Comparison of leaf and stomatal characteristics in faba bean (Vicia faba L.)

Abstract

In this study, faba bean genotypes which are sown in 2003-2004 winter season were compared for the number os somata per mm2, stomata width and length on both surface of leaflet, the number of leaflet per leaf, leaflet width and length, and leaf area. Ten genotypes from Black Sea Region of Turkey, two lines from ICARDA, two registered Turkish cultivars and one commercial faba bean cultivar were examined. The stomata numbers per mm2 on the lower and upper epidermis of the leaflets ranged from 259.52-305.88 and 236.66-288.26, respectively. Faba bean genotypes differed only for the number of stomata per mm2 on upper epidermis of the leaflet (p<0.05) and leaflet number leaf-1 (p<0.01). The number of stomata per mm2, stoma width and length on the lower epidermis of the leaflet were greatly higher than that on the upper epidermis (p<0.01). There was a positive and significant correlation between the number of stomata on lower and upper epidermis of the leaflets. Increases in the number of stomata on the lower epidermis reduced stomata length on both lower and upper epidermis. The number of stomata on both surface of the leaflets positively correlated with the number of leaflet leaf-1. Correlations between the leaf area and all investigated characteristics were found to be non significant. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.