Leaf anatomical structure of natural triploid loquats

Leaf anatomical structure of diploid cultivars of loquat (Eriobotyra japonica Lindl.) and 13 triploid seedlings were studied by paraffin sectioning protocol. Comparison of leaf anatomy structure with diploids and corresponding trioploids indicated that there were remarkable difference on leaf thickness, palisade tissue thickness and cell characteristic, as well as cell structure tightness (cell tense ratio, CTR). Triploids had thicker leaves (29.6%) and palisade tissue (57.6%), and higher CTR value than diploids. The number of cell layers of palisade tissue of triploids increased over diploids. Except for 'Zaozhong No.6' and 'Luzhou No.6', CTR of other triploids increased 21.4% than diploids. In addition, spongy tissue of triploids and diploids had differences, but no regularity. The cell structure looseness of mesophyll tissue (spongy ratio) was reduced by 8.7% in triploids but this difference was not significant.