Intrusive trichome bases in the leaves of silverleaf nightshade (Solanum elaeagnifolium; Solanaceae) do not facilitate fluorescent tracer uptake.

Premise Of The Study: Solanum elaeagnifolium (silverleaf nightshade), having originated in the Americas, is now a serious summer-growing, perennial weed in many countries, including Australia. Most surfaces of the plants have a dense covering of trichomes, giving them a silvery-white appearance, hence the common name. We aimed to identify structural and functional properties of its leaves, especially the trichomes, that may affect the uptake of foliar-applied tracer dyes.

Structural changes in acclimated and unacclimated leaves during freezing and thawing.

Freeze-induced damage to leaf tissues was studied at different states of acclimation to low temperatures in snow gum, Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Sprengel. Intact, attached leaves of plants grown under glasshouse or field conditions were frozen at natural rates (frost-freezing) and thawed under laboratory conditions. Leaves were cryo-fixed unfrozen, during frost-freezing or after thawing for observation in a cryo-scanning electron microscope.