Anatomical acclimation of mature leaves to increased irradiance in sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.).

ABSTRACT: Trees regenerating in the understory respond to increased availability of light caused by gap formation by undergoing a range of morphological and physiological adjustments. These adjustments include the production of thick, sun-type leaves containing thicker mesophyll and longer palisade cells than in shade-type leaves. We asked whether in the shade-regenerating tree Acer pseudoplatanus, the increase in leaf thickness and expansion of leaf tissues are possible also in leaves that are already fully formed, a response reported so far only for a handful of species. We acclimated potted seedlings to eight levels (from 1 to 100%) of solar irradiance and, in late summer, transferred a subset of them to full sunlight. Within 30 days, the pre-shaded leaves increased leaf mass per area and became

SUBMITTER: Wyka TP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9568483 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature