PJB-2025-269
COMPARATİVE ECOLOGİCAL-ANATOMİCAL STUDY OF THE STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTİONAL CHARACTERİSTİCS OF MOUNTAİN AND URBAN ECOTYPES OF TRAGOPOGON PRATENSİS
Aygun Sardarova
Abstract
The aim of this study is to comparatively investigate anatomical variations in ecotypic specimens of Tragopogon pratensis L. across ecosystems and to determine, on a scientific basis, their adaptive-functional significance. This approach identifies mechanisms of ecological plasticity and structural-functional adaptation to abiotic stresses, and examines structural differences in secretory tissues - linked to bioactive compound biosynthesis - of the medicinally important T. pratensis under varying ecological conditions, as well as ecological effects on phytomaterial quality. The material consisted of T. pratensis ecotypes from mountainous and urban ecosystems of Azerbaijan, differing in topography, orography, and soil conditions. We applied anatomical, microscopic, histochemical, and biometric methods. We treated transverse sections from generative and vegetative organs with reagents to prepare permanent slides, and we analyzed micrometric data for variation. Microscopy showed that in the bract, parenchyma tissues were more developed in the urban ecosystem, whereas endogenous and exogenous secretory tissues of phytotherapeutic value were more active in the mountain specimen. In the peduncle of the mountain specimen, cortical parenchyma and laticifer cells were larger, while in the urban sample, pith parenchyma cells were more numerous. In the mountain specimen stem, we observed aerenchyma cavities in the pith and functional schizogenous secretory canals. Statistical analysis confirmed that in the urban leaf blade, mesophyll thickness and aerenchyma diameter in the midrib region were greater. At the leaf base of the mountain sample, sclerenchyma around vascular bundles was more developed. In rosette and root organs, the mountain specimens formed a thicker periderm, but parenchyma volume and xylem vessel diameter were greater in urban specimens. This research serves as a model study revealing autoecological adaptation strategies of T. pratensis in diverse ecosystems and contributes to the optimal cultivation and standardization of medicinal plants.
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