JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2021, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (5): 125-132.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202010005

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Leaf stomatal morphological characteristics and their effects on transpiration for two tree species in Maolan Karst area,Guizhou Province

CHENG Juan1,2(), DING Fangjun2,*(), TAN Zhenghong1, LIAO Liguo1, ZHOU Ting2,3, CUI Yingchun2   

  1. 1. College of Ecology and Environment, Hainan University, Haikou 570100,China
    2. Guizhou Academy of Forestry, Guiyang 550005, China
    3. College of Life Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
  • Received:2020-10-03 Accepted:2021-04-19 Online:2021-09-30 Published:2021-09-30
  • Contact: DING Fangjun E-mail:YZC9010@163.com;ding3920034@163.com

Abstract:

【Objective】 Rocky desertification is a serious environmental problem in southwest China. Research on tree transpiration and its stomatal regulation should benefit vegetation restoration and forest management in the Karst area.【Method】 We synchronously performed field measurements of sap flow by using a thermal diffusion probe and collected microclimate data. The leaf samples were collected and taken to the laboratory for drying treatment, and subsequently, stomatal structure analysis was performed under an electron microscope, including that of the evergreen Dendropanax inflatus and deciduous Alangium platanifolium.【Result】 ① There were similar sap flow (FS) diurnal patterns for the deciduous and evergreen species; overall, the sap flow rate was higher in the deciduous species A. platanifolium [(585.25±53.46) g/h] than in the evergreen species D. inflatus [(384.83±39.12) g/h] during the observation period, indicating that the transpiration of the evergreen tree species was stronger than that of the deciduous tree species. ② Stomata density was higher in the deciduous species [(1 005.08±80.99) individual/mm 2] than in the evergreen species [(237.16±21.67) individual/mm2] (P < 0.05, df=48, F=7.08). However, there were no significant differences in stomatal openness, stomatal conductance, and stomatal apparatus size between the two species (P > 0.05, df=48, F=2.65). Additionally, there was a significant negative relationship between stomata density and stomata openness and conductance (P < 0.05, df=9, F=14.00; P < 0.05, df=9, F=17.12); low stomata density evergreen trees have longer stomata and openness compared to that of high stomata density deciduous trees.③ The stem sap flow of the two tree species was significantly positively related to stomatal density (P < 0.01, df=48, F=16.03; P < 0.01, df=48, F=32.10), showed that the transpiration was related to low the stomatal density. Meanwhile, the stomatal density was significantly positively correlated with solar radiation intensity (Rn) (P < 0.05, df=48, F=7.66; P < 0.01, df=48, F=47.18). The stomatal conductance of the deciduous A. platanifolium was significantly positively correlated with Rn (P < 0.05, df=48, F=13.06). The stomatal density of the evergreen D. inflatus was significantly negatively correlated with air temperature (Ta) (P < 0.05, df=48, F=5.02). A significant positive relationship between stomatal conductance and Ta (P < 0.05, df=48, F=6.32) was significantly positively correlated with Ta and Rn (P < 0.01, df=48, F=17.20; P < 0.01, df=48, F=14.81), indicated that Rn was the main environmental factor affects the stomatal morphology of the two tree species.【Conclusion】 Both environmental variables and changes in stomatal morphology play a role in regulating tree transpiration. Environmental conditions were more responsive in the evergreen tree D. inflatus, lowering stomatal density. The difference in stomatal density and stomatal morphology, which is affected by environmental factors, is the reason behind the transpiration difference. Species with high stomatal density are more suitable for growth in complex Karst habitats.

Key words: Karst area, Dendropanax inflatus, Alangium platanifolium, stomatal morpholoy, stomatal density, transpiration

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