Wood and Leaf Anatomy of Copaifera langsdorffii Dwarf Trees

Abstract

There are various parameters that affect tree height and may cause dwarfism. Our goal was to study the anatomical variations in the leaf and xylem structure in dwarf and normal trees of Copaifera langsdorffii and their correlation with physico-chemical properties of the soils. Trees from two spatially close but different vegetation types, transitional forest and rupestrian field, showed markedly different wood and leaf characteristics. Adult trees of C. langsdorffii show normal height (up to 25 m) in transitional forests while in the rupestrian field they show dwarfism (small trees up to 2.5 m tall). Physical soil characteristics (such as rocky crust, low water availability due to shallow soil) presumably limit root growth and affect the rate of photosynthesis, which consequently affect the extension growth of the plant. Compared to normal trees, C. langsdorffii dwarf trees are characterized by narrow vessels and a higher proportion of vessels in multiples, features of the water transport system/hydraulic structure known to prevent embolism, wider rays with a greater potential to store starch, and higher stomatal density and potential conductance index.

Effect of soil type on mean annual increment, wood anatomy and properties of 33-year-old Corymbia citriodora (Hook.), K. D. Hill, & L. A. S. Johnson

“…When observing ray dimensions (multiplying the height by the width), we notice that RQ presents bulker rays than the trees growing in the other two soil types. For Copaifera langsdorffii in the previously noted study, Longui et al (2014) also found wider rays in trees in stony soils with low water retention and poorer nutrients. The authors suggested that higher ray volume in this context could confer greater potential for starch reserves, which may be important owing to the lower photosynthetic rate of C. langsdorffii plants with little soil water availability.…”

“…In our study, larger vessels occurred in NV and narrower in LV. In a study with Copaifera langsdorffii with differences in vegetation type and soil attributes, Longui et al (2014) found narrower vessels in trees on stony soils with low water retention and poorer nutrients. Oliveira et al (2012) found vessels with larger diameters and frequency in latosol regions, compared with clayey soil in Eucalyptus grandis.…”

Comparative analysis of anatomy and micro-densitometry of the growth rings of hardwoods and conifers, with emphasis on dendrochronology

“…The wood of Copaifera langsdorffii (Fabaceae-Caesalpinoideae) (Figure 2-7) is characterized by growth rings delimited by a clear series of oil-resin ducts and marginal parenchyma presenting high potential for dendrochronology, also observed by Marcati et al, (2001), Cury (2002), Tomazello Filho et al (2004, Marcati et al, (2006), Trevizor (2011), Sonsin et al, (2012 and Longui et al, (2014). The tree-ring formation, radial increment periodicity, phenology and ecological trends of wood anatomy were characterized by Alves and Angyalossy-Alfonso (2000), Lisi et al (2008) and Costa et al, (2015).…”