Morphological, anatomical, and physiological leaf traits of Corylus avellana plants growing in different light conditions within the natural reserve "Siro Negri" (Italy) were analyzed. The results highlighted the capability of C. avellana to grow both in sun and shade conditions throughout several adaptations at leaf level. In particular, the more than 100% higher specific leaf area in shade is associated to a 44% lower palisade to spongy parenchyma thickness ratio compared with that in sun. Moreover, the chlorophyll (Chl) a to Chl b ratio decreased in response to the 97% decrease in photosynthetic photon flux density. The results highlighted the decrease in the ratio of Chl to carotenoid content, the maximum PSII photochemical efficiency, and the actual PSII photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII) associated with the increase in the ratio of photorespiration to net photosynthesis (PN) in sun. Chl a/b ratio was the most significant variable explaining PN variations in shade. In sun, PN was most influenced by the ratio between the fraction of electron transport rate (ETR) used for CO2 assimilation and ETR used for photorespiration, by ΦPSII, nitrogen content per leaf area, and by total Chl content per leaf area. The high phenotypic plasticity of C. avellana (PI = 0.33) shows its responsiveness to light variations. In particular, a greater plasticity of morphological (PIm = 0.41) than of physiological (PIp = 0.36) and anatomical traits (PIa = 0.24) attests to the shade tolerance of the species., R. Catoni, M.U. Granata, F. Sartori, L. Varone, L. Gratani., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Global climate change may act as a potent agent of natural selection within species with Mediterranean mountain ecosystems being particularly vulnerable. The aim of this research was to analyze whether the phenotypic plasticity of Sesleria nitida Ten. could be indicative of its future adaptive capability to global warming. Morphological, anatomical, and physiological leaf traits of two populations of S. nitida growing at different altitudes on Mount Terminillo (Italy) were analyzed. The results showed that leaf mass per unit leaf area, leaf tissue density, and total leaf thickness were 19, 3, and 31% higher in leaves from the population growing at 1,895 m a.s.l. (B site) than in leaves from the population growing at 1,100 m a.s.l. (A site), respectively. Net photosynthetic rate (PN) and respiration rate (RD) peaked in June in both A and B leaves [9.4 +- 1.3 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1 and 2.9 +- 0.9 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1, respectively] when mean air temperature was 16 +- 2°C. R D/P N was higher in B than in A leaves (0.35 +- 0.07 and 0.21 +- 0.03, respectively, mean of the study period). The mean plasticity index (PI = 0.24, mean of morphological, anatomical, and physiological leaf traits) reflected S. nitida adaptability to the environmental stress conditions at different altitudes on Mount Terminillo. Moreover, the leaf key traits of the two populations can be used to monitor wild populations over a long term in response to global change., L. Gratani, M. F. Crescente, V. D’Amato, C. Ricotta, A. R. Frattaroli, G. Puglielli., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Cistus salvifolius L. is the most widely spread Cistus species around the Mediterranean basin. It colonizes a wide range of habitats growing from sea level to 1,800 m a.s.l., on silicolous and calcicolous soils, in sun areas as well as in the understory of wooded areas. Nevertheless, this species has been mainly investigated in term of its responsiveness to drought. Our aim was to understand which leaf traits allow C. salvifolius to cope with low-light environments. We questioned if biochemical and physiological leaf trait variations in response to a reduced photosynthetic photon flux density were related to leaf morphological plasticity, expressed by variations of specific leaf area (SLA) and its anatomical components (leaf tissue density and thickness). C. salvifolius shrubs growing along the Latium coast (41°43'N,12°18'E, 14 m a.s.l., Italy) in the open and in the understory of a Pinus pinea forest, were selected and the relationships between anatomical, gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence, and biochemical parameters with SLA and PPFD variations were tested. The obtained results suggested long-term acclimation of the selected shrubs to contrasting light environments. In high-light conditions, leaf nitrogen and Chl contents per leaf area unit, leaf thickness, and Chl a/b ratio increased, thus maximizing net photosynthesis, while in shade photosynthesis, it was downregulated by a significant reduction in the electron transport rate. Nevertheless, the increased pigment-protein complexes and the decreased Chl a/b in shade drove to an increased light-harvesting capacity (i.e. higher actual quantum efficiency of PSII). Moreover, the measured vitality index highlighted the photosynthetic acclimation of C. salvifolius to contrasting light environments. Overall, our results demonstrated the morphological, anatomical, and physiological acclimation of C. salvifolius to a reduced light environment., G. Puglielli, L. Varone, L. Gratani, R. Catoni., and Obsahuje bibliografii