Investigation on the Relationship between Morphological and Anatomical Characteristic of Savoy Cabbage and Kale Leaves and Infestation by Cabbage Whitefly (Aleyrodes proletella L.)

Abstract

The cabbage whitefly (CW), Aleyrodes proletella (L.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is an important pest in Brassica oleracea L. crops. Little is known about the mechanisms of resistance to CW of savoy cabbage and kale cultivars. Light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were used to determine the relationship between the morphological and anatomical features of savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. convar. capitata (L.) Alef. var. sabauda L.) and kale (Brassica oleracea L. convar. acephala (DC.) Alef. var. sabellica L.) leaves and host suitability to colonization by CW. Two kale cultivars, “Redbor” and “Starbor”, and two savoy cabbage cultivars, “Gloriosa” and “Alcosa”, that differed in the degree of infestation by A. proletella were taken for histological analysis. The lowest infestation by all forms of A. proletella was observed on savoy cabbage cultivar “Alcosa” and kale cultivar “Starbor”. The reduced colonization by cabbage whitefly may be related to the structure of the epidermis and the anatomical features of the leaf. The leaves of “Starbor” and “Alcosa” had more folds in the epidermis, less numerous but larger stomata, and a more compact mesophyll structure compared to “Redbor” and “Gloriosa”. In both analysed species, there was no clear relationship between the thickness of the abaxial epidermal layer, thickness of the lamina, number of vascular bundles, and degree of infestation by the cabbage whitefly. This study identified promising sources of resistance to A. proletella among cultivars of savoy cabbage and kale. Varying infestation by CW was associated with morphological and anatomical characteristics of leaves. Further study is needed to confirm the relationship between insect resistance and leaf surface and morphological characteristics of leaves in a broader range of Brassica spp.

Microscopic characterization of petiole anatomy of Asteraceous taxa of Western Himalaya‐Pakistan

“…Within these disciplines, petiolar anatomical study is one of the most important tools used by modern taxonomists to identify and distinguish closely related classes. A light microscope (LM) was used to distinguish the species based on the shape and vascular bundle (Marasek‐Ciolakowska, Soika, Warabieda, Kowalska, & Rybczyński, 2021). Earlier studies are conducted on petiole anatomy of the Asteraceous taxa, all representing the significance of petiole anatomy which help in the classification of the family (Chukwuma, Soyewo, Okanlawon, & Ugbogu, 2017; Kahraman, Celep, & Dogan, 2010; Kocsis & Borhidi, 2003; Ozbek, Mavi Idman, & Bani, 2014; Sacramento Silva, Leite, & Roque, 2019).…”

Ultrasonic washing as an abiotic elicitor to induce the accumulation of phenolics of fresh-cut red cabbages: Effects on storage quality and microbial safety

“…In order to observe the anatomical characteristics (i.e., cross section and abaxial epidermis) of fresh-cut red cabbage leaves by a field emission scanning electron microscopy (Model Regulus8100, Hitachi, Japan), leaf samples were prepared according to the method of Marasek-Ciolakowska et al ( 40 ) with some modifications. Fresh sample sections were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and then dehydrated in an ethanol series.…”

Effect of Meiotic Polyploidisation on Selected Morphological and Anatomical Traits in Interspecific Hybrids of Brassica oleracea × B. napus

“…Plants of the F 2 generation had bigger and thicker leaves and significantly thicker layers of palisade and spongy mesophyll than triploids of the F 1 generation and parental lines of B. oleracea and B. napus, whereas FC320 F 2 had a compact mesophyll structure with small intercellular spaces. The leaf surface and leaf morphological characteristics may affect their resistance to infestation by insect herbivores [51][52][53]. Marasek-Ciolakowska et al [53] showed that reduced infestation by the cabbage whitefly (Aleyrodes proletella) on leaves of resistant cultivars of kale and savoy cabbage was related to the structure of the epidermis, thickness of the lamina, and compactness of the mesophyll.…”

“…The leaf surface and leaf morphological characteristics may affect their resistance to infestation by insect herbivores [51][52][53]. Marasek-Ciolakowska et al [53] showed that reduced infestation by the cabbage whitefly (Aleyrodes proletella) on leaves of resistant cultivars of kale and savoy cabbage was related to the structure of the epidermis, thickness of the lamina, and compactness of the mesophyll.…”