J Plant Biotechnol 2022; 49(2): 139-144
Published online June 30, 2022
https://doi.org/10.5010/JPB.2022.49.2.139
© The Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology
Correspondence to : e-mail: ymkang@kiom.re.kr
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The genus Prunus (family: Rosaceae) consists of over 400 plant species and exhibits vast biodiversity worldwide. Given the wide distribution of this genus, its taxonomic classification is important. Anatomical characteristics are conserved and stable and can therefore be used as an important tool for the taxonomic characterization of plants. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and document the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem, and seed of P. africana using micrographs and photographs for possible use in the identification, quality control, and phylogenetic analysis of the species. The anatomical sections of a young stem revealed a cortex consisting of isodiametric parenchyma cells, druse crystals, primary vascular bundles, and pith. The mature stem bark majorly consisted of the rhytidome, with the periderm densely arranged in multiple layers; a cluster of stone cells; and sclerenchyma. The leaf sections were hypostomatic, with stomata sizes ranging from 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 × 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 μm. The leaf sections showed the presence of characteristic druse crystals, vascular bundles, and mesophyll layers. The pericarp contained the epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp, with their thickness being approximately 350-400, 300-350, and 30-50 μm, respectively. In addition, it contained a seed testa with a thickness of approximately 50-60 μm. The morphological and anatomical characteristics observed in P. africana leaves, stems, and seeds in this study could serve as useful data for the taxonomic identification of this species.
Keywords Botany, Anatomy, Prunus africana, Species, Taxonomy
Plant taxonomy plays a critical role in plant diversity assessment, conservation, phytogeographic deductions, optimum utilization, and inferences (Mukherjee 2014). As such, the events of plant species misidentification could lead to detrimental results. The genus
The Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, Ministry of Health, Uganda provided the
For the leaf cuticle morphological observations, living material samples were stored using 70% ethanol, then cut into small pieces (1.0 cm × 1.0 cm). For the light microscopic observations, the samples were dipped in 6% sodium hypochlorite for 8 h. The samples were then thoroughly washed in distilled water. The epidermis of both surfaces of the leaves was peeled off using a single-edge blade (DN-52, Dorco, Seoul, Korea), colored in 1% safranin-50% ethanol for 3 min and mounted in Canada balsam. The mounted slides were examined under a light microscope (Olympus BX-53, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), and captured using a digital camera (Olympus DP21, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). The distribution of the epidermal types and stomata density were recorded and compared from the central part of the leaves. The cuticle morphological terminology used to describe the leaves in this study followed previously published indications (Evert 2006; Wilkinson 1979).
Leaf morphology plays an integral role in plant taxonomy, identification, and systematics (Vincenzo and Cardini 2011). In this study, the leaves of
Table 1 Overview of representative stomatal characteristics of Prunus africana
Prunus species | Stomatal complex | Size of stomata (μm) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Type | Length | Width | ||
HP | AB | Ani, Tet | 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 | 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 |
HP - hypostomatic; AB - abaxial surface; Act - actinocytic; Ani - anisocytic; Ano - anomocytic; Tet - tetracytic.
Table 2 Overview of representative leaf epidermal surface characteristics of Prunus africana
Prunus species | Primary sculpture | Crystals | Trichomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outline | Anticlinal wall | Periclinal wall | DR | ST | SS | LS | GT | ||
AD | iso | und | ft | − | ++ | − | + | − | |
AB | iso | cur/st, und | ft | − | ++ | − | − | − |
AD - adaxial surface; AB - abaxial surface; iso - isodiametric; st - straight; cur - curved; und - undulate; ft - flat; DR - druse-shaped crystal; ST - star-shaped crystal; SS - short simple trichomes; LS - long simple trichomes; GT - glandular trichomes. −, absent; +, present; ++, dominant.
In addition to morphology, leaf anatomy has gained importance as a key tool in plant taxonomy over the years (Araújo et al. 2010; Kolb et al. 2020). In this study, the transverse-section through the leaf mid-vein and petiole of
Our observation showed that the transverse-section of the
The young stems have green and glabrous surface (Fig. 3A). The anatomical section of the stem showed the presence of a layer of isodiametric cells covered by a smooth cuticle. The cortical parenchyma inner regions contain the intercellular spaces. Sclerenchyma cells were absent. Primary vascular bundles xylem and phloem vessels were arranged in the shape of a ring (Fig. 3B). The pith was centrally located, consisting of spongy parenchyma cells (Fig. 3B-D). The cortex consisted of isodiametric, thin-walled parenchyma cell layers containing druse crystals (Fig. 3D). Druse crystals were observed in the cortex region of the stem. The mature bark is corrugated or rough and black to brown in color. It contains brown dots and/or patches of lenticels and adherent scales (Fig. 3E). The microscopic examination of the stem bark of mature
The structures observed in
The anatomy of the
Seed anatomy plays a vital role in the taxonomy of plants (Vaughan 2009). In this study, the transverse section through the seed of
The internal structures of the plants play critical roles in the understanding of the relationships between the taxa. Consequently, the results obtained in this study will play a crucial role in the taxonomy of
This research was funded by the framework of International Cooperation Program (Korea-South Africa Cooperative Research Project for Excavation of Candidate Resources of Complementary and Alternative Medicine) managed by National Research Foundation of Korea (grant no. 2017093655 and KIOM: D17470). Additionally, this work was also supported by Development of Foundational Techniques for the Domestic Production of Herbal Medicines (K18405), Development of Sustainable Application for Standard Herbal Resources (KSN2013320), Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine through the Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
J Plant Biotechnol 2022; 49(2): 139-144
Published online June 30, 2022 https://doi.org/10.5010/JPB.2022.49.2.139
Copyright © The Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology.
Richard Komakech ·Sungyu Yang ·Jun Ho Song ·Goya Choi ·Yong-Goo Kim·Denis Okello · Francis Omujal ·Grace Nambatya Kyeyune ·Motlalepula Gilbert Matsabisa ·Youngmin Kang
Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute (NCRI), Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 4864, Kampala, Uganda
Herbal Medicine Resources Research Center, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine (KIOM), 111 Geonjae-ro, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do 58245, Republic of Korea
Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeonbuk, 181 Ipsin-gil, Jeongeup-si, Jeollabuk-do 56212, Korea
IKS Research Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, 9301, Free State, South Africa
University of Science & Technology (UST), Korean Convergence Medicine Major KIOM, 1672 Yuseongdae-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34054, Republic of Korea
Correspondence to:e-mail: ymkang@kiom.re.kr
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The genus Prunus (family: Rosaceae) consists of over 400 plant species and exhibits vast biodiversity worldwide. Given the wide distribution of this genus, its taxonomic classification is important. Anatomical characteristics are conserved and stable and can therefore be used as an important tool for the taxonomic characterization of plants. Therefore, this study aimed to assess and document the anatomical characteristics of the leaf, stem, and seed of P. africana using micrographs and photographs for possible use in the identification, quality control, and phylogenetic analysis of the species. The anatomical sections of a young stem revealed a cortex consisting of isodiametric parenchyma cells, druse crystals, primary vascular bundles, and pith. The mature stem bark majorly consisted of the rhytidome, with the periderm densely arranged in multiple layers; a cluster of stone cells; and sclerenchyma. The leaf sections were hypostomatic, with stomata sizes ranging from 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 × 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 μm. The leaf sections showed the presence of characteristic druse crystals, vascular bundles, and mesophyll layers. The pericarp contained the epicarp, mesocarp, and endocarp, with their thickness being approximately 350-400, 300-350, and 30-50 μm, respectively. In addition, it contained a seed testa with a thickness of approximately 50-60 μm. The morphological and anatomical characteristics observed in P. africana leaves, stems, and seeds in this study could serve as useful data for the taxonomic identification of this species.
Keywords: Botany, Anatomy, Prunus africana, Species, Taxonomy
Plant taxonomy plays a critical role in plant diversity assessment, conservation, phytogeographic deductions, optimum utilization, and inferences (Mukherjee 2014). As such, the events of plant species misidentification could lead to detrimental results. The genus
The Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, Ministry of Health, Uganda provided the
For the leaf cuticle morphological observations, living material samples were stored using 70% ethanol, then cut into small pieces (1.0 cm × 1.0 cm). For the light microscopic observations, the samples were dipped in 6% sodium hypochlorite for 8 h. The samples were then thoroughly washed in distilled water. The epidermis of both surfaces of the leaves was peeled off using a single-edge blade (DN-52, Dorco, Seoul, Korea), colored in 1% safranin-50% ethanol for 3 min and mounted in Canada balsam. The mounted slides were examined under a light microscope (Olympus BX-53, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan), and captured using a digital camera (Olympus DP21, Olympus, Tokyo, Japan). The distribution of the epidermal types and stomata density were recorded and compared from the central part of the leaves. The cuticle morphological terminology used to describe the leaves in this study followed previously published indications (Evert 2006; Wilkinson 1979).
Leaf morphology plays an integral role in plant taxonomy, identification, and systematics (Vincenzo and Cardini 2011). In this study, the leaves of
Table 1 . Overview of representative stomatal characteristics of Prunus africana.
Prunus species | Stomatal complex | Size of stomata (μm) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Type | Length | Width | ||
HP | AB | Ani, Tet | 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 | 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 |
HP - hypostomatic; AB - abaxial surface; Act - actinocytic; Ani - anisocytic; Ano - anomocytic; Tet - tetracytic..
Table 2 . Overview of representative leaf epidermal surface characteristics of Prunus africana.
Prunus species | Primary sculpture | Crystals | Trichomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outline | Anticlinal wall | Periclinal wall | DR | ST | SS | LS | GT | ||
AD | iso | und | ft | − | ++ | − | + | − | |
AB | iso | cur/st, und | ft | − | ++ | − | − | − |
AD - adaxial surface; AB - abaxial surface; iso - isodiametric; st - straight; cur - curved; und - undulate; ft - flat; DR - druse-shaped crystal; ST - star-shaped crystal; SS - short simple trichomes; LS - long simple trichomes; GT - glandular trichomes. −, absent; +, present; ++, dominant..
In addition to morphology, leaf anatomy has gained importance as a key tool in plant taxonomy over the years (Araújo et al. 2010; Kolb et al. 2020). In this study, the transverse-section through the leaf mid-vein and petiole of
Our observation showed that the transverse-section of the
The young stems have green and glabrous surface (Fig. 3A). The anatomical section of the stem showed the presence of a layer of isodiametric cells covered by a smooth cuticle. The cortical parenchyma inner regions contain the intercellular spaces. Sclerenchyma cells were absent. Primary vascular bundles xylem and phloem vessels were arranged in the shape of a ring (Fig. 3B). The pith was centrally located, consisting of spongy parenchyma cells (Fig. 3B-D). The cortex consisted of isodiametric, thin-walled parenchyma cell layers containing druse crystals (Fig. 3D). Druse crystals were observed in the cortex region of the stem. The mature bark is corrugated or rough and black to brown in color. It contains brown dots and/or patches of lenticels and adherent scales (Fig. 3E). The microscopic examination of the stem bark of mature
The structures observed in
The anatomy of the
Seed anatomy plays a vital role in the taxonomy of plants (Vaughan 2009). In this study, the transverse section through the seed of
The internal structures of the plants play critical roles in the understanding of the relationships between the taxa. Consequently, the results obtained in this study will play a crucial role in the taxonomy of
This research was funded by the framework of International Cooperation Program (Korea-South Africa Cooperative Research Project for Excavation of Candidate Resources of Complementary and Alternative Medicine) managed by National Research Foundation of Korea (grant no. 2017093655 and KIOM: D17470). Additionally, this work was also supported by Development of Foundational Techniques for the Domestic Production of Herbal Medicines (K18405), Development of Sustainable Application for Standard Herbal Resources (KSN2013320), Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine through the Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Table 1 . Overview of representative stomatal characteristics of Prunus africana.
Prunus species | Stomatal complex | Size of stomata (μm) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Type | Length | Width | ||
HP | AB | Ani, Tet | 18.90-(22.34)-26.90 | 15.41-(18.40)-21.22 |
HP - hypostomatic; AB - abaxial surface; Act - actinocytic; Ani - anisocytic; Ano - anomocytic; Tet - tetracytic..
Table 2 . Overview of representative leaf epidermal surface characteristics of Prunus africana.
Prunus species | Primary sculpture | Crystals | Trichomes | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outline | Anticlinal wall | Periclinal wall | DR | ST | SS | LS | GT | ||
AD | iso | und | ft | − | ++ | − | + | − | |
AB | iso | cur/st, und | ft | − | ++ | − | − | − |
AD - adaxial surface; AB - abaxial surface; iso - isodiametric; st - straight; cur - curved; und - undulate; ft - flat; DR - druse-shaped crystal; ST - star-shaped crystal; SS - short simple trichomes; LS - long simple trichomes; GT - glandular trichomes. −, absent; +, present; ++, dominant..
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