Sains Malaysiana 44(5)(2015): 643–650

The Taxonomic Significance of Leaf Micromorphology in the Genus Melastoma L. (Melastomataceae)

(KesignifikananTaksonomi Mikromorfologi Daun dalam Genus Melastoma L. (Melastomataceae))

NOORMA WATI HARON*, NORDIYANAH ANUAR & RUBASHINY VEERAMOHAN

Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Received: 10 June 2014/Accepted: 9 January 2015

ABSTRACT

A comparative leaf micromorphological study of Melastoma malabathricum, M. malabathricum var. alba and M. sanguineum (Melastomataceae) was carried out by scanning electron microscope. Characters such as epidermal cell shape, trichomes and stomatal type and distribution were observed. Non-glandular trichomes are present in all species examined. The stomata are all of paracytic type and dispersed randomly over the whole abaxial surface. The patterns of surface sculpturing and outer stomatal rim are unique in all the species examined. Leaf micromorphology has significant taxonomic value in the genus Melastoma and the present study has added some new taxonomic information for the genus Melastoma.

Keywords: Melastoma; scanning electron microscope; stomata; taxonomy; trichomes

ABSTRAK

Suatu kajian perbandingan mikromorfologi daunMelastoma malabathricum, M. malabathricum var. alba dan M. sanguineum (Melastomataceae) telah dijalankan melalui mikroskop elektron imbasan. Ciri-ciri seperti bentuk sel epidermis, jenis serta taburan stomata dan trikom telah diperhatikan. Trikom tak berglanda hadir dalam semua spesies kajian. Stomata adalah jenis parasitik dan tersebar secara rawak pada keseluruhan permukaan abaksial. Corak pada permukaan dan bibir luar stomata adalah unik dalam kesemua spesies. Mikromorfologi daun mempunyai nilai taksonomi yang signifikan dalam genus Melastoma dan kajian ini telah menambah maklumat baru bagi taksonomi genus Melastoma.

Kata kunci: Melastoma; mikroskop elektron imbasan; stomata; taksonomi; trikom

REFERENCES

Abere, T.A., Onwukaeme, D.N. & Eboka, C.J. 2009. Pharmacognostic evaluation of the leaves of Dissotis rotundifolia Triana(Melastomataceae). African Journal of Biotechnology 8: 113-115.

Ali-Ahmad, M., Hughies, H.G. & Safadi, F. 1998. Studies on stomatal function, epicuticular wax and stem-root transition region of polyethylene glycol-treated and nontreated in vitro grape plantlets. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology 34: 1-7.

Chen, J.L., Lan, S.R., Wu, S.S., Yang, H., Wu, H.C. & Peng, D.H. 2013. Leaf surface characteristics of 6 species of Melastoma L. and their taxonomic significance. Journal of Fujian College of Forestry 2: 106-112.

Corner, E.J.H. 1952. Wayside Trees of Malaya. Singapore: Government Printing Office.

Dalin, P., Agren, J., Bjorkman, C., Huttunen, P. & Karkkainen, K. 2008. Leaf trichome formation and plant resistance to herbivory. In Induced Plant Resistance to Herbivory, edited by Schaller, A. Netherlands: Springer. pp. 89-105.

Elzbieta, W.C. & Chernetskyy, M. 2005. Structure of trichomes from the surface of leaves of some species of Kalanchoe Adans. Acta Biologica Cracoviensia47: 15-22.

Gan, Y., Zhou, L., Shen, Z.J., Shen, Z.X., Zhang, Y.Q. & Wang, G.X. 2010. Stomatal clustering, a new marker for environmental perception and adaptation in terrestrial plants. Botanical Studies 51: 325-336.

Goldenberg, R., Meirelles, J. & Amano, E. 2013. Mouriri morleyiisp. nov. (Melastomataceae) from Brazil, with notes on its foliar stomatal crypts. Nordic Journal of Botany 31: 321-325.

Guimaraes, P.J.F., Rana, N.T. & Martins, A.B. 1999. Morphology of trichomes in Tibouchina section Pleroma (D.Don) Cogn. (Melastomataceae). Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology 42: 485-493.

Haron, N.W. & Moore, D.M. 1996. The taxonomic significance of leaf micromorphology in the genus Eugenia L. (Myrtaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 120: 265-277.

Hsiao, P.M. 2008. A study on leaf morphology of Melastomataceae in Taiwan. Masters Thesis. National Sun Yat-sen University (unpublished).

Marques, A.R., Garcia, Q.S., Rezzende, J.L.P. & Fernandes, G.W. 2000. Variations in leaf characteristics of two species of Miconia in the Brazilian cerrado under different light intensities. Tropical Ecology 41: 47-60.

Milanez, C.R.D. & Machado, S.R. 2011. SEM studies on the leaf indumentum of six Melastomataceae species from Brazilian Cerrado. Rodriguésia 62: 203-212.

Nurit-Silva, K. & Agra, D.F. 2011. Leaf epidermal characters of Solanum sect. Polytrichum (Solanaceae) as taxonomic evidence. Microscopy Research Technology 74: 1186-1191.

Ocampo, G. & Almeda, F. 2013. Seed diversity in the Miconieae (Melastomataceae): Morphological characterization and phenetic relationships. Phytotaxa 80: 1-129.

Rajenderan, M.T. 2010. Ethno medicinal uses and antimicrobial properties of Melastoma malabathricum. SEGi Review 3: 34-44.

Renner, S.S. 1993. Phylogeny and classification of the Melastomataceae and Memecylaceae. Nordic Journal of Botany 13: 519-540.

Renner, S.S., Clausing, G. & Meyer, K. 2001. Historical biogeography of Melastomataceae: The roles of tertiary migration and long-distance dispersal. American Journal of Botany 88: 1290-1300.

War, A.R., Paulraj, M.G. & Sharma, H.C. 2012. Mechanisms of plant defense against insect herbivores. Plant Signaling and Behavior 7: 1306-1320.

Xiang, C.L., Dong, Z.H., Peng, H. & Liu, Z.W. 2010. Trichome micromorphology of the East Asiatic genus Chelonopsis (Lamiaceae) and its systematic implications. Flora 205: 434-441.

Zoric, L., Merkulov, L., Lukovic, J., Boza, P. & Polic, D. 2009. Leaf epidermal characteristics of Trifolium L. species from Serbia and Montenegro. Flora 204: 198-209.

*Corresponding author; email: noorma@um.edu.my