Abstract

PARES, Jorge; ARIZALETA, Miguel; SANABRIA, María Elena  and  GARCIA, Grisaly. Effect of salinity levels on the stomatal density, stomatal index and leaf thickness of Carica papaya L.. Acta Bot. Venez. [online]. 2008, vol.31, n.1, pp.27-34. ISSN 0084-5906.

The effect of irrigation water salinity on stomatal index, stomatal density and leaf thickness of papaya (Carica papaya L.) was studied in the leaves located from the sixth node downwards. Plants exposed to the higher salinity treatmens in the irrigation water showed decreases in both stomatal index and density, 17.4 to 14.1 and 399.2 to 265.2 stomata mm-2, and an increase in the leaf thickness, 1.17 to 2.13 μm, which could be interpreted as a morphogenetic response counteracting the negative effect of the salinity. This could be significant for the efficiency of water use and the tolerance of the plant to saline stress.

Keywords : Carica papaya; leaf; salinity; stomatal density.