Variability in Populus leaf anatomy and morphology in relation to canopy position, biomass production, and varietal taxon

Abstract

-Twelve poplar (Populus) genotypes, belonging to different taxa and to the sections Aigeiros and Tacamahaca, were studied during the third growing season of the second rotation of a high density coppice culture. With the objective to highlight the relationships between leaf traits, biomass production and taxon as well as the influence of canopy position, anatomical and morphological leaf characteristics (i.e. thickness of epidermis, of palisade and spongy parenchyma layers, density and length of stomata, leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA) and nitrogen concentration) were examined for mature leaves from all genotypes and at two canopy positions (upper and lower canopy). Above ground biomass production, anatomical traits, stomatal and morphological leaf characteristics varied significantly among genotypes and between canopy positions. The spongy parenchyma layer was thicker than the palisade parenchyma layer for all genotypes and irrespective of canopy position, except for genotypes belonging to the P. deltoides × P. nigra taxon (section Aigeiros). Leaves at the upper canopy position had higher stomatal density and thicker anatomical layers than leaves at the lower canopy position. Leaf area and nitrogen concentration increased from the bottom to the top of the canopy, while SLA decreased. Positive correlations between biomass production and abaxial stomatal density, as well as between biomass production and nitrogen concentration were found. A principal component analysis (PCA) showed that genotypes belonging to the same taxon had similar anatomical characteristics, and genotypes of the same section also showed common leaf characteristics. However, Wolterson (P. nigra) differed in anatomical leaf characteristics from other genotypes belonging to the same section (section Aigeiros). Hybrids between the two sections (Aigeiros × Tacamahaca) expressed leaf characteristics intermediate between both sections, while their biomass production was low.Populus spp. / taxon / stomatal density and length / thickness of leaf anatomical layers / nitrogen concentration / specific leaf area / productivity Résumé -Variabilité des caractères foliaires anatomiques et morphologiques du peuplier en relation avec la position des feuilles dans la canopée, la production de biomasse et le taxon. Douze génotypes de peuplier (Populus), appartenant à différents taxa ainsi qu'aux sections Aigeiros et Tacamahaca, ont été étudiés durant la troisième saison de croissance de la deuxième rotation d'une plantation à forte densité. L'objectif de l'expérience était de mettre en évidence les relations entre les caractères foliaires, la production de biomasse et le taxon, ainsi que l'influence de la position des feuilles dans la canopée. Pour ce faire, diverses caractéristiques anatomiques et morphologiques des feuilles (épaisseur des épidermes et des parenchymes palissadique et lacuneux, densité et longueur des stomates, surface foliaire, surface foliaire spécifique (SLA) et teneurs en azote) ont été déterminées pour des feuilles matures de ...

Assessment of cadmium tolerance and phytoextraction ability in young Populus deltoides L. and Populus × euramericana plants through morpho-anatomical and physiological responses to growth in cadmium enriched soil

“…The thickness of spongy tissue was greater than the thickness of palisade tissue in both clones, regardless of Cd exposure. These findings are in agreement with results obtained for other poplar genotypes from different taxa (Al Afas et al 2007).…”

“…In spite of structural and ultrastructural changes to leaf lamina, photosynthetic balance and biomass production in P. deltoides might be sustained by the fact that photosynthetic pigment concentrations remain unchanged under heavy metal stress (Stoláriková-Vaculíková et al 2015). Thicknesses of the spongy and palisade parenchyma are associated with biomass production and could be used as indicators of growth potential in poplars (Al Afas et al 2007). Therefore, the interrelation between micromorphological parameters together with physiological and biochemical characteristics is necessary for identification of plants suitable for phytoremediation (Luković et al 2012).…”

Poplar growth and wood production on a grassland irrigated for decades with potato starch wastewater

“…were within the range reported for Populus leaves (Pellis et al 2004). Although N was a non-limiting factor on both plantations, the significantly lower N level in leaves in the forest than on the grassland (p \ 0.0001 for young leaves and p = 0.005 for mature leaves) may reflect their lower photosynthetic capacity, depending on the N concentration (Al Afas et al 2007;Weih and Rönnberg-Wästljung 2007).…”

“…PLA is often independent, while SLA and leaf N levels are dependent on environmental conditions and genotypes (Al Afas et al 2007;Marron et al 2007). In our study, PLA, SLA and N concentrations in young leaves varied between sites and clones, and the highest values were achieved by the best growing clone ERI (Figs.…”

Research Advances on Leaf and Wood Anatomy of Woody Species of a Tamaulipan Thorn Scrub Forest and its Significance in Taxonomy and Drought Resistance

“…Ottonia martiana Miq. and Piper diospyrifolium Kunth) showed structural similarities among them [7]; significant differences in anatomical traits among 293 trees of Pseudotsuga in Mexico [8], taxonomic delimitation of twelve species of Populus [9] and 35 species of the genus Kalanchoë Adans [10]; the taxonomic delimitation of different species of Chamaecrista (L.) Moench sect. Apoucouita (Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae) [11] and distinction of 25 Ficus species in terms of multilayerd hypodermis, one to three layers palisade parenchyma [12,13] showed variations in leaf anatomical traits Chacoan forests in Argentina such as the density of epidermal cells, stomata and trichomes, mesophyll types and the type and distribution of vascular and sclerenchymatic tissues.…”