Chin J Plant Ecol ›› 2016, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (12): 1289-1297.DOI: 10.17521/cjpe.2016.0215

• Research Articles • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Correlation analysis between vein density and stomatal traits of Robinia pseudoacacia in different aspects of Beishan Mountain in Lanzhou

Bei-Bei DUAN, Cheng-Zhang ZHAO*, Ting XU, Hui-Ling ZHENG, Wei FENG, Ling HAN   

  1. Research Center of Wetland Resources Protection and Industrial Development Engineering of Gansu Province, College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
  • Online:2016-12-10 Published:2016-12-30
  • Contact: Cheng-Zhang ZHAO

Abstract: AimsThe relationship between leaf venation and stomatal traits reflects leaf water potential of plants, and is fundamental to probe the relationship between physiological functions and water use. Our objective was to study the changes in the relationship between venation density and stomatal traits (stomatal density and stomatal length) in Robinia pseudoacacia with the changes in slope aspects.MethodsIn Beishan Mountain of Lanzhou in Gansu Province, China, 20 transects were laid out horizontally along the contour at intervals of 50 m from an elevation of 1550-1750 m in four different slope aspects, and 12 plots were set up along each transect at intervals of 5 m. A handed GPS (global positioning system) was used to measure latitude, longitude and altitude at each plot. Community characteristics, including crown density, tree height and soil moisture, were investigated. Robinia pseudoacacia within all plots were sampled and used for measurements of individual leaf area, venation density, stomatal density and stomatal length in laboratory in each plot. The 240 plots were categorized into groups of southern, eastern, western and northern aspects, and the standardized major axis (SMA) estimation method was then used to examine the relationship between the stomatal density, stomatal length and vein density.Important findings The results showed that with a change of the aspect from south to east, west, and north, the crown density, average tree height and soil moisture of the plant community increased, while leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), vein density and stomatal density decreased. In addition, stomatal length and individual leaf area increased. Venation density of each aspect of R. pseudoacacia was positively correlated with stomatal density (p < 0.05) and negatively with stomatal length (p < 0.05). These correlations were strongest in south slope (p < 0.01).

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Key words: Robinia pseudoacacia, vein density, stomatal density, stomatal length, slope