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Histological Differences in Moisture-Stressed and Nonstressed Kleingrass Forage¹

Leaf sections from 15-day old kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.) plants grown under moisture stress, optimal moisture conditions, and an intermediate moisture level were examined by light microscopy. The proportion of cell volume of parenchyma bundle sheath cells occupied by the protoplast and vacuole was markedly less for plants grown at the lower moisture levels than for plants at the highest moisture level. Increased sclerenchyma tissue development and increased thickness of the metaxylem cell walls were noted with reductions in moisture. Selective staining also revealed increases in lignification with moisture stress. These histological observations indicate that an increased proportion of cell wall components and increased lignification of kleingrass plants grown under moisture stress could account for at least some of the reduced digestibility reported previously with moisture-stressed kleingrass forage.

Key Words: Forage quality • Histology • Lignification • Panicum coloratum L.

² Assistant professor, Univ. of Florida, Agric. Res. Center, Ona, FL 33865 (formerly graduate student, Texas A&M Univ.); professor and associate professor, Soil & Crop Sciences Dep., Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX 77843; and research geneticist, USDA-ARS, College Station, TX 77843.

Received for publication November 4, 1982.