First Report of a Histological Technique for Observing the Anatomy of the Epidermis of <scp><i>Melinis minutiflora</i></scp>

This article describes precise and unpublished data on leaf anatomy of Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv. This species is an aggressive invasive plant that invades Environmental Protection Areas. Studies on the dissociation of the leaf epidermis using histological techniques could help to identify specific leaf characteristics that can significantly influence the success of invasion into new environments. This study identifies, for the first time, a histological technique that makes it possible to dissociate the entire leaf epidermis of the invasive species M. minutiflora in order to evaluate the anatomical structures in frontal view. The freehand paradermal cut, the hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite methods and the epidermal impression technique were evaluated. The median region of each leaf was sectioned into samples of approximately 1 cm² to dissociate the epidermis. The results demonstrate that the method with sodium hypochlorite was the one that best enabled the dissociation of the M. minutiflora epidermis in its entirety and the obtaining of semi-permanent slides. This method is easy to perform, effective and ensures the preservation of the structural integrity of the cells, allowing a clearer and more detailed visualization of the cells and tissues under the microscope. This method also has the potential to be applied to plants that have stomata arranged in longitudinal rows and have morphological characteristics that make it difficult to observe the stomata. The histological technique of printing the epidermis with instant adhesive, although it has presented some negative points, such as distortion and deformation of the cells, is a useful and low-cost technique for measuring characters of interest. These findings provide a better understanding of leaf anatomy and contribute to the accurate identification of invasive plant species and the development of effective control and management strategies.