Effect of salinity on the leaf anatomy or rice and corn

Date

6-1991

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Cell Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Bonifacio T. Mercado

Abstract

The effect of salinity on the morphology and the leaf anatomy of rice and corn was studied. Three treatments were prepared: control, 0.3% NaCl and 0.5% NaCl was definitely, inhibitory to the growth of rice and corn, which exhibited reduction in geight as well in the fresh and dry weights. On the other hand, corn plants gave the heaviest fresh and dry weights. There was marked improvement in the growth of the rice plant at the 0.5% NaCl while the corn plants appeared to tolerate the salt up to this salinity level only. Measurements done on specific leaf tissues show a much greater response (sensitivity) of rice to salinity than the corn plants, to wit: there was increased epidermal thickness, decreased mesophyll and leaf thickness, decreased diameter of the vascular bundle and increase in sizes of the bulliform cells in salinized rice leaves, but for corn, similar measurements show no clear trend. It seems that more distinct anatomical changes can be brought about in corn by a much higher salinity level, or if such level prove toxic, such changes can be expected only under a much longer and continuous exposure of the plants to their mild saline treatment.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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