V.V. MORARIU*, C. CRĂCIUN**, SILVIA NEAMŢU*, L. IARINCA*, C. MIHALI**

*Department of Molecular and Biomolecular Physics, National Institute for R&D of Isotopic and Molecular Technology, P.O. Box 700, Cluj-Napoca 5, 400293, Romania
**Faculty of Biology, “Babeş-Bolyai” University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Abstract. Transmission electron microscopy images of nuclei from leafs of Lycopersicon esculentum, Capsicum annuum, Tagetes patula and Calendula officinalis were characterized by fractal dimension D of the images. The mean value of D was 1.664±0.020, which did not appear to be influenced by the age of the plant. Correlation analysis was performed on selected profiles across nuclei by detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). Profiles across euchromatin regions proved to be characterized by short-range correlations extending over medium range distances. On the other hand profiles of the same nuclei crossing nucleolus, heterochromatin and euchromatin regions were characterized by long-range correlation having a mean DFA correlation exponent α = 1.22±0.032. The spectral exponent proved to be controlled by significant trends and therefore it was of not much use.
Key words: ultrastructure, nucleus, nuclear chromatin, fractal dimension, long-range correlation, short-range correlation.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: vvm@L40.itim-cj.ro

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