Repositorio Digital

Resumen en ingles

Cassava Manihot esculenta (Crantz) is a perennial shrub native to South America that is an essential source of carbohydrates for more than 600 million people in tropical countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the leaf blade anatomy of ten genotypes of cassava. Methods: The methodology for anatomical descriptions was processed and 30 leaves of each of the varieties were included and sectioned according to paraffin impregnation protocols. Results: The results showed that the leaf blade anatomi-cal structure of all the varieties in general terms show differences. All varieties had monostratified epidermis, leaf mesophyll consisted of a palisade parenchyma in a single layer and multiple layers of spongy parenchyma. Polyphenolic idioblasts were observed immersed in the palisade parenchyma and spongy parenchyma. Between 3-7 xylem ribs with their respective phloem were found in the midrib in almost all varieties. Trichomes were only found in two varieties (NAT31-ECU72) and leaves were all hipostomatic. Conclusions: The results reveal that NAT31 is the material with the most anatomically marked differences (i.e. presence of trichomes, papil-lary cell, and, on the adaxial face, special provision in the arrangement of stomata and epicuticle wax patterns), characteristics that might be related to pest resistance.