Browsing by Author "Soriano, Reynalene M."

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Leaf and stem anatomy and wood fiber morphology of Seriales (Flacourtia jangomas) at different elevations in La Union, Philippines
    (Annals of Tropical Research, July - December 2025) Soriano, Reynalene M.; Camacho, Claudine F.; Olbinado-Quillope, Ruby Anne G.; Cortado, Jay Mark G.; Villareal, Jayric F.
    Seriales is an underutilized Philippine (Flacourtia jangomas) indigenous fruit tree with ecological and economic potential but limited anatomical evidence across elevation gradients. We quantified leaf and stem anatomy and wood fiber morphology across three low-elevation bands in La Union, Philippines (55–70masl, 71–85masl and 86–100masl). Mature leaves and young stems of F. jangomas were collected, stained, and observed for their leaf and stem anatomical measurements. Wood fibers were macerated and analyzed for fiber length, diameter, lumen diameter, and derived indices. Several leaf traits varied significantly with elevation: lamina and palisade mesophyll were greatest at the lowest site and declined upslope, whereas lower cuticle/epidermis, sclerenchyma, collenchyma, phloem, and collenchyma layers also differed among sites. In contrast, upper cuticle/epidermis, leaf xylem, and spongy mesophyll (~260–303μm) were not significantly different, suggesting conserved internal gas-exchange capacity. Stem anatomy showed decreasing cortex thickness and layer number with elevation, but increasing xylem thickness. Epidermal hairs were longer at the highest site. Wood fiber length shows values similar to tropical species, while mid-elevation trees had smaller fiber and lumen diameters, yielding higher density. High Runkel ratios (>1), low flexibility, and low slenderness indicate poor suitability for pulp and papermaking, but support use for durable woodcraft and small furniture. Overall, F. jangomas exhibits anatomical plasticity within a narrow lowland gradient, showing its resilience and value for lowland agroforestry. This study also highlights the need for conservation of this species and further studies that focus on the effect of climatic factors and stressors.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Publication
    Leaf and stem anatomy and wood fiber morpholoy of governor's plum [ Flacourtia jangomas (Lour.) raeush ] at different elevations in La Union, Philippines
    (Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - North La Union Campus, 2023-05) Camacho, Claudine F.; Soriano, Reynalene M.
    The leaf and stem anatomical characteristics of Governor's Plum play a crucial role in its ability to thrive in specific environments. These traits also have significant implications for the plant's photosynthesis potential. Additionally, the fiber morphological properties are important in determining the quality and properties of wood, as well as assessing the suitability of the lignocellulosic material for production. This study aimed to examine and compare the leaf and stem anatomy, as well as wood fiber morphology, of Governor's Plum collected from different elevations. The research was conducted at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-North La Union Campus from February 2023 to March 2023. The results revealed that there were significant differences in leaf and stem anatomy among the different elevation ranges. Each sample exhibited an increasing or decreasing trend in the measured parameters. This indicates that Governor's Plum possesses anatomical and morphological adaptability, allowing it to adjust to environmental changes at varying elevations. However, the wood fiber did not show significant variation across different elevation ranges. Nevertheless, specific fiber characteristics such as diameter, lumen diameter, slenderness ratio, runkel ratio, and relative density exhibited significant variation at different elevations. However, no consistent pattern or trend was observed in the derived values. At higher elevations, Governor's Plum exhibited a larger diameter, which enhances its resistance to wind and makes its wood more suitable for various uses, such as in wood utensils. Based on the fiber morphology results, Governor's Plum is relatively not favorable for pulp and paper production.