Abstract:
Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. is the only species belonging to the family Pandanaceae that has fragrant leaves. In the higher plants, aroma compounds in leaves are stored in vacuoles and epidermal outgrowths like papillae, glandular hairs and trichomes.The lower epidermis of P. amaryllifolius has papillae as protrusions of lower epidermal cells. The papillae run parallel along the leaf length and are absent over the veins and midrib. The number of papillae varied from one to seven per cell. Papillae were also found surrounding the stomata forming a necklace-like structure. Quantitative analysis yielded 3.10 mg of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline per kg of fresh leaves. Cell size, area and number of papillae were more in the clone of 'Sawantwadi' than in 'Pune'.
