Abstract
The anatomical structure of ‘Sattabhud’ lotus (
Nelumbo nucifera
Gaertn.) petal on the first day of soaking
in distilled water consisted of one layer of epidermis, layers
of mesophyll and vascular
tissue. Structure and shape
of cells were turgid cells with distinct cytoplasm. Afte
r 3 days of soaking, the peta
l tissues showed a tremendous
change of cells and tissues particularly the epidermis
and parenchyma. The parenchyma cells lost their round or
polyhedral shape with observed shrinkag
e and separation of protoplasm from
cell wall. The ultrastructure of petal
cells indicated that browning caused from the deteri
oration of epidermis and mesophyll parenchyma cells
particularly collapsed of cells, precipitation of substanc
es in cytoplasm and shrinkage of protoplasm. This also
resulted in synthesis of toxic me
tabolites and petal turning black.
Keywords:
lotus, ultrastr
ucture, browning