Shifting from acquisitive to conservative: the effects of Phoradendron affine (Santalaceae) infection in leaf morpho-physiological traits of a Neotropical tree species
Marina Corrêa Scalon A , Sabrina Alves dos Reis B and Davi Rodrigo Rossatto B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Departamento de Ecologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Caixa Postal 04457, 70904-970, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
B Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donatto Castellane S/N, Vila Industrial, 14884-900, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.
C Corresponding author. Email: drrossatto@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Botany 65(1) 31-37 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16177
Submitted: 1 September 2016 Accepted: 24 November 2016 Published: 10 January 2017
Abstract
Mistletoes are parasitic plants that penetrate the host branches through a modified root and connect to their xylem to acquire nutrients and water. Under mistletoe infection, resources that would otherwise be used by the host are stolen by the parasite. Our aim was to compare leaf morpho-physiological traits between healthy uninfected branches and mistletoe-infected branches of a Neotropical tree species (Handroanthus chrysotrichus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos – Bignoniaceae). We also investigated differences between mistletoe and host leaf traits. Morphological (petiole length and thickness, leaf area and thickness, and specific leaf area) and physiological leaf traits (pre-dawn and midday water potential) were measured in 10 individuals infected with the mistletoe Phoradendron affine (Pohl ex DC.) Engl. & K.Krause (Santalaceae). Mistletoes showed smaller and thicker leaves with lower pre-dawn and midday water potential, suggesting that mistletoes are more profligate water users than the host. Host leaves from infected branches were scleromorphic and showed stronger water-use control (less negative water potential) than host leaves from uninfected branches. Our results indicated that leaves from infected branches shifted to a more conservative resource-use strategy as a response to a water and nutrient imbalance caused by mistletoe infection.
Additional keywords: hemiparasite, leaf morphology, leaf traits, leaf water potential, resource use.
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