Photosynthetica 2014, 52(3):386-396 | DOI: 10.1007/s11099-014-0042-9

Leaf traits variation in Sesleria nitida growing at different altitudes in the Central Apennines

L. Gratani1,*, M. F. Crescente1, V. D'Amato1, C. Ricotta1, A. R. Frattaroli2, G. Puglielli1
1 Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
2 Department of Life Earth and Environmental Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy

Global climate change may act as a potent agent of natural selection within species with Mediterranean mountain ecosystems being particularly vulnerable. The aim of this research was to analyze whether the phenotypic plasticity of Sesleria nitida Ten. could be indicative of its future adaptive capability to global warming. Morphological, anatomical, and physiological leaf traits of two populations of S. nitida growing at different altitudes on Mount Terminillo (Italy) were analyzed. The results showed that leaf mass per unit leaf area, leaf tissue density, and total leaf thickness were 19, 3, and 31% higher in leaves from the population growing at 1,895 m a.s.l. (B site) than in leaves from the population growing at 1,100 m a.s.l. (A site), respectively. Net photosynthetic rate (P N) and respiration rate (R D) peaked in June in both A and B leaves [9.4 ± 1.3 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1 and 2.9 ± 0.9 μmol(CO2) m-2 s-1, respectively] when mean air temperature was 16 ± 2°C. R D/P N was higher in B than in A leaves (0.35 ± 0.07 and 0.21 ± 0.03, respectively, mean of the study period). The mean plasticity index (PI = 0.24, mean of morphological, anatomical, and physiological leaf traits) reflected S. nitida adaptability to the environmental stress conditions at different altitudes on Mount Terminillo. Moreover, the leaf key traits of the two populations can be used to monitor wild populations over a long term in response to global change.

Additional key words: adaptation; leaf anatomy; photosynthesis; respiration

Received: July 5, 2013; Accepted: December 10, 2013; Published: September 1, 2014  Show citation

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Gratani, L., Crescente, M.F., D'Amato, V., Ricotta, C., Frattaroli, A.R., & Puglielli, G. (2014). Leaf traits variation in Sesleria nitida growing at different altitudes in the Central Apennines. Photosynthetica, 52(3), 386-396. doi: 10.1007/s11099-014-0042-9
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