Abstract Detail

Systematics

Asuzu, Chinwe [1].

Comparative anatomical study of the wood of three Nigerian alkaloid-rich Strychnos species.

A comparative study of three Strychnos species that are used for medicinal purposes in Nigeria were studied. Wood samples of Strychnos spinosa, S. innocua and S. usambarensis were collected from Abuja, Ilorin and Nsukka respectively. Transverse section, transverse longitudinal section and radial longitudinal section of the stems were made with sliding sledge microtome at the Anatomy laboratory of the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria Nsukka. The sections were cut to 5-10u and stained with safranin and fast green. Wood of the species was macerated and the fiber dimenssions were measured. In the transverse section, interxylary phloem was found in discontinous rings around the xylem cylinder in S. innocua and S. usambarensis. Intraxylary phloem was present in the three species studied. Rays were heterogenous with uni, bi and multiseriate rays present in the three species. S. usambarensis had more multiseriate rays while S. innocua had fewer. Rays cells were heterocellular in the three species with both upright and procumbent rays present. Fibers of S. spinosa had the thickest cell wall and S. usambarensis had the least. The wood of the species can therefore be separated based on the presence or absence of interxylary phloem, size of the fiber cell wall-thickness and the ray type.

1 - University of Nigeria Nsukka, Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu, 01234, Nigeria

Keywords:
Interxylary phloem
Multiseriate rays
Fiber
Strychnos spinosa
Strychnos innocua
Strychnos usambarensis.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: P, Systematics Section/ASPT Posters
Location: Exhibit Hall/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 5:30 PM This poster will be presented at 5:30 pm. The Poster Session runs from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. Posters with odd poster numbers are presented at 5:30 pm, and posters with even poster numbers are presented at 6:15 pm.
Number: PSY039
Abstract ID:355
Candidate for Awards:None