Stem and Root Anatomy of Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. from Different Habitats of Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the stems and roots of 24 accessions of Cynodon dactylon, collected from different habitats of Bangladesh. Anatomical features of this grass species include different tissues and tissue systems, which were studied through qualitative and quantitative measurements. Stem anatomy exhibited epidermis, hypodermis, ground tissue system and vascular bundles through transverse section of the respective parts. Both epidermis and hypodermis were found to be thick-walled, but composed of parenchyma and sclerenchyma cells, respectively. Their thickness was always found to be lowest for epidermis (380µm) in the    accessions of Cox’s Bazar and sclerenchyma thickness (0.07cm) in the accession of both Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martin’s Island collected from the saline area. The ground tissue system did not show distinct cortex, endodermis, pericycle, pith, and pith rays; it was made up of parenchyma cells occupying the whole stem interior. Here also, cortex thickness was lowest (0.26cm and 0.31cm) in the case of Saint Martin’s Island and Cox’s Bazar, respectively, in accessions of the saline area compared to that of other habitats. Vascular bundles were conjoint, collateral, but closed. In case of the root anatomy, one remarkable feature, such as intensive clarification in outer cortex, vascular region and endodermis layer was observed in the accessions collected from Barguna, Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martin’s Island. Another distinctive feature was observed in root anatomy, and that was lysigenous aerenchyma, which is created by the formation of gas spaces as a result of death and subsequent lysis, causing collapse of the files of cells, i.e, root cortical cells. This was very prominent in the accessions of the saline area. Vascular bundles were found to be arranged in a ring of differential radials. Their quantitative characters, such as metaxylem area, phloem area, pith area, and pith thickness, showed differences among accessions from saline and non-saline habitats, with the highest and lowest values observed in the saline and non-saline habitats, respectively. ANOVA confirmed significant variation among accessions (p≤0.001). These findings suggest that anatomical modifications, particularly aerenchyma formation and tissue sclerification, contribute to the ecological resilience of C. dactylon in saline and drought-prone environments.

J. Bio-Sci. 34(1): 110-124, 2026