Disentangling leaf structural and material properties in relationship to their anatomical and chemical compositional traits in oaks (Quercus L.).

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The existence of sclerophyllous plants has been considered an adaptive strategy against different environmental stresses. Given that it literally means 'hard-leaved', it is essential to quantify the leaf mechanical properties to understand sclerophylly. However, the relative importance of each leaf trait for mechanical properties is not yet well established.

Methods

Genus Quercus is an excellent system to shed light on this because it minimizes phylogenetic variation while having a wide variation in sclerophylly. We measured leaf anatomical traits and cell wall composition, analysing their relationship with leaf mass per area and leaf mechanical properties in a set of 25 oak species.

Key results

The upper epidermis outer wall makes a strong and dir

SUBMITTER: Alonso-Forn D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10184456 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature