Int. J. Biosci.

2014
International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |
ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print) 2222-5234 (Online)
http://www.innspub.net
Vol. 5, No. 11, p. 63-69, 2014

RESEARCH PAPER

OPEN ACCESS

Anatomical, palynological and micromorphological study of

seed, trichome and stomata of Cardaria draba L. Desv
(Brassicaceae) in Sistan, Iran
Seyed Mohammad Mousavi1, Javad Sharifi-Rad2, 3*
1

Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Sciences, Sistan and

Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

2

Zabol Medicinal Plants Research Center, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran

Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol,

Iran
Key words: Anatomical, brassicaceae, Cardaria draba L, micromorphological.

http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/5.11.63-69

Article published on December 08, 2014

Abstract
In the present research, the anatomical study of leaves, stems, roots, besides palynological and
micromorphological studies of seeds, trichome and stomata of Cardaria draba L. Desv (Brassicaceae) was
carried out. This study, similar to other related studies was performed not only to improve knowledge of C.
draba characteristics, but also to achieve systematic goals. In order to carry out anatomical studies, very thin
cross sections of the above specified parts were manually prepared. After double staining of the leaf, stem and
root parts, the results indicated that leaf midrib and mesophyll, petioles, the side stems and roots exhibited
irregular semicircle, isobilateral, trilateral petioles, and bulge with thick cuticles, respectively. However, for
micrmorphological evaluations, the scanning electron microscopy was used. From the present study, it can be
safely suggested that the stomata type was anisocytic, and trichomes were non-glandular, single-celled, conical
and warty. Moreover, pollen type was tricolpate and prolate. The overall shape of mericarp was trigonous,
prolate spheroidal whereas surface mericarp ornamentation was reticulate and wrinkled.
* Corresponding

Author: Javad Sharifi-Rad javad.sharifirad@gmail.com

63 Mousavi and Rad

Int. J. Biosci.

2014

Introduction

In 1950, Metcalfe and Chalk studied the Brassicaceae

Iran is considered as one of the most diversified and

anatomy.

attractive countries in South West Asia as far as

characteristics, such as epidermal cell type besides

vegetation are concerned. Brassicaceae, a large family

stomata and trichome structure types (Metcalfe and

with assemblage of 3,700 species and 338 genera,

Chalk, 1950). In 2005, Khalik studied the morphology

integrates a worldwide distribution. The difference

and classification of the Brassicaceae in Egypt

between family members is due to pungent flavor and

(Khalik, 2005). However, Khan et al., in 2004, while

sulfury odor via volatile isothiocyanate derivatives,

investigating Pakistan palynology reported that it

acquired upon glucosinolate hydrolysis (Appel and

assimilates some Brassicaceae species (Khan et al.,

Al-Shehbaz, 2002; Kasem et al., 2011; Rad et al.,

2004). Most researchers agree that the Seed structure

2013).

information is important for species classifications

They

investigated

anatomical

and identifications (Kasem et al., 2011).

Reshinger in 1968 identified 10 tribes and 126 genus
of this family in Iran. In addition, he reported that

Considering that till yet a thorough investigation has

one of these genera belonged to the tribe Lepidieae.

not been conducted on genus Cardaria, the study of

Nevertheless, from this genus a species and sub-

Cardaria draba species seems necessary based on the

species named Cardaria draba and C. chalepensis

anatomy of leaves, stems, roots and pollen and seed

respectively, were reported in Iran (Reshinger, 1968).

micromorphology. Therefore, this study has been

Cardaria draba (Brassicaceae; syn. Lepidium draba

performed

(L). Link), usually well-known as whitetop or hoary

palynological and micromorphological study of seed,

cress, is a perennial herb that reproduces by seed as

trichome and stomata of Cardaria draba L. Desv

well as horizontal creeping roots (Miri et al., 2013).

(Brassicaceae) in Sistan, Iran.

to

investigate

the

anatomical,

The stem is fairly stout, erect or spreading, 100 to

800 mm tall, branched, and covered sparsely or

Material and methods

heavily with ash-colored soft hairs. The leaves are

Anatomical study

alternate, simple, and mostly toothed, and basal

For anatomical study, Cardaria draba L. Desv. plants

leaves being 40 to 100 mm in length, have a slight

were collected in March 2013 from the area

stem, and are long and flat, lance-shaped to egg- or

surrounding Hamun Lake, Zabol, in Sistan and

spoon-shaped, with the narrow end attached to the

Baluchestan Provinces of Iran. The taxonomy was

stalk. On the upper part of the stem, the leaves

confirmed by the Zabol University, Zabol, Iran and a

directly attached to the stalk, are 20 to 70 mm long,

voucher specimen (No. 26577) was deposited in the

oblong or with a tapering point, and broad bases that

herbarium. The matured dry leaves, stems and roots

clasp the rectangular stalk or stem. It possesses

of C. draba preserved in Formalin: Acetic acid:

slightly domed, corymb-like flower clusters in which

Alcohol ethylic (FAA) solution was selected. Then,

the individual flower stalks grow upward from various

manual cross sections were prepared and stained by

points off the branch to approximately the same

green methyl and carmine. Later, the sections were

height. It can be found in most parts of Iran, in the

photographed by different magnifications of light

fields, near to water sources, in gardens and bare

microscope Labomed model CZ500 and Dino capture

lands. Besides, it is traceable in a variety of soil types

camera (Mousavi et al., 2014).

having sufficient moisture. It commonly grows in a

wide range of disturbed habitats, including rangeland,

Micromorphological assay

pastures, cultivated lands, along roadsides and waste

The seed, pollen, leaf, stomata, besides trichomes of

areas. It is especially known to thrive in riparian or

lower and upper surfaces of sputter-coated leaves

irrigated areas (Miri et al., 2013).

were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

XL 30. The features such as the size, color, shape,

64 Mousavi and Rad

Int. J. Biosci.
polar

axis

length/equatorial

2014
and

was slightly uneven, besides squared epidermal cells,

ornamentation were evaluated in magnification ( 50,

axis

length

2-3 layered collenchyma and 4-8 layered parenchyma

x 250, 3/00 kx) (Mousavi et al., 2013).

were located in the upper part of the vascular bundle

and regular polygonal parenchyma cells, and a whole

Results

bunch of sclereid was observed on the top of a

Anatomical study

vascular bundle (Fig.2 A, B).

The study of C. draba leaves transect showed that

midrib was semicircle, epidermis in the lower section

Fig. 1. Cross sections of Cardaria draba leaves ( 40, 100).(A, B,C, D). Ue: upper epidermis; Le: lower
epidermis; Co: collenchyma; Pc: parenchymatic cell; S: sclerenchyma; X: xylem; Ph: phloem; Pp: palisade
parenchyma; Sp: Spongy parenchyma.
Furthermore, leaf mesophyll parenchymas on either

In the cross section of petiole, wavy trilateral, square

side of the epidermis consisted of four rows of

epidermis, 1-2 layered collenchyma, 2-6 layered

palisade parenchyma and in the middle were 2 to 3

polygonal parenchyma was observed in the upper part

rows

of vascular bundles. Furthermore, scelerid was

of

spongy

parenchyma

mesophyll (Fig.1 C, D).

and

isobilateral

located in a whole bunch on the top of a vascular

bundle (Fig.2 A, B).

Fig. 2. Cross sections of Cardaria draba petiole ( 40, 100). Ue: upper epidermis; Le: lower epidermis; Co:
collenchyma; P: parenchymatic cell; S: sclerenchyma; X: xylem; Ph: phloem.

65 Mousavi and Rad

Int. J. Biosci.

2014

In the cross section of stems, rectangular epidermal

collenchyma was observed 5 and 6 layered cortex

cells were observed where the epidermal surface was

parenchyma tissue. Sclerenchyma tissue was found in

covered with a thick cuticle. Under the 2 layered

3 layers on phloem bundles. The 6 pith parenchymal

epidermal and of the textured ridges 3 layered

cells were unilateral, regular and contained 24-26

polygonal

layers (Fig.3 A, B).

collenchyma

was

located.

Under

Fig. 3. Cross sections of Cardaria draba stem ( 40, 100). cu: cuticule; e: epidermis; co: collenchyma; p:
parenchyma;

s:

sclerenchyma;

ph:

phloem;

x:

xylem;

Pr:

pith

parenchyma;

pith:

parenchyma.

In root cross section, the root surface was covered

Micrograph electrochemical properties of the leaf

with periderms rows. In the 10-18 parenchymal

epidermis, pollen and seed

layers, cells gradually turned smaller towards the

The results of electron micrograph obtained from the

center. Moreover, 2-3 layered cambiums were located

leaf epidermis tissues showed that non-glandular

between phloem and xylem. In addition, secondary

single-cell trichome, was conical and located with

xylem was found under cambium and primary xylem

high distance from each other. Trichome surface was

cambium was observed in an inner part. Pith

covered with warty bumps and stomata type was

parenchyma was seen in 8- 24 layers of rectangular

anisocytic with 1.35 mm length to width ratio (Fig.5

cells (Fig.4 A, B).

A, B).

Fig. 4. Cross-section of Cardaria draba root ( 40, 100). pd: peridermis; pr: pith ray; p: parenchyma; t: trachea;
ph: phloem; sx: secondry xylem; c: cambium; px: primary xylem.

66 Mousavi and Rad

Int. J. Biosci.

2014

Fig. 5. Electromicrographs of Cardaria draba leaf epidermis ( 50, 250).

Fig. 6. Electro micrographs of Cardaria draba pollen (3/00 kx).

The pollen type and shape was triculpate and prolate,

leaf epidermis was anisocytic. They also expressed

respectively. The pollen surface groove was deep and

that in the Brassicaceae, trichome was in different

long and its tectum was reticulate. Ratio of P/E was

forms, but mainly was single-celled and very rarely

1.95 mm (Fig.6 A, B).

secreted. In addition, they expressed that the nonglandular trichome of this family were y-shaped, T-

Mericarp characteristics showed elliptical triangular-

shaped, shield-like and simple (Metcalf and Chalk,

elongated

mm

1950). Dennert in 1884, investigated trichome in the

length/width ratio, black, Mericarp surface reticular

Brassicaceae for the first time. He found that these

and wrinkled, and the near-rectangular networks,

trichomes were non-glandular. And he divided them

raised with irregular spacing of 20 microns (Fig.7 A,

into simple types; star-shaped (Dennert, 1884).

B).

Khalik in 2005, illustrated that Lepidieae trichome

in

general

view,

with

2.04

was simple, non-glandular and rarely with secretion

Discussion

(Khalik, 2005), which is also confirmed in our study.

In the present studied species Cardaria draba L,

stomata type was anisocytic and trichome was single-

In this study, the palynology of the C. draba pollen

celled and warty, and cambium were observed in the

types

root anatomical structure. These properties were

respectively. Khan et al., in 2004 reported that based

demonstrated by Metcalfe and Chalk in 1950. They

on the pollen palynological studies the members of

reported that stomata-type cells in the Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae family are divided into three groups;

67 Mousavi and Rad

and

shape

was

prolate

and

triculpate,

Int. J. Biosci.
prolate,

2014
oblate-

noteworthy where they stated that Brassicaceae

spheroidal. And even in terms of pollen type it is

prolate-spheroidal

and

rarely

pollen morphology is similar to Tamaricaceae,

divided into 3 grooves and rarely 4-8 grooves. They

because both families had tricolpate pollen with

placed C. draba species in prolate group (Khan et al.,

reticular

tectum

(Qaiser

and

Perveen,

2004).

2004). The study of Qaiser and Perveen in 2004 was

Fig. 7. Electromicrographs of Cardaria draba Meriacarp ( 50, 250).

El Naggar in 2005 studied Brassicaceae seed surface

(Magnoliopsida) - Fl. Medit. 15, 581-598.

ornamentation and their classification. He placed C.

draba

species

in

the

reticular

Kasem WT, Ghareeb A, Marwa E. 2011. Seed

ornamentation (El Naggar, 2005). In addition, he

morphology and seed coat sculpturing of 32 taxa of

reported that

family Brassicaceae. Journal of American Studies 2,

mericarp

group

with

was triangular-elliptical

elongated and mericarp surface was reticular and

166-178.

wrinkled.
Khalik

K. 2005 . Morphological studies on

Conclusion

trichomes of Brassicaceae in Egypt and taxonomic

Characteristics such as the general plant midrib,

significance. Acta Botanica Croatica 64(1), 57-73.

sclereid formed at the top of the vascular bundle,

non-glandular

trichomes

surface

ornamentation,

trichomes formation, types of mesophyll, stomata,

Khan R, Qaiser M, Perveen A. 2004. Pollen Flora

of Pakistan -XLII. Brassicaceae Bot, 36(4), 683-700.

pollen, and tectum apart from shape, color and

surface ornamentation of mericarp seems useful in

Metcalfe

CR,

Chalk

L.

1950.

Anatomy

of

species identification.

Dicotyledones 1, 79-87. Oxford.

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