Open AccessStomata length is a reliable characteristic for distinguishing infraspecies and ploidy levels of Opuntia mesacantha (Cactaceae)
Author(s) -
Paul Adanick,
Taly Dawn Drezner,
A. Dean Stock
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of the botanical research institute of texas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 2644-1608
pISSN - 1934-5259
DOI - 10.17348/jbrit.v12.i1.925
Subject(s) - subspecies , ploidy , biology , botany , taxon , polyploid , reticle , zoology , genetics , physics , optoelectronics , wafer , gene
Opuntia mesacantha includes two subspecies, O. mesacantha subsp. mesacantha (tetraploid) and O. mesacantha subsp. lata (diploid), that are difficult to distinguish in the field. We show that (1) stomata length is effective for distinguishing the two subspecies, and (2) this can be visually assessed, reliably and non-destructively, using a microscope with a reticle (ocular data). We compare our ocular results with digital imaging and chromosome counts from mitosis in root tips to confirm that our approach is effective for these taxa.