IMPACT OF IRRADIANCE ON THE EPIDERMIS OF IMPATIENS-FLANAGANAE HEMSL

Variations in the epidermis of Impatiens flanaganae Hemsl. grown under different light conditions were investigated. The difference in light intensity triggered an Extrinsic and intrinsic instability which grea tly promoted aberrant stomatal development and variations of epidermal cells, Four types of normal stomata were observed. The ontogeny of st omata was Either perigenous or mesogenous. An increase in stomatal abn ormalities was noticed in leaves subjected to greater and lower light intensities than in the control. Abnormalities such as degeneration of guard cells, superimposed and juxtaposed contiguous stomata, stomata with persistent intervening walls, unequal guard cells, cytoplasmic co nnections, single guard cells, guard cells without pores, and persiste nt stomatal cells were noticed. The size and shape of epidermal cells, stomatal index, frequency of stomata and epidermal cells were also co mpared and recorded in different variants, These results have implicat ions for the conservation of this endangered species.