Relationship Between Leaf Structure and Aloin Content in Six Species of Aloe L.

The leaf structure, content and the storage location of aloin in the leaves of six species of Aloe L. were studied by means of semi-thin section, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescent microscope. Results showed that all leaves consisted of epidermis, chlorenchyma, aquiferous tissue and vascular bundles. The leaves had the xeromorphic characteristics, including thickened epidermal cell wall, thickened cuticle, sunken stomata and well-developed aquiferous tissue. With the exception of thus, there were remarkable differences in leaf structure among the six species. The chlorenchyma cells were similar to palisade tissues in Aloe arborescens Mill. and A. mutabilis Pillans, but isodiametric in A. vera L., A. vera L. var. chinensis Berg., A. saponaria Hawer and A. greenii Bali. A. arborescens, A. mutabilis, A. very and A. vera var. chinensis included large parenchymatous cells at the vascular bundles, whereas no such cells were observed at the vascular bundles of A. saponaria and A. greenii. In A. arborescens, A. mutabilis and A. vera, the aquiferous tissue sheaths were present and composed of a layer of small parenchymatous cells without chloroplasts around the aquiferous tissue. While there were no aquiferous tissue sheaths in A. vera var. chinensis, A. saponaria and A. greenii. The HPLC revealed that the content of aloin was high in A. arborescens, low in A. vera, and very low in A. saponaria among the six species. The fluorescent microscopy showed that the yellow-green globule only appeared in the large parenchymatous cells of vascular bundles, vascular bundle sheath and aquiferous tissue sheath, but not in the chlorenchyma and aquiferous tissue. Consequently, the large parenchymatous cells of vascular bundles, vascular bundle sheath and aquiferous tissue sheath were the storage location of aloin. They were positively correlated with the content of aloin.

Anatomy, Histochemistry and Phytochemistry of Leaves in Aloe vera var. chinensis

A multidisciplinary approach-anatomy, histochemistry and phytochemistry-was used to investigate the leaf structure, the content and the storage location of barbaloin in the leaves of Aloe vera L. var. chinensis (Haw.) Berg. Xeromorphic characteristics including secondary thickened epidermal cell walls, thicker cuticle, ambiguous differentiation of spongy and palisade tissues in the chlorenchyma, and well-developed aquiferous tissue could be seen in the leaves. Several large parenchymatous cells were observed at the phloem pole of the first ring of vascular bundles. The secondary ring of vascular bundles in the leaf base and the stomata, which are surrounded by five cells, have some classification significance in this species. The density of vascular bundles, the content of barbaloin and the intensity of histochemical reaction differed among leaf numbers Ll (annual leaf), L2 (biennial leaf), L3 (triennial leaf) and L4 (quadrennial leaf), and in different parts of the leaf. These three factors were highest in the youngest leaf, Ll, and top parts of all the leaves and lowest in the basal parts and the oldest leaf, L4. The density of vascular bundles had a positive correlation to the content of barbaloin. The histochemical results revealed that the small sheath cells that surrounded the bundles might be the location of barbaloin synthesis and the large parenchymatous cells beneath the sheath might be the storage places of this metabolite.

Distribution of Mineral Nutrients and Active Ingredients in Aloe vera Irrigated with Diluted Seawater

With increasing demand for irrigation water, agricultural scientists and planners pay more attention to the utilization of diluted seawater as an alternative source for irrigation of crops. A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to study how seawater stress(SS) affects growth, water content, cationic accumulation, and active ingredients in leaves of Aloe vera after 30 d of growth in nutrient media with 0%(control), 22%(22% SS), and 42%(42% SS) seawater stress. Results indicated the SS did not change dry biomass of leaves and stems, but gradually decreased biomass allocation to roots with increasing seawater stress. Na+and Cl-in A. vera plant did not increase obviously with a big increase in seawater percentage due to low transpiration of Aloe vera. 42% SS decreased N concentration in most plant organs, but did not change or increased P concentration. Seawater stress tended to decrease concentrations of K+and Ca2+in A. vera. However, seawater salinity tended to increase the concentrations of aloin concentration in top(young) and middle leaves, and there was no significant effect of both stresses on aloin concentration in base(old) leaves. The 42% SS treatment decreased polysaccharide concentrations only in the base leaves, but not in top and middle leaves. In summary, supplying suitably diluted seawater for 30 d could increase the qualities and value of A. vera, without substantial effects on shoot dry biomass production.