SYSTEMATICS SIGNIFICANCE OF LEAF EPIDERMAL ANATOMY IN ACCESSIONS OF Sesamum indicum L

Aim: Leaf epidermal microscopies of twelve accessions of S. indicum were studied to facilitate their taxonomic stand and may be used for the delimitation of the accessions.
Methods: Fresh leaves of twelve accessions of S. indicum were studied under light microscope to examine their stomatal features, epidermal cell shapes and anticlinal cell-wall patterns.
Results: The twelve accessions of S. indicum studied have amphistomatic leaves. 3 types of stomatal complex types were observed namely, anisocytic, tetracytic and anomocytic. Accession Adaw-ting (improved) has the smallest stomatal size (26.39±0.34 µm) with highest stomatal density (79.08±1.47 mm2) while accession Adaw-wula possessed the largest stomatal size (74.31±1.99 µm) with lowest stomatal density (20.80±0.58 mm2), the exception was found in accession Adaw-ting whose stomatal size is larger (64.03±1.11 µm) but with higher stomatal density (71.54±1.47 mm2). Wavy, curve or undulate anticlinal wall patterns with irregular and or isodiametric epidermal cell shapes were observed.
Conclusions: The high variation in stomatal complex types suggests that these accessions probably have various capacities to conserve water. The leaf epidermis and anatomical features were found to be good diagnostic/systematic and additional tool in identification as well as nomenclature of the accessions of S. indicum.