Stomatal length and frequency as a measure of ploidy level in black wattle, Acacia mearnsii (de Wild)

The length and frequency of stomata on leaf surfaces were examined as rapid techniques for future identification of ploidy level of Acacia mearnsii (de Wild). Diploid (2n = 2x = 26) and tetraploid (2n = 4x = 52) plants were germinated from chipped seed at 25degreesC and grown under nursery conditions. After one month, measurements showed that the mean stomatal length was 27.17 +/- 0.474 mum for diploids and 40.24 +/- 0.521 mum for tetraploids and these differed significantly from each other (P < 0.001). The frequency of stomata per leaf surface was shown to decrease significantly (P < 0.001) as the ploidy level increased, with a mean of 22.11 +/- 0.495 for diploids and 10.26 +/- 0.495 for tetraploids. It was concluded that stomatal length and stomatal frequency are rapid indirect methods to identify ploidy level in black wattle. (C) 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 141, 177-181.