Anatomic Structure and Surface Micromorphology of Leaf Surface of Wheat, Developed by Interspecific Crossings
The surface microrelief and anatomical features of wheat leaves, which can be used to identify their varietal identity, were investigated. The field material of plants, grown in 2017-2018, from the collection of the laboratory of remote hybridization of the N.V. Tsytsyn Main Botanic Garden of the RAS was used. It was represented by 3 variety samples (Rubezhnaya, Otrastayushchaya 55, Mnogoletnyaya 4015), bred with the involvement of couch-grass (Elytrigia) and wildrye (Elymus), and high-yield plastic variety Moskovskaya 39. Fragments of leaf blades were pasted onto a copper plate with the help of thermal paste; the plate was fixed on the table of the freezing attachment “Deben Cool stage” (Great Britain). Frozen at -25 - -30 C samples were examined by scanning electron microscope LEO-1430 VP (Carl Zeiss, Germany) under high vacuum conditions (cryo-SEM). Autofluorescence of transverse sections of leaves was observed using Olympus FV1000D confocal microscope upon excitation with a 405 nm laser. For Moskovskaya 39 numerous elongated silica cells were characteristic, as well as the absence of rounded-shaped silica cells or those in the form of long “strokes” on the adaxial side of leaves and the absence of prickles in the form of a shield on the abaxial side. The characteristic feature of Rubezhnaya variety, distinguishing it from both Moskovskaya 39 and Mnogoletnyaya 4015, was expressed elongated silica cells in the form of long “strokes” on the adaxial side. In plants of Otrastayushchaya 55, in contrast to the samples of Moskovskaya 39 and Rubezhnaya, the prickles in the form of a shield on the abaxial side of leaves and rounded silica cells on the adaxial side were well represented. Only in Mnogoletnyaya 4015 variety sample there were numerous large micro-hairs on the adaxial surface. The revealed high diversity of the microstructure of the leaf surface and its anatomical structure among wheat varieties makes it possible to develop a system of markers for identification of a significant number of varieties and lines in the vegetating state.