Abstract:
Our investigations have followed the influence of sowing period on the
biology of leaf apparatus in sunflower by determinations on the shape,
structure and activity of photosynthetic apparatus. The trials were conducted
on five sunflower hybrids (P.I. 2001, Select, P.I. 2002, P.I. 2004 and
Performer), sown in two periods: the first period on April 16, 2007 and the
second period on May 2, 2007, under conditions of the Moldavian Plain. The
leaf morphogenesis was analysed by determining the number of active
leaves/plant, their sizes (length/width) and the leaf area/plant, as well as by
establishing the leaf anatomical structure at limb and petiole level. The
results obtained have demonstrated that the leaf morphogenesis was
differentiated according to studied hybrids and sowing period. The
investigations concerning the leaf anatomical structure showed differences
between variants at the level of stomata apparatus and guiding tissue. The
differences are quantitatively: number of collenchymas layers, number of
stomata per area unit, number of guiding beams, and qualitatively: presence
of concentric beams, presence of lignified cell cap in the phloem parenchyma
and of the two stomata types.