Internal morphology and histology of blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum L. (Ericaceae) in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Although there is a lot of information about cultivation, use and medicinal properties of blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum, there is still little information about its internal morphology and histology. Therefore, we proposed to know more of those aspects and to understand the low seed germination. The material used was composed of seeds and mature plants obtained from a farm located in Trujillo, Peru. All histological work was made in the Laboratory of Plant Anatomy and Pharmacognosy belongs to Faculty of Biological Science in Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru. Each organ was analyzed in cross and longitudinal sections, as well as in external or superficial view. Lugol and Sudan IV were used for seed sections, Safranin for stem and root sections, and Lugol for leaf sections. We found some variation in seed size and color, being assigned to the category of oil seeds. Germination was limited by the embryos viability, as well as thickness of the seed coat. Stems and roots have punctuated xylem vessels, which facilitate the lateral water transport. The radical system is highly branched, apparently due to mycorrhizal symbiosis. Leaves are bifacial, with all the stomata on the abaxial side, and features that are characteristic of C3 plants.