Studies on anatomical characters indicating C_3 and C_4 photosynthetic metabolism in the genus Boerhavia L. (Nyctaginaceae)

10.6165/tai.2017.62.265

Abdulwakeel Ayokun-nun AJAO；Mahboob Adekilekun JIMOH；Sefiu Adekilekun SAHEED

Boerhavia ； C_3 Plant ； C_4 Plant ； Kranz tissue ； Leaf anatomy ； Photosynthesis

TAIWANIA

62卷3期（2017 / 09 / 01）

265 - 271

英文

The C_3 and C_4 photosynthetic pathways in dicotyledons were investigated with the four species of Boerhavia occurring in Nigeria using light microscopy. The study is not yet well reported on dicotyledons as done for monocotyledons. The features cross-examined were stomata index, stomata size, inter-stomatal distance, stomatal density, interveinal distance, intercellular air spaces, leaf thickness, mesophyll thickness, Kranz tissue, one cell distant count criterion, maximum lateral cell count criterion, vein density and vein distance. Based on these features, these species (B. erecta, B. coccinea and B. repens) were grouped into C_4 while B. diffusa was grouped as a C_3 plant. In particular, interveinal distance less than 166μm and maximum lateral count ranging 2 to 6 will help in grouping C_4 dicotyledons species while those that were greater than these values are useful in grouping C_3 and plants.