2020-11-05
Pinus pinaster Leaf Morphology
The needle-like leaves of Pinus pinaster, a gymnosperm, are adapted to environments where water is limited. Features like a thick cuticle, hypodermis, and sunken stomata help conserve water. The vascular bundles, made of xylem and phloem, are protected by transfusion tissue, aiding in material transport between mesophyll and the vascular system.
To analyze the needle’s structure, transverse sections were cut using a razor blade. The sections were immediately transferred to water in a petri dish to keep them hydrated. Next, the sections were bleached to remove chlorophyll and improve transparency. After bleaching, the process was halted and the sections rinsed thoroughly. Staining was then performed in a warm water bath to enhance visibility of cell structures. Excess stain was removed before transferring the sections to glycerol for mounting on microscopic slides.
The sections were mounted on slides with glycerol and covered with cover glasses for microscopic examination. This revealed key structural features like the thick cuticle, sunken stomata, mesophyll cells with wall ridges, and vascular bundles surrounded by transfusion tissue and endodermis.
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