Seven leaf blade quantitative anatomic characters were used to differentiate five accesses of Egeria densa, and three accesses of Egeria najas, collected in 'Jupiá', 'Salto Grande', 'Três Irmãos', 'Promissão', 'Nova Avanhandava' and 'Ibitinga' reservoirs, in relation to leaf blade descriptive and quantitative anatomic characteristics, in order to obtain a better understanding the relations among these anatomic structures and herbicide penetration and translocation. Another objective was to provide identification of susceptible and resistant accesses to some chemical products. Leaf samples were collected, fixed in FAA 50, infiltrated in glycol metacrylate resin, cut transversally with 8 mm of thickness, and stained with toluidine blue. The following leaf anatomic middle vein characters were quantitatively evaluated (%): adaxial and abaxial epidermis, vascular bundle and parenchyma. In the region between the vein and the leaf margin, the % adaxial and abaxial epidermis and leaf thickness were evaluated. The quantitative anatomic characters of the leaf were submitted to statistic multivariate methods of Cluster Analysis and Principal Components Analysis. Results showed that three groups were formed according to similarity levels: group 1 - three accesses of E. najas; group 2 - four accesses of E. densa; group 3 - one access of E. densa. The anatomic characters with high discriminatory degree were: % vascular bundle and abaxial epidermis of middle vein, and % adaxial and abaxial epidermis of the region between the vein and leaf margin. In conclusion, it was observed that the quantitative anatomic characters were determinant in differentiating accesses and aquatic weed species; however, further studies must be conducted to relate the anatomical structures to resistance and susceptibility to herbicides.
Hydrocharitaceae; aquatic plant; weed; leaf anatomy
