Leaf anatomical and micromorphological systematic significance of Schoutenia Korth. in Peninsular Malaysia

An anatomical and micromorphological study of the leaf epidermis was conducted on the Schoutenia from the Tiliaceae family in Peninsular Malaysia. This genus is also classified in the subfamily Dombeyoideae according to classification based on plastid atpB analysis and rbcL DNA sequence. The objective of the study is to identify similarities and variations in the anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of the Schoutenia taxon studied to overcome identification problems, especially for species that are difficult to distinguish due to similar morphological characteristics. Anatomical study methods involve specimen collection, sliding microtome slices, epidermal peels, tissue clarification, staining, and observation under a light microscope. The method of studying the micromorphology of the leaf epidermis involves critical point drying, gold coating, and observation under a scanning electron microscope. The results of the study show some significant characteristics for the differentiation of Schoutenia species studied, namely wax on the leaf epidermis, adaxial epidermal cuticle ornamentation, the external shape of midrib and leaf margins, the presence of intraxilary phloem and sclerenchyma phloem. Several identified features can be used as diagnostic features to identify the species of Schoutenia studied directly. Therefore, the results of the study clearly show the taxonomic value of the anatomical and micromorphological characteristics of the Schoutenia genus from the Malay Peninsular

Ciri adaptasi anatomi daun bougainvillea spectabilis w. yang dijangkiti virus bougainvillea chlorotic vein-banding

Kajian anatomi daun telah dijalankan ke atas Bougainvillea spectabilis yang dijangkiti virus Bougainvillea chlorotic vein-banding (BCVB). Objektif kajian ialah untuk mengenal pasti ciri adaptasi anatomi daun B. spectabilis yang dijangkiti virus BCVB melalui perbandingan dengan ciri anatomi daun sihat dan mengenalpasti sel dan tisu yang beradaptasi terhadap kehadiran virus. Kaedah kajian melibatkan hirisan dengan mikrotom gelongsor pada lamina, petiol dan tulang daun, siatan epidermis adaksial dan abaksial daun, penjernihan peruratan, pewarnaan, pelekapan dan cerapan di bawah mikroskop cahaya. Hasil kajian menunjukkan, kandungan klorofil sangat rendah pada lamina dan tepi daun, pertambahan bilangan berkas vaskular, tisu vaskular, dan sel kolenkima, serta kerosakan dinding sel pada daun yang dijangkiti. Hasil cerapan ciri anatomi epidermis abaksial daun menunjukkan daun dijangkiti virus mempunyai bilangan, indeks dan saiz stomata yang rendah berbanding daun sihat. Hasil kajian juga membuktikan perubahan pada bentuk dinding epidermis abaksial dan penebalan dinding sel epidermis adaksial daun yang dijangkiti virus BCVB. Kehadiran hablur dan peruratan tertier kelihatan kurang jelas dicerap pada daun yang dijangkiti virus. Perubahan pada sel dan tisu pada daun yang dijangkiti virus BCVB merupakan tindak balas terhadap jangkitan dan adaptasi daun terhadap jangkitan virus. Hasil kajian ini boleh digunakan sebagai rujukan untuk mengesan jangkitan BCVB dan kaedah kawalan yang boleh dilakukan kepada sel dan tisu yang dijangkiti

NOTES ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EURYCOMA SPP. AND ITS STATUS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

TAN, A. L., KAMAL, N. M., TAN, H. P. &amp; ROSLAN, I. 2015. Notes on morphological characteristics of Eurycoma spp. and its status in Peninsular Malaysia. Reinwardtia 14 (2):  259 - 263. — A study had been carried out on the genus Eurycoma Jack that aimed to ascertain the diagnostic characteristics of the two species that occur in Peninsular      Malaysia. Samples were collected from 15 localities comprising of forest reserves and plantations throughout Peninsu-lar Malaysia covering the 5 regions i.e. northern, western, eastern, southern and central. The sampling was done to    capture the morphological variations from different habitat. In general, morphologically both species were very similar. They could be clearly distinguished using their fertile parts. Eurycoma longifolia Jack had long, drooped inflorescences while in E. apiculata A.W. Benn was usually short, pointed upwards. Small differences were also noted on the leaflet of E. apiculata where the apex of the leaflet was often abruptly pointed while its base was rounded with conspicuous   petiolule. On contrary, E. longifolia leaflet apex was usually subacute with its base asymmetrical and decurrent to its petiolule. In addition, anatomical transverse section of E. longifolia leaflet midrib outline and margin were dissimilar with E. apiculata by having convex abaxial surface and blunt tip margin compared to the slightly arc-shape abaxial and tapered margin in E. apiculata. The abundancy of Eurycoma spp. had decreased. <br /

NOTES ON MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EURYCOMA SPP. AND ITS STATUS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

TAN, A. L., KAMAL, N. M., TAN, H. P. & ROSLAN, I. 2015. Notes on morphological characteristics of Eurycoma spp. and its status in Peninsular Malaysia. Reinwardtia 14 (2): 259 - 263. - A study had been carried out on the genus Eurycoma Jack that aimed to ascertain the diagnostic characteristics of the two species that occur in Peninsular Malaysia. Samples were collected from 15 localities comprising of forest reserves and plantations throughout Peninsular Malaysia covering the 5 regions i.e. northern, western, eastern, southern and central. The sampling was done to capture the morphological variations from different habitat. In general, morphologically both species were very similar. They could be clearly distinguished using their fertile parts. Eurycoma longifolia Jack had long, drooped inflorescences while in E. apiculata A.W. Benn was usually short, pointed upwards. Small differences were also noted on the leaflet of E. apiculata where the apex of the leaflet was often abruptly pointed while its base was rounded with conspicuous petiolule. On contrary, E. longifolia leaflet apex was usually subacute with its base asymmetrical and decurrent to its petiolule. In addition, anatomical transverse section of E. longifolia leaflet midrib outline and margin were dissimilar with E. apiculata by having convex abaxial surface and blunt tip margin compared to the slightly arc-shape abaxial and tapered margin in E. apiculata. The abundancy of Eurycoma spp. had decreased