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Some Anatomical Features of Basella Linn.: Their Adaptive Significance to Water Stress

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Some Anatomical Features of Basella Linn.: Their Adaptive Significance to Water Stress Research in Plant Biology, 5(3): 14-22, 2015 ISSN : 2231-5101 www.resplantbiol.com Regular Article Some anatomical features of Basella Linn.: their adaptive significance to water stress *1Adenegan-Alakinde T.A. and 2Akinnubi Funmilola Mabel 1Department of Biology, Adeyemi College of Education Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria. 2Department of Botany, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. *Corresponding Author email : [email protected] Basella is a vegetable consumed in South Western Nigeria. Three species and a variety namely B. alba, B. cordifolia, B. rubra and B. alba var. round are cultivated. This study examined the anatomical features of this genus that possess adaptive significance. Free hand peeling was done to get the abaxial and adaxial epidermis. Sections of the stem were done using Reichert Sliding Microtome at 15µm, Epidermal peels and sections were preserved in 50% ethanol. The peels and sections were stained in Safranin O, mounted with glycerol and viewed under microscope. Result shows that B. rubra has long bundles which is an adaptation to draw water compared to the other Basella species. Basella rubra has few abnormal cells which is an advantage for a survival in extreme conditions. Other anatomical features that confer on B. rubra the ability to survive in conditions of water stress include; multiseriate epidermis which prevents water loss, longer vessel length and wider vessel diameters which enable the plant to draw water from the soil and for effective distribution of water within the plant system, vessels are in multiples, closed areoles and absence of veinlet endings and differentiation of the leaf mesophyll. These anatomical characters ensure water conservation and survival in water stress areas. Key words: Abnormal stomata, Basella, vascular bundles, vessel diameter, vessel length. Basella Linn. belongs to the family base. Basella cordifolia Lamk. has a green stem, Basellaceae. The vegetable is commonly leaves and petiole with elongated heart referred to as Indian spinach which is shaped or cordate leaves. This type has commonly eaten among Yorubas in the South pigmentation on the node as well as the base western Nigeria. Farmers and consumers of the petioles and the first two internodes reported there are two main types of Basella; above the soil level. Basella alba variety round, the green and purple stemmed. However, has green stem, leaves and petioles with oval there are three species and a variety under to almost round leaves. All of them are cultivation distinguished by the pigment on annual/perennial herbs, procumbent, the stem, petioles and leaves and the shapes climbing and creeping. of the leaves. Basella rubra Linn. has purple They are commonly use as pot herbs. pigment on the stem, leaves as well as the The vegetable is rich in Calcium, Iron, petioles. The leaf is ovate with a cordate base. Proteins, Vitamins A, C, B, and B2 (Palada Basella alba Linn. has green stems, leaves and and Chang, 2003; Grubbens and Denton, petioles. The leaf is ovate and cordate at the 2004; Roy et al., 2010). B. rubra contains Adenegan-Alakinde &Akinnubi / Research in Plant Biology, 5(3): 14-22, 2015 Proteins, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, and B2. changes of water to remove the bleaching They contain phytochemicals (Olajire and agent and then stored in 50% alcohol for Azeez, 2011; Shruthi et al., 2012.). Ethno- anatomical studies. The transverse section of botanical uses of the vegetable include; the stem was made using Reichert sliding treatment of boils and blisters (Kayode et al., microtome at 15µm. Sections were stained in 2008), fertility enhancer in females (Mensah et Alcian blue for 3 minutes rinsed in water to al., 2008). It has been reported that it is used remove excess stain and then counterstained in the treatment of malaria. Adenegan- in Safranin O for 3 minutes. These were Alakinde (2012) reported that it is used in the rinsed in water to remove excess stain and treatment of dysentry, constipations, treated with serial grades of alcohol and gonorrhea, boils and blisters by the people of mounted in dilute glycerol for anatomical Ondo state. Adetula 2006 described this studies. Photomicrographs were taken with vegetable of importance as underutilized. the aid of ACCUSCPE 3013 Microscope with Members of this genus are commonly found digital Camera mounted on the microscope. in the rainforest region of Nigeria and they Stomata numbers per field were determined become increasingly difficult to find as one from an average of twenty counts on the moves towards dryer parts of the country adaxial and abaxial epidermis of the leaves. (Adenegan-Alakinde and Adedeji, 2011). Stomata area was determined by measuring Generally the information on the anatomy of the length and width of the stomata using the Genus Basella is scarce and the ones ocular micrometer and multiplying by available are not based on the adaptive Franco’s constant (length X breadth X 0.7854). significance of these features. Anatomical Stomata Index was determined using the features of plants are genetic as well as formula: products of plants interaction with their environment. Plants develop various Stomata Index (S.I) = S x 100 protective measures ranging from E + S morphological to anatomical in a bid to survive hostile periods. This paper outlines Where S is number of stomata per unit area variations in anatomical features of members E- Number of epidermal cells in the same of the genus that possess adaptive unit area. significance especially in water stressed conditions. Results Basella rubra: Materials and Methods Abaxial surface epidermis Free hand sections were done for all the Epidermal cells are polygonal, anticlinal leaves to get the abaxial and adaxial walls are thin and wavy, paracytic and epidermis. Leaf venation was done by cutting anisocytic stomata present and abnormal the leaves midway between the base and the stomata (unopened stomata, stomata with apex of the leaf and midway between the one guard cell and stomata without guard margin and the midrib. These sizeable cells) were observed. Stomata frequency is 2 2.. portions were boiled in 90% alcohol to per 100m Stomata index, 27.30%. Guard cell remove the chlorophyll for 30 minutes. The area is 0.026±5.03mm. partially cleared leaves were washed in 3-4 Adaxial surface epidermis changes of water to remove the alcohol then Epidermal cells polygonal, anticlinal walls cleared in 5% solution of domestic bleach are thin, straight to curve, paracytic stomata (parazone) until they were totally cleared. present, cyclocytic stomata observed as well. The cleared leaves were washed in several No aborted stomata were observed. Guard 15 Adenegan-Alakinde &Akinnubi / Research in Plant Biology, 5(3): 14-22, 2015 cell area is 0.035±2.15mm. Stomata frequency Venation: Venation is brochidodromous. is 3 per 100m2. Stomata index, 25.00%. Areoles are polygonal, veinlet endings 1-2 Venation: Venation is brochidodromous. per areoles, may occur singly, linear-curve, Areoles are polygonal, closed, no veinlet Area of areole 0.71±3217.18mm. ending observed. Area of areole is Mesophyll: Mesophyll is not differentiated 305,370.00±1808.91µm². into palisade and spongy layers. Mesophyll is Mesophyll: Mesophyll is clearly made up of polygonal parenchyma cells differentiated into palisade and spongy although some cells are circular or oval in layers. There are two palisade layers (upper shape. Crystal sands are numerous and lower) which consist of more or less Transverse section of Stem: Thin cuticle, short cylindrical shaped parenchyma cells epidermal cells circular to oval short while the spongy cells are more or less rectangular cells, epidermis are uniseriate to polygonal cells. multiseriate. The cortex is made up of Transverse section of Stem: Thin cuticle, polygonal circular to oval shaped epidermis undulating, epidermal cells parenchyma cells, 5-9 layers. 3-4 layered of circular to oval, rectangular shaped cells, non-continuous perivascular tissues. epidermis are uniseriate to multiseriate. The Vasculature: Vascular bundles are short, cortex is made up of parenchyma cells, 3-4 collateral, 37-43, mean bundle length layers of non-continuous perivascular tissues. 0.067±13.86mm. Vessel pores are circular, Vasculature: 46-47 bundles, long collateral oblique, polygonal and cylindrical, vessels bundles arranged in rings, length of vascular solitary, pore multiple largely 2, pore clusters bundles is between 0.15-0.63mm. Mean not observed. Mean vessel diameter length 0.40±32.33mm. Phloem bundles are 0.119±3.90mm, mean vessel length extended to form protrusions which are 0.117±3.80mm. joined to form arc. Vessels are circular, oblique polygonal or cylindrical, vessels Basella cordifolia: solitary, pore multiple 2-4, clustered 3-4, pore Abaxial surface epidermis chain. Vessels are surrounded by fibres. At the abaxial surface, epidermal cells are Mean vessel diameter 0.15±3.5mm, mean polygonal, anticlinal walls are thin, vessel length 0.16±4.66mm. undulating, paracytic and anisocytic stomata present, abnormal stomata (unopened Basella alba: stomata, stomata with one guard cell and Abaxial surface epidermis stomata without guard cells) were observed. Epidermal cells are polygonal, anticlinal Stomata frequency is 3 per 100m2.Stomata walls are thin, straight, paracytic and index, 17.65%. Guard cell area is anisocytic stomata present, abnormal stomata 0.029±1.95mm. (unopened stomata, stomata with one guard cell and stomata without guard cells)were Adaxial surface epidermis observed. Stomata frequency is 4 per Epidermal cells are polygonal, anticlinal 100m2.Stomata index, 30.77%. Guard cell area walls are thin and undulating, paracytic is 0.027±2.25mm. stomata present. Aborted stomata observed Adaxial surface epidermis (abnormal stomata (unopened stomata, Epidermal cells polygonal, anticlinal walls stomata with one guard cell and stomata are straight to curve, paracytic and anisocytic without guard cells, sickle-shaped stomata present. Stomata frequency is 4 per stomata).Stomata frequency is 3 per 100m2.Stomata index, 28.57%.
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