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STOMATAL STUDIES OF COCONUT(COCOS NUCIFERA L.)  VARIETIES AT COASTAL AREA OF PAKISTAN

ABDUL HAMEED SOLANGI¹, M. ANWAR ARAIN² AND M.ZAFAR IQBAL³

Abstract: Leaf samples of six coconut varieties were collected to determine stomatal studies. Scanning electron micrograph showed that stomata, found only on the abaxial epidermis, were arranged in parallel rows and sunken below the epidermis. The stomatal complex is characterized by the presence of two guard cells and four subsidiary cells, two of which are roundish and the other two are lateral to the guard cells. The values of stomatal features were statistically significant for some Tall, Dwarf and Hybrid coconuts. The mean number of the stomates per mm² of leaf surface were higher in Tall and Hybrid compared to the Dwarf varieties of coconut. The mean length of the varieties ranged from 31.66µm to 39.06µm and the width 9.46µm to 12.8µm was noted.  Stomatal densities of the Sri Lanka Green Dwarf and Ranthambly have 215.18mm² and 189.87mm² respectively.

¹Coastal Agricultural Research Station, SARC, PARC, Karachi

²Grain Storage laboratory, SARC, PARC, Karachi

³Department of Botany, University of Karachi–75270, Pakistan