Wahua et al Greener Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 3 (12), pp. 849-855, December 2013. ISSN: 2276-7770 Research Paper Manuscript Number: 111713966 Comparative Taxonomic Studies on Solanum aethiopicum Linn. and Solanum nigrum Linn. (Solanaceae) Chika Wahua1, Sele Mercy Olaleye2* 1Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, University of Port Harcourt, Choba. 2Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Port Harcourt, Choba. *Corresponding Author’s Email: sele.olaleye @ yahoo.com Abstract: The study presented the comparative micro- and macro-morphological, anatomical and cytological properties of Solanum aethiopicum Linn. and Solanum nigrum Linn. Predominantly found in the wild in the Niger Delta Tropics, Nigeria. They are used as wild vegetable and medicine. Their habits are annual sub-woody plants which attain up to 120cm and 59cm or more in height respectively. The leaves are petiolate and simple, ovate measuring up to 10±5 cm in length and 7±3cm wide for S. aethiopicum while S. nigrum is 7±3cm in length and 4±1.5cm broad with alternate phyllotaxy. Stalked solitary axilliary flowers are present in both. The petals are yellowish and sepals greenish. The greenish berry fruits measure up to 1.2±0.4cm in length for both species, when ripe is reddish and blue-black respectively. The epidermal studies reveal anisocytic stomata whereas the trichomes are simple uniseriate form and stellate type respectively. The anatomy of mid-ribs and petioles showed bicollateral vascular systems. There are 3 vascular traces and node is unilacunar in each species, the stems have 5 to 6 vascular bundles. The cytological studies showed a diploid chromosome number of 2n=24 for S. aethiopicum while S. nigrum is a polyploidy (tetraploid) with 2n=4x=48. Keywords: Morphological, Anatomical, Cytological, Studies. Return to Content View Reprint (PDF) (1542KB)
