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Systematic significance of seed morphology and foliar anatomy among Acanthaceous taxa

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Abstract

The present study was aimed at investigating seed macro and micro-morphological and foliar epidermal anatomical characters of 15 Acanthus species from Pakistan. Firstly, plant specimens were collected and then identified on the basis of relevant references. For morphological analysis, seed characters were carefully examined using stereo microscopy and scanning microscopy to evaluate the usefulness of seed characteristics for the identification of systematic relationships. Considerable differences were found in seed coat morphology within studied taxa. Four types of seed surface pattern; striate (6 species), foveolate and papillate (2 species each), papillate rugose and rugose (one species each) were recognized. The dominant pattern of epicuticular projections was glabrous followed by prickles and bulges. Cell outlines were random and in rows while arrangement of cells was regular and irregular. For anatomical analysis, the foliar sections of leaves of each taxon were prepared, studied by light microscopy and then photographed by means of a Meiji affinity DK-5000 digital camera. Both adaxial and abaxial epidermis of the leaf has been studied and various micro-morphological characters examined including shape of epidermal cells, anticlinal wall pattern, lobes per cell, type of stomata and trichomes. Quantitatively, maximum epidermal cell length on adaxial and abaxial surface were observed in Dicliptera verticillata (Forssk.) C.Chr. (57.4 µm) and (57 µm) respectively. While stomata length was noted to be highest on abaxial side in Dicliptera verticillata (35.9 µm). The micro-morphological features and foliar epidermal anatomy of studied Acanthus species showed many novel characters for accurate taxonomic identification and provide baseline information for plant taxonomists.

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Acknowledgements

All the authors offer special thanks to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) for the financial support under the project No. NRPU-7837.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan

    Jamil Raza, Mushtaq Ahmad, Muhammad Zafar, Shazia Sultana & Salman Majeed

  2. Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Mushtaq Ahmad

  3. Department of Botany, Division of Science and Technology, Township Campus, University of Education, Lahore, Pakistan

    Ghulam Yaseen

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  1. Jamil Raza
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Contributions

Jamil Raza (ORCID: 0000–0003-1672–5324) is a Ph.D. scholar, in the Department of Botany, Qauid-i-Azam University, Islamabad in Pakistan. Main research field is Taxonomy and phylogenetic study of plants. The author’s contributions are field and laboratory research and preparation of selected part of the manuscript.

Mushtaq Ahmad (ORCID: 0000–0003-2971–2848) Professor Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad is currently working as Director QAU Botanical Garden and Herbarium (ISL), Director Technology Science Park (QAU) and Chairman Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i- Azam University Islamabad. Prof. Ahmad has been awarded with many research grant projects funded by GBIF, BIFA (Japan-USA), NAS-USA, CAS-China, Mevlana-Turkey, PAS, HEC and TWAS. These research grants helped Prof. Ahmad to establish modern digital Herbarium (ISL), Botanical Garden, Technology Science Park, Melissopalynology, Aerobiology, Nutraceutical and Green Biofuel research laboratories.

Muhammad Zafar (ORCID: 0000–0003-2002–3907) Dr. Muhammad Zafar obtained his PhD from Quaid-I-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2011. Currently, he is working as Associate professor in the Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. He is a renowned scientist in the field of medicinal plants, plant biodiversity, palynology especially melissopalynology and renewable energy.

Ghulam Yaseen is Assistant Professor in the department of Botany, University of Education Lahore, Pakistan. His major field of research is Ethnobotany and Biodiversity of Medicinal Plants. He took major role in digitization of herbarium of Pakistan, Qauid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. The author’s contributions comprised field studies and preparation of the manuscript.

Dr. Shazia Sultana is a young scientist in the field of biodiversity and medicinal plants (nonedible oil is a young scientist in the field of biodiversity and medicinal plants (nonedible oil seeds and herbal drugs). Currently, she is supervising and working on a number of research projects on natural plants products, new energy and low carbon technology using biofuel and nonedible oil seeds for biodiesel production, and plant biodiversity and conservation.

Salman Majeed is a Ph.D. scholar, in the department of Botany, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. His main research interest of floral Biodiversity from deserted areas and Melisoopalynology. The author’s contributions were field and laboratory research and preparation of selected parts of the manuscript.

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Raza, J., Ahmad, M., Zafar, M. et al. Systematic significance of seed morphology and foliar anatomy among Acanthaceous taxa. Biologia 77, 3125–3142 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11756-022-01137-0

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