Abstract: The anatomical structure, leaf epidermis structure and chloroplast ltrastructure of columnar and standard apples were studied using paraffin section method, scanning electronic microscope and transmission electronic microscope. The results showed that the size of palisade tissue cells within the same layer of columnar apple was different and its array was irregular. The cells of different layerswere intervened each other,and the border of different layerswas not clear. The size of palisade tissue cells within the same layer of standard apple was equal and its array was quite regular and close together. The border of different layers was obvious to distinguish. The leaf total thickness, palisade tissue thickness and the ratio of palisade tissue thickness and spongy tissue thickness of columnar apple were obviously higher than those of standard apple. There were more wrinkles on the surface of the upper epidermal cells of columnar apple and the bulges of epidermal cells were higher compared with standard apple. There were no obvious difference for the length of stomata between columnar apple and standard apple, but the stomata density of columnar app le was obviously higher and its stomata width was shorter than those of standard apple. The grana or stroma lamellae of chlorop last of columnar apple were not parallel to the long axis of the chloroplast, grana lamellae were arrayed irregularly and the number of chloroplast lamellae were small. Whereas grana or stroma lamellae of standard app le were parallel to the long axis of the chloroplast, grana lamellae were arrayed regular and closely and the number of chlorop last lamellae were relatively more than those of columnar apple.

Key words: apple, columnar apple, Leaf, anatomical structure, epidermis, stomata, ultrastructure