Morpho-agronomic variability, traits association and path analysis in Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Schleid.) genotypes from Ethiopia

Zewdinesh Damtew Zigene, Bizuayehu Tesfaye Asfaw, Tesfaye Disasa Bitima — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:00:00 +0530

Forty-five rosemary genotypes collected from different parts of Ethiopia were evaluated for quantitative morphological traits to estimate the genetic variability, heritability and association of characters. The genotypes displayed significant differences for all of the studied traits, showing the presence of wide variability among the tested genotypes. The genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation were found to be medium and high for all growth and yield traits except for leaf length. Moderately high to high broad-sense heritability (0.66 -0.97) coupled with moderate to high genetic advance as a percent of the mean (10.37 -79.14) values were found for all traits. Correlation coefficient and path coefficient analysis revealed that characters vis. branch number plant^-1, fresh leaf weight plant^-1, dry leaf weight plant^-1, fresh leaf yield ha^-1, and essential oil content had a high positive direct effect and significant positive association with essential oil yield ha^-1. Thus direct selection for these traits would be quite effective for essential oil yield enhancement in rosemary. In general, the studied accessions were diverse in nature and could be exploited in the conservation, breeding and commercialization of the crop.

Foliar epidermal studies in the family Sapindaceae Juss. in South Western Nigeria

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0530

A comparative study of leaf epidermal features of selected species of the family Sapindaceae in Nigeria was undertaken with a view to obtain additional characters for the elucidation of taxonomic relationships, delimiting species and identification of the taxa. The epidermises were separated from the mesophyll by soaking in concentrated Nitric acid. Bubble appearance on the surfaces of the leaves indicated their readiness for separation. They were then rinsed in water thrice before the layers were separated with the aid of forceps and Camel hair brush, stained with Safranin O. It was then mounted in 25% glycerol on clean glass slides, covered with cover slips. The micro morphological characters of leaf were more or less uniform in all taxa in the family. The adaxial cuticle was striated in most species. The polygonal epidermal cells with straight anticlinal walls on the adaxial surface of Cardiosermum halicacabum separated it from the other species with irregular shaped epidermal cells. Undulated anticlinal walls were observed on both surfaces. The leaves were hypostomatic in most species except in C. halicacabum where amphistomaty was observed. Stomata types included anomocytic, tetracytic and staurocytic but the anomocytic stomata were the most predominant.

Research in Plant Biology

Morpho-agronomic variability, traits association and path analysis in Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Schleid.) genotypes from Ethiopia

Foliar epidermal studies in the family Sapindaceae Juss. in South Western Nigeria