Studies on anatomy characteristics of different tillering ability variants in Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. (Poaceae)

Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.is a dominant species in Songnen plain, China as a result of its high capabilitiy of salt-alkali tolerance.We screen out two different tillering ability variants.The morphological and quantitative characterization of leaves and stems in the two variants of L. chinensis are observed using light microscope and scanning electron microscope. As a result, there is significant difference between the thickness of stem ground tissue of the two variants (P<;0.05).The stem vascular bundle of high tilling ability variant is similar as the low one. The the thickness of stem ground tissue, stem stomatal density, leaf stomatal density and stomatal width, leaf trichome types, leaf long trichome density varies significantly (P<;0.05). The changes of tillering ability reflect in anatomical differences. This study may provide an insight into the anatomic mechanism of L. chinensis of different tillering ability.