Miliou, A., Petrus-Vancea, A., Timar, A.V., Borza, I.M., Brata, A. Morpho-Anatomical Changes of Plant Vegetative Organs of Olive (Oleea europaea) Tree Culture Treated with Pesticides. Analele Universită Ġii din Oradea, Fascicula Biologie 2009.

Abstract:

The objectives of this study were to assess and identify structural changes caused by pesticide treatment in Olea europaea olive tree cultures and Avena fatua plants from olive groves. For this purpose morpho-anatomical characteristics were assessed on shoots, roots and leaves to correlate the effect of pesticide treatment with anatomical and morphological aspects of leaves. This study concluded that the leaves treated with pesticides have less stomata and more numerous tector hairs as an adaptation to toxic treatment, compared with organic leaves from untreated cultures. These leaf abnormalities can seriously affect the efficiency of respiration, photosynthesis and the hydric control of the plants. Large intercellular spaces were observed in the foliar mesophyll of Olea europaea treated with pesticides. Differences in vegetative aerial organs were observed between treated and un-treated Avena fatua samples, namely the central parenchyma of stem was not reabsorbed and there were more layers of hypodermic sclerenchyma in treated leaves.

The results of the study should be heeded as a warning for all olive producers who use pesticides excessively and in an uncontrolled manner, in addition to encouraging the wider implementation of organic farming methods.