ISSN:
1432-2048
Keywords:
Leaf vasculature
;
Saccharum
;
Sievetube area
;
Tracheary-element area
;
Vascular bundle
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The vascular system of the leaves of Saccharum officinarum L. is composed in part of a system of longitudinal strands that in any given transverse section may be divided into three types of bundle according to size and structure: small, intermediate, and large. Virtually all of the longitudinal strands intergrade, however, from one type bundle to another. For example, virutually all of the strands having large bundle anatomy appear distally in the blade as small bundles, which intergrade into intermediates and then large bundles as they descend the leaf. These large bundles, together with the intermediates that arise midway between them, extend basipetally into the sheath and stem. Most of the remaining longitudinal strands of the blade do not enter the sheath but fuse with other strands above and in the region of the blade joint. Despite the marked decrease in number of bundles at the base of the blade, both the total and mean cross-sectional areas (measured with a digitizer from electron micrographs) of sieve tubes and tracheary elements increase as the bundles continuing into the sheath increase in size. Linear relationships exist between leaf width and total bundle number, and between cross-sectional area of vascular bundles and both total and mean cross-sectional areas of sieve tubes and tracheary elements.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00395428
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