Leaf Morphological Characteristics Research Articles

Reponses of morphological and biochemical traits of bamboo trees under elevated atmospheric O3 enrichment

Dwarf bamboo (Indocalamus decorus) is an O3-tolerant plant species. To identify the possible mechanism and response of leaf morphological, antioxidant, and anatomical characteristics to elevated atmospheric O3 (EO3) concentrations, we exposed three-year-old I. decorus seedlings to three O3 levels (low O3-LO: ambient air; medium O3-MO: Ambient air+70 ppb high O3–HO: Ambient air+140 ppb O3) over a growing season using open-top chambers. Leaf shape and stomatal characteristics, and leaf microscopic structure of I. decorus were examined. The results indicated that 1) the stomata O3 flux (Fst) of HO decreased more rapidly under EO3 as the exposure time increased. The foliar O3 injury of HO and MO occurred when AOT40 was 26.62 ppm h and 33.20 ppm h, respectively, 2) under EO3, leaf number, leaf mass per area, leaf area, and stomata length/width all decreased, while leaf thickness, stomatal density, width, and area increased compared to the control, 3) MDA and total soluble protein contents all showed significantly increase under HO (36.57% and 32.77%) and MO(31.91% and 19.52%) while proline contents only increased under HO(33.27%). 4) MO and HO increased bulliform cells numbers in the leaves by 6.28% and 23.01%, respectively. HO reduced the transverse area of bulliform cells by 13.73%, while MO treatments had no effect, and 5) the number of fusoid cells interspace, the transverse area of fusoid cells interspace, and mesophyll thickness of HO significantly increased by 11.16%, 28.58%, and 13.42%, respectively. In conclusion, I. decorus exhibits strong O3 tolerance characteristics, which stem from adaptions in the leaf's morphological, structural, antioxidant, and anatomical features. One critical attribute was the enlargement of the bulliform cell transverse area and the transverse area of fusoid cells interspace that drove this resistance to O3. Local bamboo species with high resistance to O3 pollution thus need to be promoted for sustained productivity and ecosystem services in areas with high O3 pollution.

Physiological and Structural Changes in Leaves of Platycrater arguta Seedlings Exposed to Increasing Light Intensities.

Understanding the light adaptation of plants is critical for conservation. Platycrater arguta, an endangered deciduous shrub endemic to East Asia, possesses high ornamental and phylogeographic value. However, the weak environmental adaptability of P. arguta species has limited its general growth and conservation. To obtain a deeper understanding of the P. arguta growth conditions, we examined the leaf morphology and physiology via anatomical and chloroplast ultrastructural analyses following exposure to different natural light intensities (full light, 40%, and 10%). The findings indicated that P. arguta seedings in the 10% light intensity had significantly improved leaf morphological characteristics and specific leaf area compared to those exposed to other intensities. The net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll (Chl) content, photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE), and photosynthetic phosphorus use efficiency (PPUE) exhibited marked increases at a 10% light intensity compared to both 40% light and full light intensities, whereas the light compensation point and dark respiration levels reached their lowest values under the 10% light condition. With reduced light, leaf thickness, palisade tissue, spongy tissue, and stomatal density significantly decreased, whereas the stomatal length, stomatal width, and stomatal aperture were significantly elevated. When exposed to 10% light intensity, the ultrastructure of chloroplasts was well developed, chloroplasts and starch grain size, the number of grana, and thylakoids all increased significantly, while the number of plastoglobules was significantly reduced. Relative distance phenotypic plasticity index analysis exhibited that P. arguta adapts to varying light environments predominantly by adjusting PPUE, Chl b, PNUE, chloroplast area, and the activity of PSII reaction centers. We proposed that P. arguta efficiently utilizes low light to reconfigure its energy metabolism by regulating its leaf structure, photosynthetic capacity, nutrient use efficiency, and chloroplast development.

Leaf-based characterization of intermediate forms between Cuban and Honduran mahogany

The genus Swietenia includes two mahogany species, Swietenia macrophylla (King.), commonly known as Honduran mahogany, and Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq, commonly known as Cuban mahogany. There are reports of morphologically intermediate forms between Cuban and Honduran mahogany that have been localized in some Caribbean islands. The main objective of this research is to distinguish morphologically intermediate forms between the parental species S. mahagoni and S. macrophylla based on leaf morphological characters. Phenotypic data from a total of 357 mahogany trees were collected in the province of Sancti Spiritus, Cuba. Rachis length, petiole length, leaflet length, leaflet width, number of leaflets and number of nerves were evaluated. Morphological descriptor analysis revealed significant differences in the morphometric variables of the evaluated leaves, with rachis length, number of leaflets, leaflet length, petiole length, leaflet width, and number of nerves being significantly higher in S. macrophylla than in S. mahagoni. ANOVA reflected the variance between all leaf morphological parameters evaluated between the two pure species with statistically significant difference. Using the function obtained in the first DC of the two species, the individuals in the mixed stands were classified into 71 morphologically intermediate forms, 45 S. macrophylla and 64 S. mahagoni. In the second DC with the two species and the morphologically intermediate forms, Wilks’ partial lambda indicates that the variable "leaflet length" with 0.67 contributed most to the overall discrimination.

Examining preharvest genetic and morphological factors contributing to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) shelf-life

Lettuce is a highly perishable horticultural crop with a relatively short shelf-life that limits its commercial value and contributes to food waste. Postharvest senescence varies with influences of both environmental and genetic factors. From a larger pool of romaine lettuce genotypes, we identified three genotypes with variable shelf lives and evaluated their leaf morphology characteristics and transcriptomic profiles at preharvest to predict postharvest quality. Breeding line 60184 had the shortest shelf-life (SSL), cultivar ‘Manatee’ had an intermediate shelf-life (ISL), and ‘Okeechobee’ had the longest shelf-life (LSL). We observed significantly larger leaf lamina thickness and higher stomatal index in the SSL genotypes relative to the LSL cultivar. To identify molecular indicators of shelf-life, we used a transcriptional approach between two of the contrasting genotypes, breeding line 60184 and cultivar ‘Okeechobee’ at preharvest. We identified 552 upregulated and 315 downregulated differentially expressed genes between the genotypes, from which 27% of them had an Arabidopsis thaliana ortholog previously characterized as senescence associated genes (SAGs). Notably, we identified several SAGs including several related to jasmonate ZIM-domain jasmonic acid signaling, chlorophyll a–b binding, and cell wall modification including pectate lyases and expansins. This study presented an innovative approach for identifying preharvest molecular factors linked to postharvest traits for prolonged shelf.

Increased nutritional quality of rice grains and migration mechanisms of selenium by spraying a foliar selenium-rich nutrient solution

Foliar application of selenium (Se) is an effective method for biofortification in rice, to ensure that sufficient Se is supplied by the crop to maintain human health. In order to improve Se concentration in rice and meet the daily recommended intake for humans, a foliar Se fertilizer was applied in five regions of Liaoning and Jilin provinces, China, and its effects on rice quality, leaf morphology, and wax characteristics were assessed in field tests. The effects of alkyl polyglycosides (APG) in the Se fertilizer were evaluated, and epicuticular waxes were measured to analyze the effects of the fertilizer on plant water status. The Se fertilizer effectively enhanced organic Se levels in rice (p < 0.05), ranging from 599.8 to 2002.0 µg kg−1. An intake of 50 g d−1 of Se-enriched rice can meet nutritional requirements, with total Se intake ranging from 30.0 to 100.1 µg d−1. The Se fertilizer increased the protein content and decreased the proportion of chalky rice (p < 0.05). APG increased the wettability of Se fertilizer on the surface of leaves, so Se could be better absorbed into the leaves and accumulate in rice. The Se fertilizer increased the epicuticular wax so that moisture loss from leaves was reduced. Mean cuticular wax thicknesses were 2.36 and 2.25 µg cm2 in Daohuaxiang and Wuyou 4, respectively. These results suggest a link between the quality of rice and epicuticular wax thickness, and the foliar application of Se fertilizer shows promise for increasing Se content in rice grown in Se deficient soils.

Anatomical Mechanisms of Leaf Blade Morphogenesis in Sasaella kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’

There are limited studies on the cytology of bamboo leaf development from primordium to maturity. This study delves into the leaf morphological characteristics and growth patterns of Sasaella kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ and provides a three-dimensional anatomical analysis of cell division, expansion, and degradation. Leaves on the same branch develop bottom-up, while individual leaves develop the other way around. Like bamboo shoots and culms, the leaves follow a “slow–fast–slow” growth pattern, with longitudinal growth being predominant during their development. The growth zones of individual leaves included division, elongation, and maturation zones based on the distribution of growth space. By measuring 13,303 epidermal long cells and 3293 mesophyll cells in longitudinal sections of rapidly elongating leaves, we observed that in the rapid elongation phase (S4–S5), the division zone was located in the 1–2 cm segment at the bottom of the leaf blade and maintained a constant size, continuously providing new cells for leaf elongation, whereas in the late rapid elongation phase (S6), when the length of the leaf blade was approaching that of a mature leaf, its cells at the bottom of the blade no longer divided and were replaced by the ability to elongate. Furthermore, to gain an insight into the dynamic changes in the growth of the S. kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ leaves in the lateral and periclinal directions, the width and thickness of 1459 epidermal and 2719 mesophyll cells were counted in the mid-cross section of leaves at different developmental stages. The results showed that during the early stages of development (S1–S3), young leaves maintained vigorous division in the lateral direction, while periplasmic division gradually expanded from the bottom to the top of the leaf blade and the number of cell layers stabilized at S4. The meristematic tissues on both sides of the leaf were still able to divide at S4 but the frequency of the division gradually decreased, while cell division and expansion occurred simultaneously between the veins. At S6, the cells at the leaf margins and between the veins were completely differentiated and the width of the leaf blade no longer expanded. These findings revealed changes in cell growth anisotropically during the leaf development of S. kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ and demonstrated that leaf elongation was closely related to the longitudinal expansion of epidermal cells and proliferative growth of mesophyll cells, whereas the cell division of meristematic tissues and expansion of post-divisional cells contributed to the increases in blade width and thickness. The presented framework will facilitate a further exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of leaf development in S. kogasensis ‘Aureostriatus’ and provide relevant information for developmental and taxonomic studies of bamboo plants.

Early Detection of Dicamba and 2,4-D Herbicide Drifting Injuries on Soybean with a New Spatial–Spectral Algorithm Based on LeafSpec, an Accurate Touch-Based Hyperspectral Leaf Scanner

In soybeans, off-target damage from the use of dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides for broadleaf weed control can significantly impact sensitive vegetation and crops. The early detection and assessment of such damage are critical for plant diagnostic labs and regulatory agencies to inform regulated usage policies. However, the existing technologies that calculate the average spectrum often struggle to detect and differentiate the damage caused by these herbicides, as they share a similar mode-of-action. In this study, a high-precision spatial and spectral imaging solution was tested for the early detection of dicamba and 2,4-D-induced damage in soybeans. A 2021 study was conducted using LeafSpec, a touch-based hyperspectral leaf scanner, to detect damage on soybean leaves. VIS-NIR (visible–near infrared) hyperspectral images were captured from 180 soybean plants exposed to nine different herbicide treatments at different intervals after spraying. Leaf damage was distinguished as early as 2 h after treatment (HAT) using pairwise partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) models based on spectral data. Leaf color distribution, texture, and morphological features were analyzed to separate herbicide dosages. By fully exploiting the spatial and spectral information from high-resolution hyperspectral images, classification accuracy was improved from 57.4% to over 80% for all evaluation dates. This work demonstrates the potential and advantages of using spectral and spatial features of LeafSpec hyperspectral images for the early and accurate detection of herbicide damage in soybean plants.

Taxonomic implications of leaf morphology and epidermal anatomy for 14 species of Gagea (Liliaceae) from Xinjiang, China

BackgroundLeaf morphology and epidermal characters are important for phylogenetic and taxonomic studies of many plants, but there is currently insufficient data to use them to help distinguish species of Gagea, which is a taxonomically difficult genus mainly due to polyploidy and hybridization. Therefore, leaf morphology and epidermal characters of Gagea were studied to assess the characters that can be used to elucidate the taxonomy and systematics of 14 species of Gagea collected in Xinjiang, China. Using light microscopy (LM), six qualitative and three quantitative leaf epidermal anatomical characters were examined for both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was employed to reveal the similarities based on leaf morphology and epidermal characters of the investigated species.ResultsBasal leaf of these species can be terete or flat, and it is triangle, flat, or circular in transverse section. Anticlinal wall patterns of the leaf epidermal cells were straight and sinuous, and only three species had epidermal hairs. Shape of long cells varies, ranging from quadrangular to irregular. HCA revealed that the 14 species could be divided into two groups. Group A was arranged into three subgroups (A1, A2 and A3), based on the Euclidean distance of 6.96. Subgroup A1 consisted of three species with indumentum; subgroup A2 had four species with sinuous type anticlinal walls; and subgroup A3 comprised of two species with a fistulose basal leaf. Group B included five species with short cells.ConclusionsLeaf morphology and epidermal characters did not differ significantly among populations of the same species in Gagea, whereas they differ significantly among species. Thus, leaf morphology and epidermal characters provide diagnostic information for differentiating G. nigra and G. filiformis; G. altaica, G. jensii and G. alberti, which are morphologically similar species.

Leaf phenotypic variation and its response to environmental factors in natural populations of Eucommia ulmoides

BackgroundEucommia ulmoides leaves have high medicinal and economic value as a dual-purpose substance for medicine and food. Employing leaves from 13 natural populations of Eucommia ulmoides as research objects, this study reveals the variation patterns of intra-specific and inter-specific trait variation and explores the response of leaf characteristics to geographical and climatic changes, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the efficient utilization of leaf resources and the breeding of superior varieties.ResultsDescriptive statistical analysis and nested analysis of variance showed significant differences in 11 leaf traits of Eucommia ulmoides inter-populations and intra-populations, with an average coefficient of variation of 17.45%. The coefficient of variation for average leaf phenotypic traits is 20.77%, and the leaf phenotypic variation is mainly from the variation intra-populations. Principal component analysis reveals that the cumulative contribution rate of the top three principal components which mainly contributed to the phenotypic variation of Eucommia ulmoides leaves reached 74.98%, which could be sorted into size traits (34.57%), color traits (25.82%) and shape traits (14.58%). In addition, correlation analysis expresses there is a specific co-variation pattern among leaf traits, with a strong connection between shape, size, and color traits. Geographic and climatic distances are significantly correlated, and mantel test and correlation analysis indicate that leaf traits of Eucommia ulmoides are mainly influenced by altitude. With the increase of altitude, the leaves become smaller. Partial correlation analysis shows that after controlling climate factors, the correlation between some characters and geographical factors disappears significantly. Temperature and precipitation have a great influence on the variation of leaf phenotypic traits, and the larger the leaves are in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall.ConclusionsThese findings contribute to a further understanding of the leaf morphological characteristics of Eucommia ulmoides and the extent to which the environment influences leaf trait variation. They can provide a scientific basis for the protection and application of Eucommia ulmoides leaf resources in the future.

Aroma-based discrimination of Egyptian versus Indian guava fruits and in response to probiotics as analyzed via SPME/GC–MS and chemometric tools

Guava tree (Psidium guajava L., Myrtaceae) is an economic grown worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Guavas encompass numerous cultivars (cvs.) that were discriminated in previous studies based on leaf morphological features and profile of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Nevertheless, fruit VOCs have also shown outstanding potential for discrimination of other plant taxa, which has not been utilized in guava. Hence, the current study investigates the various guava cvs. harvested from India and Egypt. A total of 5 samples were analyzed by solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results led to the detection of 42 VOCs belonging to aldehydes, alcohols, esters, ketones, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, in addition to monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Butylated hydroxytoluene and β-caryophyllene were predominant reaching 77% and 41% in Egyptian and Indian guava, respectively. The impact of probiotic fermentation, i.e., Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum on aroma profile was not significantly different (p > 0.05). Multivariate data analyses were further applied for samples classification and markers determination, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). PCA score plot showed clear segregation of Egyptian from Indian specimens, whereas OPLS-DA revealed that β-caryophyllene was associated with white fruit versus 3-butenyl isothiocyanate and muurolol in red fruit type in the case of Indian guava. The richness of Egyptian guava in butylated hydroxytoluene in addition to the presence of vitamin C may potentiate its antioxidant activity, to be followed in subsequent studies regarding its health effects.

Morphological Characterization of Cannabis sativa L. Throughout Its Complete Life Cycle.

This study extensively characterizes the morphological characteristics, including the leaf morphology, plant structure, flower development, and trichome features throughout the entire life cycle of Cannabis sativa L. cv. White Widow. The developmental responses to photoperiodic variations were investigated from germination to mature plant senescence. The leaf morphology showed a progression of complexity, beginning with serrations in the 1st true leaves, until the emergence of nine leaflets in the 6th true leaves, followed by a distinct shift to eight, then seven leaflets with the 14th and 15th true leaves, respectively. Thereafter, the leaf complexity decreased, culminating in the emergence of a single leaflet from the 25th node. The leaf area peaked with the 12th leaves, which coincided with a change from opposite to alternate phyllotaxy. The stipule development at nodes 5 and 6 signified the vegetative phase, followed by bract and solitary flower development emerging in nodes 7-12, signifying the reproductive phase. The subsequent induction of short-day photoperiod triggered the formation of apical inflorescence. Mature flowers displayed abundant glandular trichomes on perigonal bracts, with stigma color changing from whitish-yellow to reddish-brown. A pronounced increase in trichome density was evident, particularly on the abaxial bract surface, following the onset of flowering. The trichomes exhibited simultaneous growth in stalk length and glandular head diameter and pronounced shifts in color. Hermaphroditism occurred well after the general harvest date. This comprehensive study documents the intricate photoperiod-driven morphological changes throughout the complete lifecycle of Cannabis sativa L. cv. White Widow. The developmental responses characterized provide valuable insights for industrial and research applications.

Evolutionary history of Magnolia sect. Talauma (Magnoliaceae) in Cuba

Abstract Evolutionary biologists recognize that understanding the phylogenetic history of closely related species is challenging without considering their population genetics history. The taxonomy of Magnolia sect. Talauma in Cuba has long been debated, with several changes in taxon delimitations. All these taxonomic revisions were based exclusively on leaf morphological characteristics of a few individuals, limiting their ability to elucidate taxon boundaries. Recent studies have focused on conservation genetics and species delimitation of Cuban magnolias, based on ecological, morphological and genetic data. Here, we use full plastome sequences and microsatellite data to infer phylogenetic relationships and potential historical migration events among species in Magnolia sect. Talauma in Cuba. Bayesian phylogeny and TreeMix were used to understand the phylogenetic relationships. Based on this, Magnolia sect. Talauma in Cuba does not comprise a monophyletic group. The data continue to show a highly supported unresolved species complex in the taxa of Magnolia subsect. Talauma from north-eastern Cuba. From a taxonomic point of view, our results do not entirely support the most recent taxonomic review proposed for the family in Cuba.

Deep learning based identification of aquatic and semi aquatic plants

AbstractBotanists use morphological features of leaves for aquatic and semi‐aquatic plants identification. In deep learning, the convolution process is efficacious to label images. Existing studies showed that, in deep learning‐based leaf identification, direct image pixel values are used. Leaf images have similar sizes and almost equal pixel values. So, the pixel‐based leaf naming procedure makes uncertainty in the feature results. The direct evaluation of image pixels for leaf image identification is not an effective method, because it is leading to a forgetting problem in continuous learning. Using the pre‐processed databases, researchers are achieving more than 99% accurate results using deep learning. However, the same model fails to reproduce the same result in databases. In this study, morphological features of aquatic and semi‐aquatic plant leaves are converted into digital descriptors to avoid uncertainty in the feature results. In this digital descriptor‐based deep learning method, morphological features of aquatic and semi‐aquatic plant leaves are used. This is equivalent to Botanists' morphological features‐based leaf identification technology. Morphological feature extraction and digital descriptor generation helped this model to achieve 95% accuracy. In this model, leaf morphological features are used for training, so this help to understand the leaf properties of other leaf databases.

Beyond aesthetics: Integration of textural groups of tropical ornamental shrubs into urban planting designs

Shrubs are popularly incorporated to establish green infrastructure in urban spaces. We argue that the functions provided by shrubs could be further enhanced by giving due consideration to their leaf morphological characters. Therefore, our objective was to recognise how the different morphological characters of leaves, listed as contributing to determining the plant texture in literature, would collectively contribute to recognizing textural groups of plants, and further, to define each of these groups into either coarse, medium, or fine textural categories using ornamental shrubs. We investigated the quantitative and qualitative leaf morphology of 30 tropical ornamental shrubs in the Peradeniya area. According to our analysis, leaf area, petiole length, and internodal distance have significantly contributed to the separation of shrubs into three textural groups; fine, medium and coarse, and were considered as preliminary characters that determine the texture. Leaf hair related characters viz., hair densities on upper and lower surfaces, and the length of hairs on both surfaces, together with qualitative morphological characters, viz., leaf margins, leaf arrangement, and prominent venation were identified as secondary characters that contributed to defining textural groups. Shrubs with coarse texture possess significantly larger leaves, longer petioles and internodal distances compared to fine textured group. Our recommendation is to consider plant textural groups as a criterion in the selection of plants for planting designs during the establishment of green infrastructure in urban spaces, enabling the obtaining of benefits beyond aesthetics, which include other functional, health and environmental benefits, to improve the quality of life of city dwellers under the context of limited urban green spaces.

Avicennia germinans leaf traits in degraded, restored, and natural mangrove ecosystems of Guyana

AbstractMangrove leaves have unique features that enable them to cope with shifting environmental conditions while preserving their general functionality and efficiency. We examined the morphological characteristics and chlorophyll content (spectroscopically) of 600 mature Avicennia germinans leaves selected from 30 trees located in one degraded, one restored, and one natural mangrove ecosystem along Guyana's coastline. Systematic sampling was carried out using the closest individual sampling method in the wet and dry seasons. We hypothesized that both habitat type and seasonality influence the leaf traits and chlorophyll content of A. germinans. Our findings showed that A. germinans leaves are mesophyllous, and traits such as leaf perimeter, area, length, width, dry mass, wet mass, turgid mass, leaf‐specific area, and relative water content showed fluctuations in ecosystems (one‐way ANOVA, p &lt; .05) as well as seasonally (paired t‐test, p &lt; .05). Substantial, positive correlations (p &lt; .05, R &gt; .75) were also established for over 10 leaf parameters in both seasons while PCA and multiple regression analyses further confirmed the strong relationships between leaf morphological features and their respective locations. Changes in chlorophyll concentration were most noticeable in the degraded ecosystem while variations in leaf traits were more pronounced in the restored mangrove area. This may be due to the various disturbances found in each ecosystem coupled with fluctuations in the seasons. Our results demonstrate that mangroves, to some extent, alter their plant structures to cope with environmental stressors present in the various ecosystems they thrive in to maintain their survival.

Morphological Characteristics and Chlorophyll Content of Dominant Weed Leaves After Peatland Fires in Oil Palm Plantation Areas

The weeds are high adaptability plants after peatland fires. The response of the dominant weeds growing after the fire is an important factor in weed control efforts to increase the yield of oil palm plantations on post-fire peatlands. The present study was conducted at the Kurao oil palm plantation, Lubuk Basung, West Sumatra, Indonesia. The weeds were collected by using the Quadrat method with random placement of 20 plots in post-fire and unburnt locations. The leaf morphological characteristics were determined by the descriptive method. While the chlorophyll content of leaves was measured by using calorimetry in the spectrophotometer. A total of 25 species and 17 families of weeds were collected in the present study. The Peperomia pellucida is the most dominant species collected with an important value index of 36.41% and follows by Ageratum conyzoides with an important value index of 28.99%. In the present study, we confirmed the differences in all aspects of the morphological characteristics of Peperomia pellucida leaves between post-fire and unburnt locations. Meanwhile, in Ageratum conyzoides leaves only show differences in several aspects. Furthermore, there were differences in the chlorophyll content of Peperomia pellucida, while Ageratum conyzoides did not show any differences in chlorophyll content.

Character state diversity of Litsea (Lauraceae) leaves in Cianjur Herbarium Hortus Botanicus Tjibodensis

Herbarium serves as a storage place for plants that have been preserved, both in the form of dry and wet preserves. The specimen material is useful in determining the taxonomic status or identity of a plant. Litsea is one of the genera of the Lauraceae tribe (kamper-kamperan) which has similar leaf morphological characters among the species in it or even with other genera that are still in one tribe. The study aims to explain the variation of leaf morphological characters of species of Litsea clan members derived from herbarium specimens of the Cianjur Herbarium Hortus Botanicus Tjibodensis (CHTJ) collection. The research method uses direct observation of specimens in a careful, detailed, high concentration, and still refer to the information data contained in the herbarium sheet. The results showed that the petiole length ranged from 0.7 cm to 3 cm, the petiole surface was hairy (glabrescent) and glabrous. Species of the genus Litsea have leaf shape (circumscriptio): oval (ovalis/ellipticus), elongated (oblongus), and lobed (lanceolatus); The leaf tip (apex folii) is pointed (acutus) in 5 species, and tapered (acuminatus) in 4 species, obtuse (obtusus) in 3 species; the leaf base (base folii) is rounded (rotundatus) in 4 species, obtuse (obtusus) in 5 species, and pointed (acutus) in 3 species; while the arrangement of leaf bones (nervatio or venation) is pinnate (penninervis). The species also have flat leaf margins (margo folii) (integer), with the leaf blade (intervenium) being paper-like and parchment-like, the leaf color is green, and the leaf surface has pilosus.

Experimental investigation of the responses of meadow buttercup (Ranunculus acris L.) to sodic salinity and its implications for habitat monitoring

Ranunculus acris L. is a native species widely distributed throughout Europe and is invasive in nonnative areas, causing substantial economic losses in pasture productivity. The present study examined the effects of sodic salinity on the growth and functioning of this species. Salinity stresses the germination process and seedling growth, indicating that the studied species experience serious limitations at 60–90 mmol dm−3 NaCl and cannot establish in habitats where salinity is equal to or greater than 150 mmol dm−3 NaCl. R. acris is tuned to subsaline habitats characteristic of temperate meadows, as its growth and functioning were the best when the plants were treated with 30 mmol dm−3 NaCl. Increasing salinity (60 and 90 mmol dm−3 NaCl) hampered growth, leaf morphology and photosynthesis but not mineral nutrition, as Na accumulation seemed to be the most outlined effect of NaCl application. Changes in leaf morphological characteristics coordinated well with Na content in those organs, which indicates that leaf appearance can be easily catchable sign of progressing salinity. Ultimately, progressing salinity reduces the competitiveness of the studied species, shifting its strategy to ruderal behavior, but under subsaline conditions, the strategy of this species seems to be most balanced.

Morphology, Anatomy and Chemical Composition of Salvia fruticosa Mill in Al-Marj (Libya)

Macro, micromorphological and chemical characteristics of Salvia fruticosa Mill, wild growing in Libya were studied. The aim of the present study is to provide new properties for the identification and description of this species. The features of leaf morphology, verticillaster number, bract, calyx, corolla, stamens, trichomes, collenchyma’s rows, vascular bundle and mesophyll structure are important characters to distinguish this species. In the study, we observe morphologically different types of glandular trichomes. The results of leaf architecture studies can provide a more accurate basis for the identification of this species. The essential oil contained cineol (43.93%), β-pinene (11,43%), α-pinene (9.53%), β-myrcene (9.08%), caryophyllene (8.75%), camphor (5.12%) and α-terpineol (4.15%).

Morphological traits and Zn content of several cassava genotypes in nutrient solution culture

Leaf morphological characters and nutrient content in leaf tissue can vary depending on plant genotype. The nutrient solution culture can produce leaves with good nutritional content. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate and validate cassava putative mutants' morphological traits and Zn content using a nutrient solution culture system. This research was carried out from January to May 2022 at the greenhouse of Cikabayan Experimental Garden, IPB University, Bogor. This study used two cassava cultivars and ten mutant genotypes from the cassava research team of IPB University, resulting from mutation breeding by gamma irradiation. The plant characters observed in this study included the number of leaves, length and width of the leaflet, leaf colour, plant height, fresh and dry weight leaf, and analysis of Zn content. The data were analyzed using ANOVA at a significant level of α = 5%, followed by Tukey's further test. The results showed that the G2D1-422 genotype had a higher Zn content than the wild type (Ratim/G2) and the other genotypes. The high Zn genotypes (G2D1-422) and low Zn genotypes (Ratim (G2) had not significantly different in fresh and dry leaf weight. Meanwhile, the plant genotype did not affect other growth characteristics such as plant height, the number of leaves, and the length and width of the leaflets, and overall, the characters were similar between the observed genotypes.