Priyanka Das

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The Tea (Camellia sinensis) clones exhibit striking morphological resemblances, presenting a significant challenge in delineating clear distinctions between them. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the micro morphology of leaf epidermis among thirty-six selected tea clones using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy under similar growth conditions. Various leaf epidermal characteristics such as the shape of epidermal cells, patterns of anticlinal walls, types and frequency of stomata, density of trichomes, and size of both upper and lower leaf surfaces were examined across all tea clones. The findings reveal that the size and shape of leaf epidermal cells are largely consistent among all clones. Two primary cell shapes are observed: polygonal and irregular, with varying patterns of anticlinal walls among all clones. The types and frequency of stomata, as well as the density of trichomes, differ across different tea clones. Leaves of all clones exhibit hypostomatic stomata, located solely on the lower leaf surface. Predominantly, anisocytic and anomocytic stomata are present in all tea clones. Trichomes across all clones exhibit a unicellular hair-like structure, albeit with variations in size and density. Immature leaves generally display higher trichome density compared to mature leaves. The analysis of leaf epidermis holds significance for taxonomic purposes and comparative studies. Results indicate that micromorphological characteristics such as epidermal cell shape, stomata type and density, and trichome type and density are pivotal traits for distinguishing and identifying different tea clones.