Print version ISSN 0103-8478
CARNEIRO, Cláudia Elena and CRUZ, Jailson Lopes. Anatomical characterization of vegetative organs of papaya plants. Cienc. Rural [online]. 2009, vol.39, n.3, pp. 918-921. Epub Jan 23, 2009. ISSN 0103-8478. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782009005000011.
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a plant whose economic importance and scientific studies related to its growth and its physiology have greatly increased in recent years. Unfortunately, few researches in relation to its anatomy were performed. Thus, it was aimed to characterize the anatomically papaya plants in the early stages of growth. These studies are important because they can be used, mainly, for correlations with the growth and the physiology of this plant. After collected, the anatomical cuts of fresh root, stem and leaf were manually performed and their visualization were made through a coloration process using safranine and astra blue. The root structure is hexarc and is characterized as non-axial. The anatomical structure of the stem is similar to petiole in the mature parts. Leaf blade showed an uniestratified epidermis with dorsiventral mesophyll and anomocytic stomata were observed in the leaf abaxial surface.
Keywords : Carica papaya; morphology; root; leaf; stem.