Morphological variation of leaf traits in theTernstroemia lineataspecies complex (Ericales: Penthaphylacaceae) in response to geographic and climatic variation

Abstract

Variation in leaf morphology is correlated with environmental variables, such as precipitation, temperature and soil composition. Several studies have pointed out that individual plasticity can largely explain the foliar phenotypic differences observed in populations due to climatic change and have suggested that the environment plays an important role in the evolution of plant species by selecting for phenotypic variation. Thus, the study of foliar morphology in plant populations can help us identify the environmental factors that have potentially influenced the process of species diversification. In this study, we analyzed morphological variation in the leaf traits of the Ternstroemia lineata species complex (Penthaphylacaceae) and its relation to climatic variables across the species distribution area to identify the patterns of morphological differentiation within this species complex. Based on the collected leaves of 270 individuals from 32 populations, we analyzed nine foliar traits using spatial interpolation models and multivariate statistics. A principal component analysis identified three main morphological traits (leaf length and two leaf shape variables) that were used to generate interpolated surface maps to detect discrete areas delimited by zones of rapid change in the values of the morphological traits. We identified a mosaic coarse-grain pattern of geographical distribution in the variation of foliar traits. According to the interpolation maps, we could define nine morphological groups and their geographic distributions. Longer leaves, spatulate leaves and the largest foliar area were located in sites with lower precipitation and higher seasonality of precipitation following a northwest–southeast direction and following significant latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. According to the phenogram of the relationships of the nine morphological groups based on morphological similarity, the putative species and subspecies of the T. lineata species complex did not show a clear pattern of differentiation. In this study, we found a complex pattern of differentiation with some isolated populations and some other contiguous populations differentiated by different traits. Further genetic and systematic studies are needed to clarify the evolutionary relationships in this species complex.

Phenotypic Variation in European Wild Pear (Pyrus pyraster (L.) Burgsd.) Populations in the North-Western Part of the Balkan Peninsula

“…Such unexpected results were also confirmed in other woody species: Fagus sylvatica [ 17 ], Castanea sativa [ 60 ] and Ternstroemia lineata DC. [ 72 ]. Meier and Leuschner [ 17 ] noted that beech leaf expansion and stand leaf area along precipitation gradient are, in addition to water availability, controlled by spring temperature and possibly nitrogen supply.…”

Morphological and Anatomical Variations among <i>Alocasia alba</i> Schott Accessions in Bali Botanic Garden

“…This study also found some variations in leaf shapes, sizes of petioles, leaves, peduncles, spathes and each zone of spadix. This phenotypic variation within species is the result of the interaction of environmental and genetic factors that was gradually inherited to the offspring (Ramsey et al 1994;Gonzalez et al 2012;Albarrán-Lara et al 2018;Li et al 2018;Alcántara-ayala et al 2020;Ren et al 2020). The leaf size and shape indicated the diversity of leaf morphological phenotypes (Ren et al 2020).…”

Genetic variability of Begonia longifolia Blume from Indonesia based on Nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data

“…Based on the value, all specimens were classified as intraspecies. Variations within organisms can be used to study evolution (Alcántara-Ayala et al 2020). The broad distribution of B.longifolia is caused by its wide ecological tolerance and greater chances of long-distance dispersal afforded by its baccate, and therefore presumably animaldispersed.…”