Research Article Open Access

Heterophylly in Murraya exotica L. (Rutaceae)

I. P. Astuti1, Purnomo2, R. Susandarini2 and Paul Holford3
  • 1 Center Plant for Conservation, Bogor Botanical Gardens, Indonesian Institute for Sciences, Indonesia
  • 2 Faculty of Biology, Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
  • 3 School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Australia

Abstract

Heterophylly, the existence of different leaf types and leaflet shapes on the same plant was observed for the first time in Murraya exotica L. populations from different locations in Java, Indonesia. In each population, three types of compound leaves (paripinnate, imparipinnate and intermediate) and three types of leaflet shape (oblong, rounded and obcordate) were observed. This heterophyllous condition was found on both juvenile and adult plants. The variation in leaf type and leaflet shape may be due to the environmental conditions prevailing at the time of leaf production directing leaf development or due to developmental noise caused by random interactions between genes and the environment.

American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Volume 11 No. 1, 2016, 45-50

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2016.45.50

Submitted On: 29 October 2015 Published On: 12 March 2016

How to Cite: Astuti, I. P., Purnomo, ., Susandarini, R. & Holford, P. (2016). Heterophylly in Murraya exotica L. (Rutaceae). American Journal of Agricultural and Biological Sciences, 11(1), 45-50. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajabssp.2016.45.50

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Keywords

  • Heterophylly
  • Compound Leaves
  • Leaflet Shape
  • Murraya Exotica