Ecotypic Variation in Leaf Thermoregulation and Heat Tolerance but Not Thermal Safety Margins in Tropical Trees.

ABSTRACT: To avoid reaching lethal temperatures during periods of heat stress, plants may acclimate either their biochemical thermal tolerance or leaf morphological and physiological characteristics to reduce leaf temperature (T_leaf). While plants from warmer environments may have a greater capacity to regulate T_leaf, the extent of intraspecific variation and contribution of provenance is relatively unexplored. We tested whether upland and lowland provenances of four tropical tree species grown in a common garden differed in their thermal safety margins by measuring leaf thermal traits, midday leaf-to-air temperature differences (∆T_leaf) and critical leaf temperatures defined by chlorophyll fluorescence (T_crit). Provenance variation was species- and trait-

SUBMITTER: Middleby KB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11615421 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature