Articles
Assessing microscopic leaf morphology in twelve Lagerstroemia species
Article number
1467_5
Pages
33 – 40
Language
English
Abstract
The genus Lagerstroemia (commonly called crape myrtle) is widely cultivated worldwide for the ornamental value of the flowers and foliage.
Many tropical evergreen species are popular in India and other Southeast Asian areas, such as L. speciosa. Lagerstroemia fauriei, L. indica, L. limii, and L. subcostata have been extensively planted in the Southeastern United States for their large and colorful inflorescences and relative cold tolerance.
Fungal diseases, particularly Cercospora leaf spot, significantly impact the appearance of cultivated Lagerstroemia in the Southeastern United States from June until fall. Cercospora damages leaf appearance and causes defoliation, with complete defoliation occurring in the most susceptible cultivars.
The microscopic morphology of plant leaves is thought to be associated with resistance to pathogens.
However, a comprehensive and comparative assessment of these characteristics is lacking in Lagerstroemia. This study used scanning electron microscopy and macro photography to image features such as stomatal size, stomatal density, leaf trichome size, and depth of leaf tissue layers (mesophyll, xylem, and total leaf thickness) in 12 species and three interspecific hybrids of cultivated Lagerstroemia. The differences described in this study could be helpful for future breeding and selection efforts aimed at increasing resistance to pathogens like Cercospora in cultivated Lagerstroemia, as they provide a foundational survey of commonly cultivated species known to exhibit varying responses to fungal pathogens.
Many tropical evergreen species are popular in India and other Southeast Asian areas, such as L. speciosa. Lagerstroemia fauriei, L. indica, L. limii, and L. subcostata have been extensively planted in the Southeastern United States for their large and colorful inflorescences and relative cold tolerance.
Fungal diseases, particularly Cercospora leaf spot, significantly impact the appearance of cultivated Lagerstroemia in the Southeastern United States from June until fall. Cercospora damages leaf appearance and causes defoliation, with complete defoliation occurring in the most susceptible cultivars.
The microscopic morphology of plant leaves is thought to be associated with resistance to pathogens.
However, a comprehensive and comparative assessment of these characteristics is lacking in Lagerstroemia. This study used scanning electron microscopy and macro photography to image features such as stomatal size, stomatal density, leaf trichome size, and depth of leaf tissue layers (mesophyll, xylem, and total leaf thickness) in 12 species and three interspecific hybrids of cultivated Lagerstroemia. The differences described in this study could be helpful for future breeding and selection efforts aimed at increasing resistance to pathogens like Cercospora in cultivated Lagerstroemia, as they provide a foundational survey of commonly cultivated species known to exhibit varying responses to fungal pathogens.
Authors
L.A. Eberth, J. Ruter
Keywords
phenotypic variation, disease resistance, scanning electron microscopy, ornamental plants, foliar anatomy
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