Mutagenic effects of ultraviolet (UV-C) irradiation on the anatomy of three species of Capsicum

UV radiant seedlings of Capsicum annuum, C. Chinenese and Capsicum frutescens were studied anatomically to observe the UV effects on the leaf epidermis, stem and root ultrastructures. While there is a higher percentage of stomatal index in the UV-exposed plants compared to the controlled, unexposed plants, there is no correlation in the stomatal density and stomatal size between the exposed and unexposed plants to the ultraviolet irradiation. There was also no correlation between the stomatal size and the stomatal density in both treatments (exposed and unexposed) in all the plants. Significant differences were observed in the stomatal index on both leaf surfaces between the exposed and controlled plants of C. frutescens and C. annuum. Cell walls of the stem and root wereobserved to be thicker in the UV-exposed plants