VARIATION IN ULTRASTRUCTURE OF IV VITRO AND IN VIVO GROWN BAMBOO (DENDROCALAMUS ASPER) LEAVES

Use of micropropagation in the production of bamboo plants plays important role. Successful acclimatization is the key factor for efficient and large scale production. For efficient hardening, proper understanding of leaf surface structure is necessary because microshoots developed in vitro have different morphology than in vivo, Scanning electron microscopy was performed to compare the ultrastructural variation in leaves of bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper) grown in vitro and in vivo. Leaf samples were taken at four stages - in vitro, unhardened, acclimatized and mother plant. Ultrastructural studies revealed substantial differences in the morphology of in vitro grown plant and mother plant but unhardened and acclimatized plants did not show much variation from in vitro condition. Variation in the presence of stomata, trichomes, papillae and prickle hairs was observed on abaxial and adaxial surface.