TY - JOUR
T1 - Disentangling leaf structural and material properties in relationship to their anatomical and chemical compositional traits in oaks (Quercus L.)
AU - Alonso-Forn, David
AU - Sancho-Knapik, Domingo
AU - Fariñas, María Dolores
AU - Nadal, Miquel
AU - Martín-Sánchez, Rubén
AU - Ferrio, Juan Pedro
AU - De Dios, Víctor Resco
AU - Peguero-Pina, José Javier
AU - Onoda, Yusuke
AU - Cavender-Bares, Jeannine
AU - Arenas, Tomás Gómez Álvarez
AU - Gil-Pelegrín, Eustaquio
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved.
PY - 2023/4/11
Y1 - 2023/4/11
N2 - 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 direct contribution to the leaf mechanical strength. Moreover, cellulose plays a crucial role in increasing leaf strength and toughness. The principal component analysis plot based on leaf trait values clearly separates Quercus species into two groups corresponding to evergreen and deciduous species. Conclusions: Sclerophyllous Quercus species are tougher and stronger owing to their thicker epidermis outer wall and/or higher cellulose concentration. Furthermore, section Ilex species share common traits, although they occupy different climates. In addition, evergreen species living in mediterranean-type climates share common leaf traits irrespective of their different phylogenetic origin.
AB - 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 direct contribution to the leaf mechanical strength. Moreover, cellulose plays a crucial role in increasing leaf strength and toughness. The principal component analysis plot based on leaf trait values clearly separates Quercus species into two groups corresponding to evergreen and deciduous species. Conclusions: Sclerophyllous Quercus species are tougher and stronger owing to their thicker epidermis outer wall and/or higher cellulose concentration. Furthermore, section Ilex species share common traits, although they occupy different climates. In addition, evergreen species living in mediterranean-type climates share common leaf traits irrespective of their different phylogenetic origin.
KW - Biomechanics
KW - leaf anatomical traits
KW - leaf mass per area
KW - leaf mechanical resistance
KW - oaks (Quercus)
KW - sclerophylly
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U2 - 10.1093/aob/mcad030
DO - 10.1093/aob/mcad030
M3 - Article
C2 - 36794926
AN - SCOPUS:85159736343
SN - 0305-7364
VL - 131
SP - 789
EP - 800
JO - Annals of Botany
JF - Annals of Botany
IS - 5
ER -