1992 Volume 61 Issue 4 Pages 642-650
The external morphology and internal anatomy of coffee leaf blade were investigated by light and scanning electron microscope. The domatia presented a round or elliptical shape and they were located at the intersection between the midrib and secondary veins on the abaxial side of the leaf blade. At the border, and in the vicinity of the domatium pore, unicellular trichomes measuring 36 μm to 143 μm in length were observed. The pocket-type domatium was clearly defined for arabica coffee leaves by serial sectioning observation. The domatium cavity was always larger than the aperture. Our interest in studying the domatium structure was due to its importance for the tissue culture explanting of coffee leaves, since no sterilizing solution can penetrate inside the domatia. In addition, the coffee vascular and mesophyll structures were studied. The presence of hypodermal cells containing dark stainable materials were illustrated in regions near the midvein or secondary veins of coffee leaves.
