Strucure and ontogeny of normal and abnormal stomata in vegetative and floral organs of Physalis minima L

Abstract

Fourteen types of normal and abnormal stomatal structure and development in vegetative and floral organs of Physalis minima are presented. Those described include anomocytic, anisocytic, paracytic, and diacytic stomata, those transitional between paracytic and diacytic, and stomata with a single subsidiary cell. Anomalies observed are degeneration of the meristemoid, a persistent stomatal initial, single guard cells, twin stomata, single guard cells in relationship with a normal stoma, twin single guard cells, stomata with aborted guard cells, and arrested development. Development of the anomocytic type is haplocheilic or perigenous; that of the anisocytic, paracytic, diacytic, transitional, and with a single subsidiary cell is syndetocheilic or mesogenous. The persistent stomatal initials are variable in shape and occur solitary or in close relationship with the normal stoma. They may be notched and divide by centripetally extending furrows. Single guard cells develop directly from the meristemoid, or one of the guard cells degenerates before or after pore formation. Twin stomata, single guard cells in close relationship with normal stomata, and twin single guard cells develop from two adjacent meristemoids. Stomata with aborted guard cells are formed as a result of degeneration of guard cells. Arrested development results from early degeneration of nuclei and cytoplasm. The aberrent developments noticed here are partly due to extrinsic factors.