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Morphological characteristics of leaf epidermis and size variation of leaf, flower and fruit in different ploidy levels in Buddleja macrostachya (Buddlejaceae)
Author(s) -
CHEN Gao,
SUN WeiBang,
SUN Hang
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of systematics and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.249
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1759-6831
pISSN - 1674-4918
DOI - 10.1111/j.1759-6831.2009.00026.x
Subject(s) - trichome , biology , ploidy , stomatal density , leaf size , botany , shrub , specific leaf area , epidermis (zoology) , herbarium , cell size , photosynthesis , anatomy , biochemistry , gene , microbiology and biotechnology
Buddleja macrostachya (Buddlejaceae) is a widespread shrub native to the Sino‐Himalayan mountains and beyond. It has been found to occur at two ploidy levels, hexaploid, 2 n =6 x =114 and dodecaploid, 2 n =12 x =228. To determine if morphological characters might be used as indicators of ploidy levels, we measured floral and fruit length, relative and absolute leaf size, trichome density on both leaf surfaces, and stomatal density and length in different populations of B. macrostachya . In general, flower and fruit length, absolute leaf size, and stomatal length increased with an increase at ploidy level ( P <0.01), whereas adaxial cell and stomatal density decreased with an increase at ploidy level ( P <0.01). We found no conspicuous differences in relative leaf size ( P >0.05) in different populations. Other characters studied such as trichome type, cuticular membrane and ornamentation of stomata, cell and stomatal shape, and anticlinal wall pattern were quite constant in this species. Thus it appears that flower and fruit length, absolute leaf size, and stomatal frequency and length can be used to distinguish hexaploid from dodecaploid cytotypes either in the field or in herbarium specimens.