Premium
ANATOMICAL CHANGES DURING LEAF ONTOGENY IN POPULUS DELTOIDES
Author(s) -
Isebrands J. G.,
Larson Philip R.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1973.tb10217.x
Subject(s) - biology , lamina , ontogeny , botany , anatomy , limiting , mechanical engineering , genetics , engineering
The leaf plastochron index (LPI) was used to interpret the anatomical changes during leaf ontogeny in the developing leaf zone of young cottonwood trees and to relate leaf anatomical structure to physiological function. The lamina tip matured precociously with respect to both structure and function. Below the lamina tip the intercellular spaces, stomates, and minor veins matured basipetally, while the major veins developed acropetally. Ontogenetically, maturation progressed from LPI –1.0, which was anatomically immature except for its lamina tip, to the first fully expanded leaf at LPI 6.0, which was anatomically mature. Physiological maturity also occurred at LPI 6.0, thus signifying a transition with respect to both structure and function. By evaluating the anatomical observations in conjunction with physiological data collected at comparable LPI's in other experiments, it could be demonstrated that anatomical development was a limiting factor in photosynthesis and translocation of assimilates.