• Applied Microscopy
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.57-64
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• 2009

The trapping leaves of Drosera capture insects by secreting sticky mucilage from numerous glandular trichomes (GTs) that are developed on the leaf epidermis. The present study examines and compares the structural features of those trichomes in Drosera binata and D. pygmy with the use of light and electron microscopy. The study focuses primarily on the development and differentiation pattern of the GTs during growth. Upon examination, the upper and lower epidermis were readily distinguishable by the features of GTs in developing leaves. In particular, the GTs were dense in the upper epidermis and along the leaf margin. In D. binata, the capitate GTs with elongated stalk and sessile peltate GTs were found most commonly, whereas only capitate GTs with varying degrees of the stalk length were observed in D. pygmy. Up to ca. $2.2{\sim}3.4\;mm$ long capitate GTs were seen in the leaf margins of D. binata and ca. $3.7{\sim}4.2\;mm$ long GTs having racket-like head with adaxial hemispheric structures, otherwise known as tentacles, were noted in the leaf margin of D. pygmy. The peltate GTs were found to be distributed in the lower epidermis of D. binata. In both species, head cells were dense with cytoplasm containing high numbers of Golgi bodies, ER, mitochondria and small vesicles. Secretory materials accumulated within numerous small vacuoles, then fused together to form a single large vacuole, which serves as a secretory cavity. Flection movement of the marginal GTs and leaf blade GTs, and increased mucilage secretion from the head cells upon contact with prey during the capturing process are considered to be major factors in their active insectivorous mechanism. The findings of this study will be useful in comparisons to similar findings in other species that form adhesive trapping leaves, such as Drosophyllum or Pinguicula., further contributing a better understanding of the function and structure of the trapping leaves of carnivorous plants.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2006

Plants of Vitex negundo are known to develop numerous trichomes throughout their body, where certain trichome types have been believed to be one of the plausible structures for the unique scents. In the current study. structural aspects of the trichomes have been examined in leaves and stems of Vitex negundo using TEM and SEM. Trichome types as well as structural changes that occurred in certain trichomes during secretion have been mainly focused. Three type of glandular trichomes and two types of non-glandular trichomes were developed in the epidermis of young and mature Vitex negundo plants. The glandular trichomes included the peltate type (Type 1), the capitate type (Type 2), and degraded capitate type (Type 3), whereas the non-glandular warty trichomes contained the multicellular (Types 4) and unicellular type (Type 5). Type 1 and 2 consisted of head and stalk cells, but their number and size were different. One secretory cavity was formed from the four head cells in the former, but only two head cells were involved in the latter. The cytoplasmic density in the head cell was quite high and in particular, sER and Golgi bodies were well developed. At initiation of their development, the cuticle layer of the head cells separated from the outer tangential wall to form a secretory cavity. Subsequently the cavity expanded acropetally and a large number of secretory vesicles continuously produced from the head cells until they filled the entire cavity. The cavity contained materials that would be soon discharged into intercellular spaces and/or into the air. The cavity began to decrease the volume by contracting at initial secretion but degrade rapidly within short time. It has been suggested that the mode of secretion in V. negundo is probably the eccrine secretion, since no break or rupture of the cavity has been observed during examination. Contrastingly Type 3 exhibited deterioration of the head cell at early stage. Type 4 was about $110{\sim}190{\mu}m$ long, consisting of $2{\sim}3$ cells, and distributed more in the adaxial epidermis compared to the abaxial surface. However, $20{\sim}30{\mu}m$ long Type 5 was extremely dense in both epidermis. Among several trichome types, Type 1 and 2 probably play an important role in discharging unique aromatic scents in plants of V. negundo.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 2002

Salvinia natans, an unique water fern having a small rootless body, developed three different types of trichomes throughout the plant. The most peculiar type exhibiting rows of obvious, whitish, multicellular trichome clusters was noticed in the upper surface of the floating leaves. Eight to ten branches within a cluster extended ca. $370{\sim}420{\mu}m$ from the leaf surface. No stalk cell was found, however, four large epidermal cells were discernable at the base of four central branches in the cluster. Each branch consisted of $8{\sim}10$ obliquely-oriented small cells that gradually decreased in size toward the branch tip. The second type was found in the lower surface of the floating leaves, stems, and sporocarps. Multicellular uniseriate trichomes, ca. $430{\sim}980{\mu}m$ long, were distributed all over these structures. The tip of trichome was acicular, but a semi-spheric protuberance of approximately $24{\sim}32{\mu}m$ in diameter occurred at the base of each trichome. The protuberance appeared to be firmly attached to the side of the basal cell, however, internal connection to the trichome cell itself was uncertain. The third type was similar to the second in that multicellur uniseriate trichomes with acicular tip and a protuberance at the base were present. However, the trichomes were considerably long relative to the second type, and only occurred along the surface of highly dissected, submerged leaves. A majority of the trichomes exceeded more than 2 mm in length that hung downward in the water. Regardless of trichome type, all trichomes contained a huge central vacuole with very thin cytoplasm, resulting from the fusion of several vacuoles during early trichome development. The various densely-distributed trichomes formed in Salvinia natans probably play an important role in plant buoyancy.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2010

The effects of foliar spray of calcium hydroxide ($Ca(OH)_2$) during fruit growth period was investigated by changes of the shoot growth and fruit quality in 'Daewol' peach (Prunus persica). Since foliar spray of $Ca(OH)_2$ 1, 2, 5, and 10 $g{\cdot}L^{-1}$ at 7 day-intervals after fruit thinning, shoot growth was remarkably decreased compared with control group. An average SPAD value of fifth leaf from proximal part of the shoot was higher as 42.1 specific color difference sensor value (SCDSV) of $Ca(OH)_2$ foliar spraying treatments than 40.9 SCDSV of control group. Photosynthesis rates were also significantly increased by treating $Ca(OH)_2$ of higher concentration. Among fruit characteristics affecting quality, fruit weight was increased depending on concentration of $Ca(OH)_2$ treatment. The soluble solids content was lowest in control group (8.78 $^{\circ}Brix$) compare with higher concentrations of $Ca(OH)_2$ foliar spraying treatment in each 9.17, 9.22, 9.71, 10.58 $^{\circ}Brix$. The acidity and anthocyanin contents were no significant differences among treatment, but firmness of pericarp and flesh of fruits was significantly increased by $Ca(OH)_2$ foliar spray treatment. As a results of morphological observation of leaf, thickness of palisade parenchyma was thinner in control group (63.5 ${\mu}m$) than those of each 86.5, 87.5, 93.6, 107.4 ${\mu}m$ in $Ca(OH)_2$ foliar spraying treatment. Higher $Ca(OH)_2$ foliar spray also increased the thickness of cell wall of epidermis and hypodermis in 'Daewol' fruit.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.368-372
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• 2000

The fruit structure of 'Fuji' apples from full bloom to maturing was observed from 1997 to 1998. Cell division period of the fruit was found to be 4 to 5 weeks after full bloom. Vascular bundles in the inner part of the fruit skin which were not described in the books illustrating apple fruit structure was observed, as they were tentatively named as outer vascular bundles (OVB), and another vascular bundles were also observed newly in periphery of locules, as they were tentatively named as inner vascular bundles (IVB). In the observation of the inner epidermis (IE) in the inner part of the locules on 2 days prior to full bloom, the guard cells were observed and these were disappeared in the observation made 2 days later, i.e. on full bloom. The formation of fruit skin was observed at the microscope 65 days after full bloom and the number of cell which organized the fruit skin did not change from this time to maturation period. Tannin which is mainly in the fruit skin changing from continuously during fruit growth, specially the tannin of epidermis disappeared completely 100 days after full bloom stage, and then constituted again. Starch was not almost found out in cell division period of fruit from full bloom stage after this time it constituted much at flesh part and decreased at maturation period. Epidermis was developed by uniform cells of a layer the cell of epidermis constituted irregularity after pigmentation stage, the organization of fruit was not close because the very big intercellular space constituted at hypodermis and flesh structure.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2011

Parthenocissus tricuspidata is an epiphyte that lacks a main axial stem, but develops adhesive disks along the stem for climbing support. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized to examine the brick wall surface and the adhesive disks of P. tricuspidata that attached to the surface successfully. The study was mainly focused the outermost layers of both structures before and after adhesion to find out whether there has been some structural and/or physical interactions between the two. The adhesive disks adhered firmly to the brick wall by secreting adhesive materials that help them for a tight attachment to the surface. The rough wall surface appeared facilitating better attachment of the adhesive disks by infiltrating the materials into those spaces leading to some degree of interactions at the interface. EDS analysis on the outermost layers of the adhesive disks that were separated from the substrates was also consistent with the SEM data on the interaction between the adhesive disks and the substrate surface. EDS analysis of the brick wall surface and the adhesive disks demonstrated similar elements of O, Si, Fe, Al, K, Mg, and Na in their components.