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Changes in stomatal frequency, stomatal conductance and cuticle thickness during leaf expansion in the broad-leaved evergreen species, Eucalyptus regnans

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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 conductance (g s) of young expanding leaves increased during expansion, and was significantly linearly correlated with stomatal frequency (excluding immature stomata), and with cuticle thickness. The progressive increase in g s in young developing leaves was contrary to the observed changes in structural characteristics (increased cuticle thickness and decreased stomatal frequency). This increase in g s with development may be related to the progressive increase in number of mature stomata with larger apertures and, therefore, a higher total pore area in fully expanded leaves.

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Acknowledgments

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.

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  1. Jacqueline R. England

    Present address: CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Jacqueline R. England & Peter M. Attiwill

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  1. Jacqueline R. England
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  2. Peter M. Attiwill
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Correspondence to Jacqueline R. England.

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Communicated by M. Shane.

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England, J.R., Attiwill, P.M. Changes in stomatal frequency, stomatal conductance and cuticle thickness during leaf expansion in the broad-leaved evergreen species, Eucalyptus regnans . Trees 25, 987–996 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0573-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0573-7

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