Inter and intra-population variation of leaf stomatal traits of Quercus robur L. in Northern Serbia

Abstract

The research involved the examination of inter- and intra-population variation of stomatal traits: stomatal density, stomatal length and width, stomatal pore surface, potential conductance index and stomatal shape coefficient, in Quercus robur L. leaves. The research was conducted in northern Serbia and included five populations (?Ada Ciganlija?, ?Bojcinska suma?, ?Subotica?, ?Sombor? and ?Vrsac?). The stomatal characteristics were examined in fully expanded leaves, from two leaf positions - the sun-exposed and shaded side of the tree. The leaf position in the tree crown, forming a part of the phenotypic variance, was relevant for the stomatal dimension traits. Within populations, the differences between the genotypes (i.e. trees), were relevant for all analyzed traits. On the basis of the analysis of the inter-populational differences, the ?Bojcinska suma? population had a statistically significantly lower stomatal density in comparison to the other populations.

Leaf stomatal traits variation within and among black poplar native populations in Serbia

“…Stomatal traits are characteristics of species, although certain variations can present the micro-environmental conditions and global ecosystem changes (Batos et al 2010). According to our analysis, the Table 2.…”

“…Leaf sampling was conducted in September of the same year (2013) around noon, on a sunny day without wind. From the south/south west side of the crown, at the height between 3-6 m; several short shoots were taken from the sunny and shade part of the crown (Batos et al 2010). The sample consisted of ten leaves per one tree, five leaves from sunny and five from shade crown positions.…”

“…Phenotypic variation of the four native populations of P. nigra were examined with various genetically controlled leaf stomatal traits (stomatal length and width, pore length and width, stomatal density, shape coefficient and stomatal and pore area) as described in Batos et al (2010) and Balasooriya et al (2009). Stomatal density (SD) was determined at 100x magnification under microscope CETI®MAGNUM-T/Trinocular Microscope, UK with an attached camera Si3000® (UK).…”

“…The differences between sunny and shaded exposition leaves, as two micro-climatic sites within crown, present plant adaptation aiming at the best possible exploitation of available light (Batos et al 2010). In contrast with the inner part of the crown, leaves from the outer part of the crown are more exposed to stressful environment such as higher solar irradiance, larger temperature variation, lower air humidity, various pests.…”

“…Some species have been reported as possessing generally high heritability in their stomatal characteristics (Orlović et al 1998), while others have been reported as being more sensitive to environmental factors. Many researchers have so far reported that stomatal density may vary depending on environmental factors such as atmospheric CO 2 concentration (Woodward et al 2002), drought (Dunlap andStettler 2001, Hetherington andWoodward 2003) or light (Batos et al 2010). Even though they are showing a plastic physiological response to the environmental factors, they are also under genetic control and could go through evolutionary changes if selection differs among environments (Gailing et al 2008).…”