Anatomy of the Root of Pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Anatomical investigation has been made on the root of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) at different stages of growth following the standard paraffin method of microtechnique. The root of pigeonpea is tetrarch with 4 strands of xylem and 4 strands of phloem. One strand of xylem alternates with one strand of phloem. The four opposite strands of primary xylem meet at the centre. Subsequently metaxylem forms near the centre on either side of the xylem strand. Ultimately the centre is filled up with big metaxylem vessels. The epidermis is single layered with root hairs and glandular trichomes. There are 8-13 layers of cortical cells in the root of pigeonpea. The cambium appears in the basal part of the root of 3-4 days old plant. Gradually it extends towards the root apex. The activity of cambium is similar to that of woody dicotyledonous herb. In the mature root, most of the vessels in the secondary xylem are solitary while the others are paired or multiple. The fibre cells in the phloem are arranged in groups. The fibre groups are radially arranged in such a way that the structure seems to be a pyramid. The epidermis is ruptured here and there, and the epidermal cells are disorganized due to the stress of secondary growth. Periderm is formed in the root one after another as the root increases in diameter.