Effect of Drought Stress on Stomata and Trichome in Watermelon Leaves (Citrullus lanatus)

Abstract

Stomata and trichome of watermelon leaves can be used as a benchmark for anatomical damage due to drought stress. The research purpose was to determine the effect of drought stress on stomata and trichomes. Experimental research used a randomized block design (RBD) with 5 treatments and 5 replications. Data were tested quantitatively using the Anova test and Duncan's test at 5% level. The results showed that the number of stomata decreased with the highest number being 52 in the 'quite a lot' category, stomata density decreased with a density value of 263.95 in the 'low' category, stomata length decreased with the highest average of 21.26 µm in the 'long' category, and stomata width decreased with the highest average is 13.36 µm in the 'less wide' category. The number of trichomes decreased with an average of 4 categories of 'slight', the density of trichomes decreased with an average of 21.40 in the 'low' category, the length of trichomes increased with a value of 331.57 µm in the 'very long' category, the width of trichomes decreased with the highest average of 62.59 µm in the category 'very wide', and the number of constituent cells and basal cells increases.