Comparative foliar micromorphological studies of in vitro and field transferred plants of Morinda citrifolia

Abstract

Micromorphological studies revealed the developmental changes in micropropagated plants of Morinda citrifolia L. from in vitro conditions to field environment. The lower relative humidity, higher light intensity and septic stressful conditions in the field environment could make gradual changes in the micropropagated plants so as to adapt the external environment. Arrested stomatal development, single guard cells and indistinct subsidiaries were observed in vitro with highest stomatal density (52.0±0.11) obtained in the ambient in vitro environment. The development of tissues, epidermal ornamentation, efficient stomatal functionality and vein-islets numbers (12.0±0.0) during in vivo transfer may help in acclimation of micropropagated plants under field conditions. Raphides were observed in the in vitro propagated as well as in vivo transferred plantlets. The gradual acclimatisation and ex vitro rooting technique increased the survival rate of plantlets in the field. The micromorphological changes resulting from in vitro to field environments are important to understand the development of tissues and adaptation of micropropagated plants, which could help in improvement in survivability during field trials.

Foliar epidermal and trichome micromorphological diversity among poisonous plants and their taxonomic significance

“…Only S. halepense exhibited dumbbell-shaped guard cells in all the mentioned varieties. The abaxial surface of Duranta erecta exhibited polygonal-shaped epidermal cells, which was also observed by Shekhawat and Manokari (2017). Gaafar (2019) observed wavy polygonal and irregular epidermal cells with only anisocytic stomata in Chenopodium ambrosioides, while the present results showed anisocytic stomata and a wide elliptical shape of the stomatal pore.…”