Morpho-anatomical features of the fronds of the native fern Trismeria trifoliata for use as ornamental foliage
Trismeria trifoliata is a perennial fern native to Argentina, which has a short rhizome, agglomerated fronds, pinnate or bipinnate blades with radiated arrangement, leaf dimorphism, and great ornamental potential. The aim of the present study was to assess various morpho-anatomical aspects of T. tri...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Maximum Academic Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Technology in Horticulture |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/TIH-2023-0018 |
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| Summary: | Trismeria trifoliata is a perennial fern native to Argentina, which has a short rhizome, agglomerated fronds, pinnate or bipinnate blades with radiated arrangement, leaf dimorphism, and great ornamental potential. The aim of the present study was to assess various morpho-anatomical aspects of T. trifoliata, using plant histology techniques to deliver information about cultivation and postharvest and its potential use as cut foliage. Plants were collected from natural areas and cultivated in a greenhouse, in individual 8-L containers, with drip irrigation. Preparations of leaves and rachis were made from extracted fresh material and then observed under a fluorescence microscope. The morpho-anatomical features of primary interest included the presence of mucilage-tannin idioblasts, sparsely distributed in the mesophyll and with abundant spheroidal druses associated with vascular bundles. The presence of these idioblasts is closely related to physiological responses to drought. Stomatal density showed significant differences between juvenile fronds (without spores) and fertile adult fronds (with spores), with mean values of 73.3 and 119.8 stomata·mm−2, respectively. This may explain the difference in behavior of these fronds post-harvest and define the harvest point. Knowledge on the leaf morpho-anatomy of a species under cultivation is essential for its systematic characterization, especially important in plants with high rates of natural hybridization, as T. trifoliata. This study constitutes a contribution for future research aimed to clarify biochemical and physiological aspects of T. trifoliata and thus evaluate its introduction as a commercial crop intended as cut foliage and/or as an ornamental plant. |
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| ISSN: | 2833-4337 |