Foliar Micromorphological Variability in Tea Landraces from Fuzhou: Insights from Scanning Electron Microscopy

Area of Science:

• Botany
• Plant Science
• Agronomy

Background:

• Fuzhou is a key region for tea genetic diversity.
• Micromorphological characteristics of Fuzhou tea landraces are not well understood.
• Accurate identification is crucial for tea germplasm conservation and improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the foliar micromorphology of 28 Fuzhou tea landraces using SEM.
• To identify structural differences for landrace differentiation.
• To establish reliable micromorphological markers for tea germplasm identification.

Main Methods:

• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze leaf micromorphology.
• Foliar traits examined included adaxial epidermal wax, stomatal architecture, and nonglandular trichomes.
• Quantitative and qualitative data were collected for comparative analysis.

Main Results:

• Stomata were paracytic and randomly oriented on the abaxial surface, with significant variation in size (421.92–822.26 µm²).
• Leaf surface ornamentation exhibited three types: straight, wrinkled, and undulated.
• Nonglandular trichomes varied in length (269.99–632.31 µm), diameter (9.72–14.62 µm), and ornamentation (smooth, long-stripe, short-stick).

Conclusions:

• SEM analysis of foliar micromorphology is effective for tea germplasm identification.
• Adaxial epidermal wax and nonglandular trichome ornamentation serve as stable diagnostic markers.
• This study provides essential micromorphological data for Fuzhou tea landrace classification and improvement.