Morfometria e nervação foliar em procedências de erva mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hill.) (Aquifoliaceae)

Abstract

The present research aimed to evaluate the foliar morphology (morphometry and leaf venation) of origins of maté collected in southern Brazil and Argentina. For the study of the morphometry, thirty leaves/plant were analyzed, and five measurements (leaf total length, maximum width, length from the base until maximum width, area and petiole length) and two indices were obtained (total leaf length on maximum width and length from basis until maximum width on total leaf length). The leaves were clarified by the clarification technique and examined in stereomicroscope. The highest and lowest values of leaf morphometry were, respectively, 118 and 67 mm for total leaf length, 51 and 34 mm for maximum width, 78 and 42 mm for length from the base until the maximum width, 16 and 10 mm for petiole length, 2.3 and 2 mm for total length on maximum width, and 0.65 and 0.6 for length from the base until the maximum width on total leaf length. In regards to leaf venation, differences between leaves of different origins were not observed, which presented pinnate primary venation; semicraspedodromous secondary venation, alternate percurrent and sinuous tertiary venation, regular polygonal reticulate quaternary venation and dichotomizing 5tha vein category.