Nodal anatomical study of certain members of the Rutaceae

Keywords:
Rutaceae, Node, Nodal evolution.
ABSTRACT:


The vascular organization of the node in 12 genera has been investigated.
The leaves are unifoliate in Atalantia, Citrus and Paramignya, 3-5 foliate in Aegle,
Luvunga, Toddalia and Glycosmis, decompounds in Ruta and imparipinnately
compound in other taxa. These are alternate or opposite and exstipulate. The foliar
nodes are trilacunar, three-trace in the majority of the plants. It is unilacunar in
Atalantia racemosa, Citrus jambhiri, C. maxima and Glycosmis pentaphylla. The
results are discussed with respect to the evolutionary conception of node.

177-181 | JRPS | 2013 | Vol 2 | No 1

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Authors:
Snehal P. Salunke,
Sarala C. Tadavi and
Vijay V. Bhadane.



Institution:
Centre for Post-Graduate
Studies and Research in
Botany, Pratap College,
Amalner - 425 401 [M.S.],
India.




Corresponding author:
Snehal P. Salunke.















Email:
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Dates:
Received: 04 Feb 2013 Accepted: 09 Feb 2013 Published: 05 Mar 2013
Article Citation:
Snehal P. Salunke, Sarala C. Tadavi and Vijay V. Bhadane
Nodal anatomical study of certain members of the Rutaceae.
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 177-181
An International Scientific Research Journal
Original Research
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences
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INTRODUCTION
The Rutaceae family includes about 160 genera
and 1,900 species that are widely distributed in tropical
and temperate regions around the world, but they are
especially abundant in Australia and South Africa
(Groppo et al., 2008; Cronquist, 1988). While studying
the nodal organization in the angiosperms, Sinnott
(1914) have reported the trilacunar and unilacunar nodal
structure in Rutaceae. Hayward and Long (1942) have
also made observations on variations in the cotyledonary
nodes in Valencia orange. Since the nodal vasculature in
the family has received little attention, it warrants a
detailed study. Consequently the present study were
undertaken to study the nodal organization of
16 species distributed in 12 genera.

MATERIAL AND METHODS
The plant materials of Atalantia monophylla DC,
Toddalia asiatica Lamk. and Glycosmis mauritiana
(Lam.) Tanaka were collected from Lalbagh Botanical
Garden, Bangalore, Citrus jambhiri Lush and
Citrus maxima Merr. were obtained from Parbhani where
as Luvunga eleutherandra Dalz., Clausena dentata
(Willd) Roem and Fagara budrunga Roxb. were
collected from Ratnagiri. Glycosmis pentaphylla (Retz)
DC. was collected from Kalakadu, Tamilnadu.
Paramignya monophylla Wight was collected from
Kegadi forest Nandore while Atalantia racemosa Wight.
Ex. Hook was collected from Gandhinagar, Matheran.
Ruta graveolens L. and Aegle marmelos (L.) Corr. were
obtained from the Pal forest. The young twigs of
Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng., Murraya paniculata Jack.
and Limonia acidissima L. were locally collected from
the botanical garden of Pratap College, Amalner. The
plant materials fixed in F.A.A. were preserved in 70%
alcohol. Free hand serial sections of the young nodal
regions as well as microtome sections were prepared
following usual method of dehydration, clearing and
embedding in paraffin wax. These were stained either in
safranin-light green combination or crystal violet and
erythrosine.
Observations
The leaves are alternate or opposite, simple or
palmately or pinnately compound, or sometimes heath
like or reduced to spines; stipules are absent. In all the
species examined, the internodal region shows a
complete vascular cylinder. In the nodal region, variable
numbers of leaf traces diverge from the main vascular
cylinder leaving behind prominent gaps.
Trilacunar three-trace node
In Atalantia monophyll a, Clausena,
Glycosmis mauritiana, Limonia, Luvunga, Paramignya,
Toddalia and Ruta (Figures 1-4), the median trace
emerges out first and the two lateral traces diverge out at
the higher level, whereas all the three traces are given out
simultaneously from the main stele in Aegle, Fagara and
Murraya (Figures 5-8).
The median bundle is broad in Limonia, Luvunga
and Ruta and more prominent arc-like in Aegle, Atalantia
monophylla, Clausena, Fagara, Glycosmis mauritiana,
Murraya, Paramignya and Toddalia wherein it breaks up
into 6, 12 or more traces. The lateral bundles divide, may
not divide during their upward course and extend along
with the daughter strands of median, into the rachis. The
three leaf traces - a median and two laterals enter into the
petiole without a division in Limonia acidissima.
Unilacunar one-trace node
This type of node has been observed in
Atalantia racemosa, Citrus jambhiri, C. maxima and
Glycosmis pentaphylla. A prominent arc shaped solitary
vascular trace diverges out leaving a gap in axial
vascular cylinder. It divides in their upward course with
6-9 daughter strands before entering in to the leaf
(Figures 9-15). The node is unilacunar one-trace.

DISCUSSION
A study of the nodal organisation of 16 species
distributed in 12 genera of this family revealed two nodal
Salunke et al.,2013
178 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 177-181
types: I. Trilacunar three-traced and II. Unilacunar
one-traced. The most common nodal condition is
trilacunar three-traced, it has been observed in 12 out of
16 species investigated. The unilacunar one-traced
condition is exhibited by Atalantia racemosa,
Citrus jambhiri, C. maxima and Glycosmis pentaphylla.
Generally, the median trace emerges prior to the laterals.
It is interesting to note that the median trace and lateral
Salunke et al.,2013
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 177-181 179
Explanation of Figures:
Figures 1-15 Transections showing structure of foliar node
Figures 1-4. Clausena dentata; Figures 5-8. Aegle marmelos; Figures 9-12. Atalantia racemosa;
Figures 13-15. Glycosmis pentaphylla.
Abbreviations used: MT- Median trace; LT- Lateral trace


traces emerge simultaneously in Murraya, Fagara and
Aegle. The median bundle is broad or more prominent,
arc-like in the majority of the plants and shows a number
of divisions in its upward course. These variations in the
division of the medians and laterals may be looked upon
from the points of view of mechanical strength and size
of leaf.
However, in Limonia acidissima the three leaf
traces-one median and two laterals-extend into the
petiole without a division (cf. Metcalfe and Chalk, 1950).
While reviewing the nodal structure in
angiosperms, Sinnott (1914) writes that the Rutaceae
possess a trilacunar and unilacunar structure. Unilacunar
condition was recorded by Hayward and Long (1942),
while investigating cotyledonary nodes in Citrus
[Valencia orange]. The present study indicates that the
trilacunar-three trace node occurs in majority of the taxa
studied, while the unilacunar structure is noted only in
three genera.
Sinnott (1914) has emphasized the significance
of the leaf trace and leaf gap in the systematics.
Conflicting views have been expressed by various
workers regarding the evolutionary conception of
vegetative node in angiosperms, suggesting both
reduction and/or amplification of vascular traces during
the course of specialization (see Sinnott, 1914; Ozenda,
1949; Marsden and Bailey, 1955; Meeuse, 1966;
Dickson, 1969; Stebbins, 1974). Later, Takhtajan (1969,
1980) postulated tri-or multilacunar type of nodal
structure with double trace in median gap as the most
primitive one, which has given rise to all the nodal types
known presently.
The present study demonstrates that the
trilacunar three-trace node occur in all the taxa except
Atalantia racemosa, Citrus jambhiri, C. maxima and
Glycosmis pentaphylla. Obviously, trilacunar three-
traced condition is considered to be basic for this group
and it is believed that the unilacunar one traced condition
is derived by approximation and coalescence of laterals
with the median, followed by the obliteration of their
gaps. Such a tendency has been observed in some
members of group and a reduction series has been traced.
Thus the present observations lend support to the view of
Sinnott (1914) and Dickson (1969).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors are thankful to the Principal, Pratap
College, Amalner for encouragement and providing the
laboratory facilities during the course of investigation.

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