Identification of Xylem Occlusions Occurring in Cut Clematis (Clematis L., fam. Ranunculaceae Juss.) Stems during Their Vase Life
Figure 3
Identification of xylem occlusions in short-lasting (Andromeda) and long-lasting (Solidarność) cultivars of Clematis by staining with fast green and safranin. (a) and (b) Control stems with xylem vessels free of any occlusions in Andromeda (a) and Solidarność (b). (c) and (d) Stems kept in distilled water, term I with xylem vessels half and completely blocked by the occlusions in Andromeda (c) and Solidarność (d). (e) and (f) Stems kept in distilled water, term II with xylem vessels half and completely blocked by the occlusions in Andromeda (e) and Solidarność (f). (g) and (h) Stems kept in 8HQC + 2% sucrose, term II with xylem vessels half and completely blocked by the occlusions in Andromeda (g) and Solidarność (h). c: cortex with lamellar collenchyma, p: pith, pr: pith rays, ph: phloem, arrow: xylem vessel, *: blocked xylem lumen. The choice of the cultivar was based on observations of the vase life length made by Skutnik and Rabiza-Świder [1, 16] and previous anatomical observations of stems of 5 different cultivars. Two of them were characterized as short-lasting (“Andromeda”, “Viola”), one medium (“Isago”), and two long-lasting (“Solidarność” and “Silver moon”) cultivars. Control: term 0, term I: after 7 days of postharvest life (wilting of flowers kept in distilled water), term II: after 12 days, when wilting and loss of a decorative value occurred in flowers placed into the preservative.
