Variation in anatomical and physical properties of some Schizostachyum species of Manipur, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out on mature culms of three Schizostachyum species namely Schizostachyum manii, Schizostachyum munroi and Schizostachyum pergracile collected from Manipur. The aim of the present study was to investigate anatomical and physical properties of these bamboo species across and along the culms. All the selected species had different types of vascular bundles. Type I vascular bundles in S. manii, both Type II and Type III vascular bundles in S. munroi and Type II vascular bundles in S. pergracile were present. Vascular bundles were larger in size in middle zone at all height positions in all species. Schizostachyum manii possessed 3–4 vascular bundles in middle zone while both S. munroi and S. pergracile had 1 or 2 vascular bundles in this zone. Across the culm wall, there was increase in number of vascular bundles. Along culm height, the number of vascular bundles was uniform from bottom to top position in S. manii and S. munroi while it decreased in S. pergracile along the culm height. The size of vascular bundles (R/T ratio) decreased in all species across and along the culm. A statistical significant variation existed in fibre dimensions within and among species. Fibre characteristics namely fibre diameter, fibre lumen diameter and fibre wall thickness decreased across the culm wall in all selected species. The fibre characteristics also decreased along the culm height in S. manii. Among physical properties, there was increase in specific gravity from bottom to top position in all species while moisture content, shrinkage in culm diameter and culm wall thickness decreased along the culm height.