Cytohistological study of the leaf structures of Meyer and L.

BACKGROUND

Both Meyer and are obligate shade-loving plants whose natural habitats are broadleaved forests of Eastern Asia and North America. species are easily damaged by photoinhibition when they are exposed to high temperatures or insufficient shade. In this study, a cytohistological study of the leaf structures of two of the most well-known species was performed to better understand the physiological processes that limit photosynthesis.

METHODS

Leaves of ginseng plants grown in soil and hydroponic culture were sectioned for analysis. Leaf structures of both species were observed using a light microscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTS

The mesostructure of both and frequently had one layer of noncylindrical palisade cells and three or four layers of spongy parenchymal cells. contained a similar number of stomata in the abaxial leaf surface but more tightly appressed enlarged grana stacks than contained. The adaxial surface of the epidermis in showed cuticle ridges with a pattern similar to that of .

CONCLUSION

The anatomical leaf structure of both and shows that they are typical shade-loving sciophytes. Slight differences in chloroplast structure suggests that the two different species can be authenticated using transmission electron microscopy images, and light-resistant cultivar breeding can be performed via controlling photosynthesis efficiency.