On the ecology of moringa peregrina ((Forssk.)‎ fiori anatomical responses to varying soil moisture contents

Abstract EN

The stems and leaves of M{)ringa peregrina (Forssk).

Fiori were studied at different levels of soil moisture content within the range between permanent wilting percentage and moisture equivalent: The diameter of stem gradually increased with increase of water supply which generally led to progressive formation of vascular elements as well as cortical and pith tissues.

Near the permanent wilting percentage.

a condition of frequent occurrence in arid regions.

M.

peregrina showed tendencies towards xerophytic adaptation.

The leaves were covered with remarkedly dense trichomes.

relatively increased in the values of stomatal frequency and index.

and a reduction in the proportion of air spaces in the mesophyll tissue.

Such decrease in coefficients of mesophytic characteristics of the species gradually disappeared with the increase of the soil moisture conient.

From the results presented here it was generally concluded that the variation in water supply led only to quantitative changes of the micromorphological attributes of the species but no qualitative modifications took place.