Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4380250 | Acta Ecologica Sinica | 2010 | 5 Pages |
Abstract
In order to explore the ecological adaptation in leaf microstructures of Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima in the lower reaches of Tarim River; we used scanning electron microscopy to observe epidermal, cuticular and cross-sectional structures of P. euphratica and T. ramosissima leaves. In addition, their cell submicroscopic structures were studied with transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that through long-term adaptation to the same environmental conditions, micro-structural of the leaves for the two species exhibit high degree of homoplasy: there is cavity between cuticle and epidermal, and cuticle bulges outwards to form processes mammillaris and epidermal hairs; stomata concaves; fence and vascular tissues are developed; both alisade cells and thin walled cells have chloroplast; vacuoles occupies large volume of the cell space; etc. These features help plants resist drought stress. The salt glands and salt crystallization of T. ramosissima reveals the strong ability of salt stress resistance, but its drought-resistance capacity is weaker than P. euphratica. The specific components of the various shapes of crystal structures in their leaves call for further study.
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Authors
Zhuang Li, Li Wei-hong, Yuan Fang, Gong Wei-chang, Tian Zhong-ping,