Leaf surface response to abiotic stress factors in a beech stand in central Italy
1997
Paoletti, E. | La Scala, S. | Raddi, P. (Centro di Studio per la Patologia delle Specie Legnose Montane, Florence (Italy))
A comparison between healthy and damaged trees growing on the same site confirms that epicuticular wax erosion and stomatal damage are good monitoring markers even in a deciduous broad-leaf with a smooth and compact surface wax layer such as Fagus sylvatica L. Compared to healthy trees, the leaves of damaged ones had more epicuticular wax in June and less in September. Since the leaves of damaged trees had a higher specific weight, the best erosion indicator in beech trees was found to be the ratio of epicuticular wax weight to leaf dry weight. Erosion and epicuticular layer fusion contributed to damaging the stomata. The most severe stomatal damages observed were: collapse and depression of the guard cells, occlusion by fused wax or wax lumps, fusion or dismantling of the guard cells. No relationship between stomatal conductance and stomatal damage was observed. In any case, stomatal conductance proved of no use for any form of extensive monitoring since it is so dependent on meteorological conditions
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