Harvest time is assumed to potentially influence shape and size variation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals;therefore it needs to be observed microscopically. This research used porang corms from the second growing p...Harvest time is assumed to potentially influence shape and size variation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals;therefore it needs to be observed microscopically. This research used porang corms from the second growing period which were planted to produce the vegetative phase of third growing period. These corms were obtained based on the harvest time had determined. The harvest time was determined, i.e. 1) at two weeks before the plants shed (R<sub>0</sub> - 1);2) when the plants shed (R<sub>0</sub>) and 3) at two weeks after the plants shed (R<sub>0</sub> + 1). Slides for microscopic observation were obtained from slices on the edge and center of porang corms. Organ slices were cleared using modified clearing method. Parameters observed were the shape and the size of CaOx crystal. The variations of styloid, prism, druse and raphide crystals found in porang corms at the three harvest time were 1, 2, 3 and 37 variations respectively. The variation of CaOx crystals tended to be same in porang corms at three harvest times. The variation of these crystals tended to be static. It is also known that raphide crystal has the greatest variation amount. On the contrary, styloid crystal has the fewest variation amounts. This abundance of a number of raphide crystal variations is possibly due to its role as a defense mechanism in porang corms.展开更多
Comparative morphological study of five varieties of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott present in Anambra State, Nigeria was carried out, in order to furnish plant taxonomists with information which could be of great he...Comparative morphological study of five varieties of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott present in Anambra State, Nigeria was carried out, in order to furnish plant taxonomists with information which could be of great help in delimitation of the varieties. Significant difference was established at p < 0.05. The result showed that adaxial surface of “kochuo” had a purplish dot on the centre, abaxial leaf surface had a conspicuous purplish colour at the point of attachment to the leaf, and the cormels had numerous striking vertical purple stripes on the surface. There was presence of foliaceous (leaf-like) appendages at the veins of the abaxial surface of the leaf of “ogeriobosi”. The leaf length ranged from 35.6 ± 7.70 cm (“kochuo”) to 49.9 ± 3.55 cm (“ogeriobosi”). Petiole length of “ogeriobosi” was the highest (63.3 ± 3.83 cm), whereas the least was Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (26.67 ± 2.20 cm). The corm length ranged from 4.10 ± 0.10 cm (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) to 8.60 ± 0.35 cm (“ogeriobosi”), while the cormel length ranged from 3.70 ± 0.96 cm (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) to 7.03 ± 0.36 cm (“ogeriobosi”). This work has revealed diagnostic and differential morphological characters, which could be useful for identification and description of varieties of C. esculenta. In addition, it provided additional information which might be helpful in resolving the on-going controversy in the taxonomy of Colocasia, which would, in turn, probably lead to possible delimitation of C. esculenta.展开更多
文摘Harvest time is assumed to potentially influence shape and size variation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals;therefore it needs to be observed microscopically. This research used porang corms from the second growing period which were planted to produce the vegetative phase of third growing period. These corms were obtained based on the harvest time had determined. The harvest time was determined, i.e. 1) at two weeks before the plants shed (R<sub>0</sub> - 1);2) when the plants shed (R<sub>0</sub>) and 3) at two weeks after the plants shed (R<sub>0</sub> + 1). Slides for microscopic observation were obtained from slices on the edge and center of porang corms. Organ slices were cleared using modified clearing method. Parameters observed were the shape and the size of CaOx crystal. The variations of styloid, prism, druse and raphide crystals found in porang corms at the three harvest time were 1, 2, 3 and 37 variations respectively. The variation of CaOx crystals tended to be same in porang corms at three harvest times. The variation of these crystals tended to be static. It is also known that raphide crystal has the greatest variation amount. On the contrary, styloid crystal has the fewest variation amounts. This abundance of a number of raphide crystal variations is possibly due to its role as a defense mechanism in porang corms.
文摘Comparative morphological study of five varieties of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott present in Anambra State, Nigeria was carried out, in order to furnish plant taxonomists with information which could be of great help in delimitation of the varieties. Significant difference was established at p < 0.05. The result showed that adaxial surface of “kochuo” had a purplish dot on the centre, abaxial leaf surface had a conspicuous purplish colour at the point of attachment to the leaf, and the cormels had numerous striking vertical purple stripes on the surface. There was presence of foliaceous (leaf-like) appendages at the veins of the abaxial surface of the leaf of “ogeriobosi”. The leaf length ranged from 35.6 ± 7.70 cm (“kochuo”) to 49.9 ± 3.55 cm (“ogeriobosi”). Petiole length of “ogeriobosi” was the highest (63.3 ± 3.83 cm), whereas the least was Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (26.67 ± 2.20 cm). The corm length ranged from 4.10 ± 0.10 cm (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) to 8.60 ± 0.35 cm (“ogeriobosi”), while the cormel length ranged from 3.70 ± 0.96 cm (Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum) to 7.03 ± 0.36 cm (“ogeriobosi”). This work has revealed diagnostic and differential morphological characters, which could be useful for identification and description of varieties of C. esculenta. In addition, it provided additional information which might be helpful in resolving the on-going controversy in the taxonomy of Colocasia, which would, in turn, probably lead to possible delimitation of C. esculenta.