STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION IN LEAF BLADE AND SHEATH OF ELEPHANT-GRASS CULTIVARS (PENNISETUM-PURPUREUM SCHUM. - POACEAE)

Elephant-grass is known as a great feed to dairy and beef cattle at tr opical regions. Its agricultural aspects have been very observed. Howe ver, its botanical, mainly anatomical characteristics, are few studied . The objective of this work was to investigate the anatomical changes occurred in leaves (leaf blades and sheaths) of three elephant-grass cultivars (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cultivar Roxo, EMPASC 307 Testo and EMPASC 309 Areia) at three stages of physiological maturity (4, 8 and 16 weeks after sprouting). In general, the three cultivars presen ted similar anatomy. A unique feature, the presence of aerenchyma was found in the leaf sheath of all three cultivars, at the second harvest (a weeks).