Research Article CODEN: IJPRNK ISSN: 2277-8713 Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48 -62 IJPRBS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND BIO ---SCIENCE-SCIENCE COMPARATIVE MORPHOLOGICAL, ANATOMICAL AND PALYNOLOGICAL OBSERVATION IN AGERATUM CONYZOIDES AND AGERATUM HOUSTONIANUM OF THE FAMILY COMPOSITAE SUDIPTA KUMAR DAS, SOBHAN KR. MUKHERJEE. Taxonomy and Biosystematics Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Kalyani, Kalyani- 741235, West Bengal, India. Accepted Date: 03/08/2013; Published Date: 27/08 /2013 Abstract: This paper deals with the comparative morphological, anatomical and palynological observation between Ageratum conyzoides and Ageratum houstonianum of the family Compositae. Keywords: Ageratum conyzoides ; Ageratum houstonianum; morphology; anatomy; palynology Corresponding Author: Mr. SUDIPTA KUMAR DAS Access Online On: www.ijprbs.com How to Cite This Article: PAPER-QR CODE Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48 -62 48 Available Online at www.ijprbs.com Research Article CODEN: IJPRNK ISSN: 2277-8713 Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48-62 IJPRBS INTRODUCTION The genus Ageratum L. is included under goat-weed (Australia), Camara Jape the family Asteraceae under order Asterales (Portuguese-Brazile), Neel phulnu (India), of the subclass Asteridae belonging to class Oochunt (Bangladesh) and Va-sap-raeng Magnoliopsida (Mabberley, 1997) (Thailand). The genus Ageratum L. has about 40 species Most of the floras deal with only short distributed in old world and in new world description of the plants, diagnostic countries. According to Hooker (1897), the characters with some times key to the genus has one species Ageratum species along with vegetative, reproductive conyzoides . In addition to that in India has parts of the plants and some medicinal another species of Ageratum i.e. A. important features of the plant. houstonianum is also found as exotic weed. So, at present 2 species of Ageratum are In this project special attention is given on found in India. The species of Ageratum L. is the various anatomical characters stem, distributed chiefly in Tropical America petiole, node, cypselar and pollen having about 16 spp. characters in details and the comparison of these characters are presented for the In India, the genus is distributed in West proper identity of two species of the genus Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, some parts of Assam Ageratum in India. , Karnataka , Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh , Tamil Nadu, i.e. throughout in India MATERIALS AND METHODS ascending up to the Himalayas about 5000 Fresh plant materials of Ageratum feet. houstonianum were collected from the The Ageratum houstonianum Mill. is garden of Bidhan Chandra Krishi distributed throughout India as well as Viswavidyalaya Campus near the Himalayan region. The widely cultivated Department of Botany, University of species are with blue (CVS white or pink) Kalyani. Another species Ageratum flowers. conyzoides is collected from Udaypur near Payradanga Railway Station area of Nadia The Ageratum conyzoides L. is widely district. distributed in many tropical and sub- tropical countries mainly in tropical All specimens were collected and studied America. In India, it is found all over the from November 2012 to May, 2013 for county as well as in Himalayan region. The duration of 7 months only. Description of common name of Ageratum conyzoides is each species has been given in brief. For quite different in different regions, Billy- anatomical studies, fresh materials are used. 49 Available Online at www.ijprbs.com Research Article CODEN: IJPRNK ISSN: 2277-8713 Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48-62 IJPRBS PREPARATION FOR STEM, NODE, PETIOLE Ageratum houstonianum :( Fig. 1, 2) AND ROOT : Transverse section of Ageratum Stem, node, petiole and roots were taken houstonianum through the internode of the from mature plant and transverse sections stem shows following arrangement of the were prepared by hand sections. The tissue from periphery to centre- sections were passed through a simple staining process (stained in aqueous Epidermis:Outer most layer, single cell safranin solution) and were mounted in layered thick, compactly arranged, without Phenol Glycerin solution. Camera Lucida any intercellular spaces, rectangular in drawings were made from these semi- outline, thick walled; outer surface permanent preparations. cuticularized; hypodermis present below epidermis. PALYNOLOGICAL PREPARATION: Hypodermis: 2-3 cell layered thick, Pollen grains are acetolysed by following hexagonal to spheroid in outline, compactly Nair’s modified acetolysis method arranged, without any intercellular spaces, (1960).Pollen grains collected in 70% thick walled, consisting of collenchymatous alcohol were centrifuged. Glacial acetic acid tissue; below this cell layer cortex present. was added in the tube and centrifuged again for 5 min. and alcohol was decanted. Cortex:5-6 cell layered thick , cells rounded Glacial acetic acid was removed and to ovoid , or variously shaped ,loosely arranged , with intercellular spaces , thin acetolysis mixture (9 Acetic acid: 1 H 2SO 4) was added over the pollen grains. The tube walled , consisting of parenchymatous cells was heated in water bath from 70 0C to ; endodermis present below cortex. boiling point. The dispersion was stirred Endodermis: 1 cell layered thick, compactly with a glass rod, centrifuged and waste arranged, without any intercellular spaces, acetolysis mixture was decant. Pollen grains rectangular in outline and thick walled. were again centrifuged in Glacial Acetic Acid. Acid was decanted and pollen grains Stele: Consisting of 10-12 vascular bundles were mounted in glycerin and observed arranged in the form of ring; vascular under microscope. bundles collateral, conjoint and open, xylem end arch; amount of xylem more than the RESULT AND DISCUSSION phloem; the major part of xylem is ANATOMICAL STUDY contributed by xylem parenchyma, which are radially elongated. Stem anatomy 50 Available Online at www.ijprbs.com Research Article CODEN: IJPRNK ISSN: 2277-8713 Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48 -62 IJPRBS Ground tissue: Very distinct, cells spaces, the pith cells below the xylem parenchymatous, thin walled, oval to smaller than the central cells. polygonal in outline, with more intercellular Fig. 1. T.S of internode of Ageratum houstonianum stem (Diagrammatic) 51 Available Online at www.ijprbs.com Research Article CODEN: IJPRNK ISSN: 2277-8713 Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48 -62 IJPRBS Fig. 2.T.S part of internode of Ageratum houstonianum stem (Cellular) Ageratum conyzoides: (Fig. 3, 4) walled , consisting of parenchymatous cells ; endodermis present below cortex. Transverse section of Ageratum conyzoides through the internode of the stem shows Endodermis:1 cell layered thick, compactly following arrangement of the tissue from arranged, without any intercellular spaces, periphery towards center. rectangular in outline, thick walled. Epidermis:Outer most layer, single cell Stele: layered thick, compactly arranged, without any intercellular spaces , rectangular outline Consisting of 9-10 vascular bundles , thick walled ; outer surface cuticularized ; arranged in the form of ring, vascular hypodermis present below epidermis. bundles collateral, conjoint and open, xylem end arch, amount of xylem more than the Hypodermis:2 cell layered thick, hexagonal phloem; the major part of xylem is to spheroid in outline, compactly arranged, contributed by xylem parenchyma, which is without any intercllulal spaces, thick walled, radially elongated. consisting of collenchymatous tissue; below this cortex exist. Ground tissue: Very distinct, cells parenchymatous, thin-walled, oval to Cortex 5-6 cell layered thick ; cells rounded polygonal in outline, with more intercellular to ovoid , or variously shaped ,loosely spaces. arranged , with intercllulal spaces , thin 52 Available Online at www.ijprbs.com Research Article CODEN: IJPRNK ISSN: 2277-8713 Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48 -62 IJPRBS Fig.3 T.S of Internode of Ageratum conyzoides stem (Diagrammatic) Fig. 4T.S of Internode of Ageratum conyzoides stem (Cellular) Node anatomy In Ageratum conyzoides it is trilacunar, 8 traced condition. 8 traces are developed In Ageratum houstonianum, it is triangular, from the stem vascular trace at the lateral tritraced condition, 4 – trace cut out from side. (Fig. 6) the lateral side of the stem.(Fig. 5) Fig. 5.Node of Ageratum houstonianum Fig . 6.Node of Ageratum conyzoides Petiolar anatomy middle portion of the petiole. At distal end there is no extra trace so at the distal end of Ageratum houstonianum: (Fig. 7, ABC) the petiole is again 3 traced condition. Length of the petiole is gradually elongated In Ageratum houstonianum, the proximal towards the distal end inversely diameter of end of the petiole is tritraced. In the middle the petiole is slightly decreased towards the portion of the petiole one small trace is cut distal end of the petiole than the proximal out from the middle trace and as a result 4- end. traced condition (Fig. 7B) present in the 53 Available Online at www.ijprbs.com Research Article CODEN: IJPRNK ISSN: 2277-8713 Sudipta Kumar Das, IJPRBS, 2013; Volume 2(4): 48 -62 IJPRBS Ageratum conyzoides :(Fig. 8, ABC) small traces are developed from the middle trace. As a result the distal end of it In Ageratum conyzoides, the proximal end becomes 7- traced condition (Fig. 8C) with of petiole is 5- traced condition. Petiole is alternate small