Taxonomic Studies on Telfairia Occidentalis Hooker (Cucurbitaceae)

Taxonomic Studies on Telfairia occidentalis Hooker (Cucurbitaceae)

*1Wahua, Chika; 2Eke, Redeem Chinazam; 3Nichodemus, Cornelius Onyidikachi

*1Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, P.M.B.5323, NIGERIA. *Email: chika.wahua@ uniport.edu. ng, Phone number: +2348064043448 2 Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, P.M.B. 5323, NIGERIA. Email: redeemeke8@ gmail. com 3 Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, P.M.B. 5323, NIGERIA. Email: cornel4nic@ gmail. com

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article No.: 020120021 This study examined the morphological, anatomical, cytological, Type: Research phytochemical characteristics of Telfairia occidentalis (Fluted pumpkin) in the family Cucurbitaceae. Observations of plant parts aided by measurements were done and these were sectioned following Wahua’s method; root tips squashed with FLP Orcein and qualitative phytochemical Accepted: 02/02/2020 analysis was carried out. T. occidentalis is a dioeciously perennial plant Published: 25/02/2020 with stem up to 10m long and 3-5 palmately arranged leaflets. The fruit is pale green with waxy deposit strongly ribbed and light yellow fibrous flesh *Corresponding Author with flattened seeds. The flower is composed of male and female Wahua, Chika inflorescence. The epidermal studies revealed glandular trichomes, oil E-mail: chika.wahua@ glands and anomocytic stomata with polar contiguous stomata on the uniport.edu.ng abaxial layer. The anatomical studies showed various internal structures for the stem, midrib, root, petiole and node with bicollateral vascular Phone: +2348064043448 bundle arrangements. Diploid chromosome number of 2n=22 was observed. Phytochemical screening revealed presence of alkaloids, Keywords: Telfairia, morphology; flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, phenols and cardiac glycosides anatomy; cytology; across the three extracts while steroids was absent. The information phytochemistry; anomocytic generated from this study further aid the delimitation of the species.

Greener Journal of Biological Sciences, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 21-26, 2020 22 Wahua et al / Greener Journal of Biological Sciences

INTRODUCTION left hand to hold the vertical blade sets, while pressing down the 2 crossed sets with the first two fingers of the The genus Telfairia Hooker belongs to the family right hand to make a transverse section of about 15 to Cucurbitaceae and contains two (2) species in Africa 25µm in thickness. These were dehydrated in ethanol namely; Telfairia occidentalis Hooker and T. pedata (Sm. solution of 30%, 50%, 70% and absolute for 5 minutes in ex Sims.) Hooker from West Africa and East Africa each and further passed through different series of respectively (Okoli, 2013). Although T. occidentalis is an alcohol and chloroform (3:1, 1:1 and 1:3) v/v for 10 herbaceous perennial plant, it is grown as an annual minutes in each. Good sections were selected, stained crop due to its importance in parts of West Africa (Irvine, with 1% Alcian blue, rinsed and counter stained with 1% 1969). In Nigeria, Telfairia occidentalis is extensively Safranin 0 for 2 minutes. Mounted on glass slides with a cultivated in the southern part by the Igbos where it is drop of glycerol and viewed under the microscope. fast becoming an important vegetable crop (Okoli, 2013) Microphotographs were taken (Metcalfe and Chalk, and has become a major component of their diets and 1979; Stace, 1980). can be found in every home. In trado-medicine, it is used as blood booster, improve immune system, aid digestion Cytological Studies and convulsion (Kayode et al., 2010). The antioxidant property of T. occidentalis has The seeds were plated in petri-dishes and allowed to been widely reported by several authors (Nwanna and grow roots. The roots were harvested at time intervals Oboh, 2007; Eseyin et al., 2014; Eseyin et al., 2018). (8, 9, 10, 11 and 12), dipped in 8 hydroxylquinoline for Nutritionally, this leafy vegetable is rich in minerals such 3hours removed and dipped in Carnoy’s fluid for 24hours as iron, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, calcium and (Okoli and Mgbeogwu, 1983). The roots were removed magnesium and some essential amino acids (Fasuyi and and dehydrated in water. 8% HCl was added in a water Nonyerem, 2007). Major Phytochemicals present bath and heated to 60o, the roots were added to the include; tannins, saponins, flavanoids and phenolics boiling HCl and allowed for 4minutes to hydrolyze. The (Ekpenyong et al., 2012; Adeniyi et al., 2010). roots were removed and placed in 70% ethanol for Some taxonomic lines of evidence have been 10minutes to neutralize the acid. The root tip was placed explored in the study of T. occidentalis such as on a glass slide and cut at 0.2cm, FLP Orcein was morphology (Hutchinson and Dalziel, 1954), added, covered with a cover slip and quashed. Air phytochemistry (Adeniyi et al., 2010), cytology (Okoli bubbles and excess stain were removed using filter and Mgbeogwu, 1983). paper. The slide was viewed under the microscope for This present study examines the morphology, anatomy, observations and chromosomal counts with clear cytology and phytochemistry of T. occidentalis to further microphotographs taken from good preparations. provide useful taxonomic information relevant to its identification and delimitation. Phytochemical Studies

Qualitative analysis was carried out as described by MATERIALS AND METHODS Trease and Evans (1989) and Sofowora (1993). The leaves of Telfairia occidentalis were screened for the Morphological Studies presence of flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, phenols and cardiac glycosides. Observations of the morphological characters (vegetative and floral) were made and a meter rule was employed to aid their measurements. The seeds were RESULTS AND DISCUSSION obtained from Rumuokoro market in Port Harcourt while the plant parts were collected from University of Port Morphological Studies Harcourt farm, Rivers State, Nigeria. Telfairia occidentalis (fig 1) is a perennial herb, grows up Anatomical Studies to 10m in length with leafs composed of about 3-5 palmately arranged leaflets, absence of stipules, the Fresh plant parts (stem, midrib, petiole, node and roots) petiole length is about 5-12cm with petiolules of 1.4- collected were fixed in FAA solution (in the ratio of 3.2cm long. The terminal or central leaflet is the largest 1:1:18) for 48 hours, Johansen (1940) with some usually up to 14-18cm X 8-11cm. The leaf margin is modifications, and later subjected to free hand dentate with acute leaf apex and base. The fruit is pale sectioning using 5 blades as described by Wahua (2013) green, large, ellipsoid, strongly ribbed at maturity and with 2 sets (Nacet and Tiger blades) crossed and a about 35-50cm X 18-25cm with weight up to 3-6kg. The central vertical one (Nacet) lying in between the 2 sets flower is composed of male racemes about 13cm in crossed. The blades were adjusted until the holes in length with lobe calyx while corolla is obovate and lobe. them synchronized. The plant part to be sectioned was The seeds are flattened, yellow and about 3.5cm in placed in the hole and using the first two fingers of the diameter. Taxonomic studies of plants provide useful Wahua et al / Greener Journal of Biological Sciences 23 and diagnostic information required for the identification having palmate leaves (trifoliate), climbing stem, white to and classification. This work explored four (4) basic lines purple flowers and pale green fruit corresponds to the of evidence namely; morphology, anatomy, cytology and findings of Hutchinson and Dalziel (1954) and Okoli phytochemistry and each proved very important to this (2013). The measurements for the fruit size and weight study. Morphological investigation of T. occidentalis were similar to the results obtained by Tindall (1983).

Fig 1. Morphology of T. occidentalis (A) Habit (B) Flower (C) Tendril (D) Fruit

Anatomical Studies with 1 epidermal layer with layers of parenchyma cells. The nodal section revealed the presence of 1 epidermal The stem anatomy (fig 2A) revealed 1 epidermal layer layer, curved vascular bundle and numerous followed by 4-5 layers of parenchymatous cortex with parenchyma cells as shown in fig 2E. The anatomical presence of non-glandular trichomes on the epidermis. study further gave an insight into the internal structures The vascular bundles are bicollateral, eleven (11) and by highlighting basic components which distinguishes T. arranged in a ring form. Pericycle cells surrounded the occidentalis from other plant species. The curved vascular bundles and pith at the innermost layer. The arrangements of the bicollateral vascular bundles in the midrib anatomy shows presence of non-glandular petiole agreed with the reports of Okoli (1987). The trichomes on the epidermis, 1 epidermal layer, epidermal characteristics showed clearly that bicollateral vascular bundles and layers of anomocytic stomata is the dominant stomata type in T. parenchymateous cortex. The root anatomy shows occidentalis and contiguous stomata, only in the adaxial presence of parenchyma cells, absence of pith and thick layer. Peltate gland of 5 parts (pentagon) observed only walled intercellular spaces. In the petiole anatomy, it in the adaxial layer provided diagnostic tools relevant to revealed a well curved bicollateral vascular bundle. this study. Presence of non-glandular trichomes on the epidermis

24 Wahua et al / Greener Journal of Biological Sciences

Fig 2. Transverse section of T. occidentalis (A) Stem (B) Midrib (C) Root (D) Petiole (E) Node Vb represents vascular bundle, P represents pith, Pc is parenchymatous cortex, Pe is pericycle, NGT is non glandular trichome, INS is xylem vessel, E represents epidermal layer.

Epidermal studies cell wall pattern is regular. The abaxial layer contains anomocytic stomata with 4, 5 and 6 subsidiary cells and Telfairia occidentalis is amphistomatic (fig 3). The tetracytic stomata. Contiguous stomata (polar) adaxial layer contains anomocytic stomata with 5 phenomenon was observed randomly in the abaxial subsidiary cells and peltate glands of 5 parts (pentagon). layer. The epidermal cell shape was irregular while the The epidermal cell shape is irregular while the anticlinal anticlinal cell wall pattern was wavy.

3 3

Fig 3. Epidermal layers of T. occidentalis (A) Adaxial layer, (B) Abaxial layer arrow revealed contiguous stomata.

Cytogical Studies by Okoli and Mgbeogwu (1983) was confirmed in this study. This shows that the species has diploid A diploid chromosome number of 2n=22 was observed chromosome number 2n = 2x = 22 with the chromosome in T. occidentalis as shown in fig. 4. The basic size relatively different. chromosome number of T. occidentalis n=11 as reported Wahua et al / Greener Journal of Biological Sciences 25

useful diagnostic information required for the delimitation of the species.

REFERENCES

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Cite this Article: Wahua, C; Eke, RC; Nichodemus, CO (2020). Taxonomic Studies on Telfairia occidentalis Hooker (Cucurbitaceae). Greener Journal of Biological Sciences, 10(1): 21-26.