Journal article
Changes in stomatal frequency, stomatal conductance and cuticle thickness during leaf expansion in the broad-leaved evergreen species, Eucalyptus regnans
JR England, PM Attiwill
Trees Structure and Function | SPRINGER HEIDELBERG | Published : 2011
Abstract
Aspects of leaf anatomical and physiological development were investigated in the broad-leaved evergreen species, Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell. Newly emergent leaves were tagged in the field and measured for stomatal conductance while a subset was collected every 14 days for the measurement of stomata and cuticle over a 113-day period. Cuticle thickness increased during leaf expansion, the increase following a sigmoid curve. Stomatal frequency (no. mm-2) decreased from 56 to 113 days after leaf emergence. The frequency of both immature and intermediate developmental stages of stomata also decreased over this time, but the total number of stomata per leaf remained relatively constant. Stomatal..
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Funding Acknowledgements
The study was supported through an Australian Postgraduate Award (J.R.E.), and an Australian Research Council grant (P.M.A.). The authors would like to thank Shaun Cunningham, Cathryn England, Lucy O'Hagan, Geoff Barry, Nick Williams and Peter Mahoney for assistance with field sampling/measurement and Bruce Abaloz for advice on preparation of specimens for cryo-sectioning. We also thank Shaun Cunningham for helping revise the manuscript.