An evergreen neotropical savanna tree (Gochnatia polymorpha, Asteraceae) produces different dry- and wet-season leaf types
Davi R. Rossatto A B and Rosana M. Kolb AA Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Faculdade de Ciências e Letras, Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP, Avenida Dom Antonio 2100, 19806-900, Assis, SP, Brazil.
B Corresponding author. Present address: Laboratório de Fisiologia Vegetal, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Caixa Postal 04457, 70904-970, Brasília, DF, Brazil. Email: drrossatto@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Botany 57(5) 439-443 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT09045
Submitted: 26 February 2009 Accepted: 25 June 2009 Published: 14 September 2009
Abstract
Gochnatia polymorpha (Less.) Cabrera is a widespread tree species found in different physiognomies of neotropical savanna (cerrado) formations of south-eastern Brazil. The present study describes some leaf anatomical characteristics of this species as a function of the time of leaf flush, during dry or wet seasons. This species presents anatomical plasticity in the cuticle, palisade parenchyma and abaxial epidermis as well as in stomatal size and stomatal and trichome density, which are leaf structures linked with water-status control. Leaf structure changed to suit the particular environmental conditions during dry and wet seasons. The production of different wet- and dry-season leaf types in G. polymorpha could be a response to drought and an adaptation to environmental constraints in the cerrado.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr Fabian Scholz and Dr Augusto C. Franco for revision, critical suggestions and valuable help with this manuscript, two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and Dr Erika Geiger for the text revision and comments.
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