anatomy, no effect on stomatal frequency or stomatal index was evident. Differences in epidermal cell configuration were also observed among leaves from different treatments. PEG-treated plantlets resembled those grown in the greenhouse, morphologically and anatomically, and exhibited a higher survival rate than control upon transfer to the greenhouse.
Abstract
Scanning electron microscopy revealed the presence of stomata, trichomes, scars left by detached trichomes, and epidermal cells on the surface of fresh, pickling cucumbers. Size, frequency and distribution of stomata were determined. Stomata, recessed several qm, were the only apparent, natural openings in the epidermis for gas exchange. Stomata were most numerous in the middle (20.2/mm2), less in the blossom end (10.4/mm2) and essentially absent in the stem end section of large (3.8–5.1 cm diameter), ‘GY14’ fruit. Stomatal frequency on large fruit was only about one-third that on small (1.9–2.7 cm diameter) fruit, but the stomatal index for the middle section of each size was similar (0.17–0.18). Large ‘GY14’ fruit were estimated to contain 130,000 stomata, with potential stomatal pore area (assuming open guard cells) representing 0.062% of the fruit surface