Disentangling leaf structural and material properties in relationship to their anatomical and chemical compositional traits in oaks (Quercus L.)

Autor: David Alonso-Forn, Domingo Sancho-Knapik, María Dolores Fariñas, Miquel Nadal, Rubén Martín-Sánchez, Juan Pedro Ferrio, Víctor Resco de Dios, José Javier Peguero-Pina, Yusuke Onoda, Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Tomás Gómez Álvarez Arenas, Eustaquio Gil-Pelegrín
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Annals of Botany. 131:789-800
ISSN: 1095-8290
0305-7364
DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad030
Popis: Background and Aims The existence of sclerophyllous plants has been considered an adaptive strategy against different environmental stresses. Given that it literally means ‘hard-leaved’, it is essential to quantify the leaf mechanical properties to understand sclerophylly. However, the relative importance of each leaf trait for mechanical properties is not yet well established. Methods Genus Quercus is an excellent system to shed light on this because it minimizes phylogenetic variation while having a wide variation in sclerophylly. We measured leaf anatomical traits and cell wall composition, analysing their relationship with leaf mass per area and leaf mechanical properties in a set of 25 oak species. Key Results The upper epidermis outer wall makes a strong and direct contribution to the leaf mechanical strength. Moreover, cellulose plays a crucial role in increasing leaf strength and toughness. The principal component analysis plot based on leaf trait values clearly separates Quercus species into two groups corresponding to evergreen and deciduous species. Conclusions Sclerophyllous Quercus species are tougher and stronger owing to their thicker epidermis outer wall and/or higher cellulose concentration. Furthermore, section Ilex species share common traits, although they occupy different climates. In addition, evergreen species living in mediterranean-type climates share common leaf traits irrespective of their different phylogenetic origin.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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