MORPHOLOGICAL AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN VEGETATIVE AERIAL ORGANS FROM LOTUS CORNICULATUS UNDER THE AIR POLLUTION ACTION IN CEAHLAU NATIONAL PARK (CNP) AND ITS ADJACENT AREA

7th International Scientific Conference - SGEM2007, www.sgem.org, SGEM2007 Conference Proceedings/ ISBN: 954-918181-2, June 11-15, 2007

ABSTRACT

Main research directions worldwide concern the distinguishing of the
adaptative response of the individuals to environment modifications which
occur under the influence of pollutants. These modifications are manifested
at different levels: morphological, structural, ultrastructural and biochemical.
This manifests not only by macroscopic deviations from the laws of symmetry,
but by modifications in the stomata and hairs (tector and secretor) pattern.
The vegetal material was collected during June and July 2006 from different
polluted sites (from the adjacent aria of the CNP) and from the park area. The
investigations were focused especially on leaves anatomy and morphology. The
leaves shapes and dimensions, the variation in mesophyll thickness, the structure
of conducting and mechanic tissues, the distribution and the frequency of the
stomata and hairs in both upper and lower epidermis was followed.

Keywords: symmetry, anatomy, sclerenchyma, phenolic compounds, Lotus
corniculatus.