Variations in leaf morphological traits of Quercus guyavifolia (Fagaceae) were mainly influenced by water and ultraviolet irradiation at high elevations on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China. | [International Journal of Agriculture and Biology • 2016]

Author(s):

1. Mei Sun: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

2. Tao Su: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China

3. Shi-Bao Zhang: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China

4. Shu-Feng Li: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

5. Julie Anberree-Lebreton: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China;University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

6. Zhe-Kun Zhou: Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan, China; Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, Chinae

Abstract:

Leaf morphological traits vary along elevational gradients so that plants can adapt to their surrounding habitat. However, the abiotic factors that shape those traits are still debatable, especially for plants at high elevations where the environment can be very harsh. Quercus guyavifolia H. Léveillé (Fagaceae) is a woody plant found along the southeastern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Distribution elevations of the species range from 2000 m to 4500 m approximately, providing an excellent opportunity to explore correlations among leaf traits and environmental factors. We used multiple-regression models to investigate spatial trends in leaf morphology and their environmental determinants. As elevation increased, values for leaf area, length, width, the ratio of leaf length to width, shape factor, and petiole length and width decreased significantly and all were positively correlated with mean annual precipitation. Leaf length, the ratio of leaf length to width, and petiole length were negatively correlated with the daily mean maximum intensity of ultraviolet (UV)-B irradiation during the growing season. Our results indicated that the amounts of both precipitation and UV irradiation largely shape the leaf morphology in Q. guyavifolia along the elevation gradient. This study provides evidence for the adaptive plasticity of leaves in response to environments in regions at high elevations.

Page(s): 266-273

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, Volume: 18, Issue: 2, Year: 2016

Keywords:

Keywords are not available for this article.

References:

References are not available for this document.

Citations

Citations are not available for this document.

Citations

Downloads

Views