• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.501-504
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• 2001

The effect of soil EC on tissue morphology of leaf and shoot tip in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Euinchim-baekdadagi) seedlings was investigated. Number of trichomes on leaf upper epidermis increased with the increase in soil EC from 1.0 to $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$, but the shape and number of stomata on lower epidermis remained unchanged. Epidermal cells of cucumbers grown in EC $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ soil was occupied mostly by large vacuole whereas those grown in EC $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ soil were filled with a nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast and other micro-organelles. Sponge parenchima cells were also larger and contained fewer chloroplasts at EC $1.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ than those grown at EC $3.0dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$. Leaf thickness decreased at high EC and the color of epidermal cells became significantly darker on the photograph of optical microscope. Normal tissue differentiation was greatly suppressed in plants grown in soils with $3.5dS{\cdot}m^{-1}$ or higher EC.