Morphological and anatomical study of some Italian pear leaves Pyrus communis L. cultivated in Iraq

Abstract

This research comprised morphological and anatomical studies of the leaves of five cultivars of the Italian pear species, belonging to Pyrus communis L., they were Abate fetel(A.F.), Beurre hardy (B.H.), Bonne louise(B.L.), Conference(C.), and Doyenne comicem(D.C.). Morphological aspect included dimensions, shape, apex, and margin of the leaf blade, the number of leaves on the last node of the stem, petiole length. The outcome showed the D.C. isolated by bigger dimensions leaf rate were 7.65x4.88 cm, while stick up with B.H. in shape and blade’s apex that were ovate and cuspidate. A.F. cultivar separated with entire margin and more number of leaves of the last node of the stem, C. recognize by lengthen petiole, The anatomical characteristics which included the surface view of leaf epidermis, and cross section of midrib and petiole. Diagnosing pear cultivars with hypostomatal leaf with actinocytic stomata, the results conducted differences of shape abaxial surface cells, B.H. isolated with highly tortuous surface, cultivate were differed in the diameter of midrib, moreover the thickness of mesophyll also showed a variation, The B.H. and D.C. were distinguished in vascular bundles and meta xylem shape, they have been Reni, Ovate form respectively, whereas C. had biggest thickness of xylem and phloem. B.H. and C. circular petiole, B.H. also characteristics with biggest petiole diameter, cultivars divided into four groups to petiole vascular bundles. Our results indicated that the anatomical characters were of great taxonomic importance in the diagnosis and classification of pear plant.