Leaf Anatomical Evaluation of Some Minor Legumes and Their Correlated Genetic Implications

Twelve (12) accessions of six (6) species of the minor legumes obtained from National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB) Ibadan, Oyo-state, Nigeria; cultivated and nurtured at the teaching and research farm of the Federal University Oye Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria were assessed for genetic variability and diversity analysis through their leaf anatomical features including the cell wall, cell shape and stomata characters. Epidermal peeling, staining, mounting and photo-micrographying procedures in line with established literature were carried out and data analyzed in percentage method. Result through descriptive statistics showed that Stomata prominence among the plants at both surfaces is in order of paracytic, diacytic, animocytic and anomocytic as 50%, 41.7%, 8.3% and 0% respectively. Cells shapes at both surfaces are also in the same proportion; 58.3% for irregular and 41.7% polygonal. Slight difference occurred in the proportion of anticlinal wall types at both surfaces. 50% curved, 41.7% slightly straight and 8.3% curved/slightly straight at the adaxial surface but 58.4% curved, 33.3% slightly straight and 8.3% curved/slightly straight at the abaxial surface; having cells with more curved anticlinal wall than at the adaxial surface. The Chi-square and probability values of 8.756 and 0.032; 0.667 and 0.414; 5.1818 were recorded at both the adaxial and abaxial surfaces; for stomata type, cell shape and anticlinal wall type of all the accessions. Generally, the accessions displayed recognizable similarities and differences in their epidermal characters that could be used for genetic extrapolation and taxonomic decision.