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Evidence contrary to the existence of storage lipid in leaves of plants inhabiting cold climates
Author(s) -
HETHERINGTON ALISTAIR M.,
HUNTER M. IAN S.,
CRAWFORD ROBERT M. M.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
plant, cell and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.646
H-Index - 200
eISSN - 1365-3040
pISSN - 0140-7791
DOI - 10.1111/1365-3040.ep11614677
Subject(s) - evergreen , cuticle (hair) , botany , biology , genetics
In a study of the lipid composition of the upland Empetrum nigrum subspp. hermaphroditum and Empetrum nigrum subspp. nigrum with a lowland distribution, no evidence was found to support the suggestion that lipids (triacylglycerols) play a major energy storage role in the leaves of alpine species. On a quantitative basis the triacylglycerols constituted less than 5% of the total lipid in both species and the lowland species possessed the higher levels of total lipid, neutral lipid and triacylglycerols. It is suggested that the presence of a well‐developed waxy cuticle might account for the high total lipid levels encountered in dwarf evergreen shrubs.