Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol 49, 79-87, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
Contrasting leaf development within the genus Syzgium
G Woodall, I Dodd and G Stewart
Botany Department, The University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Queensland, Australia; Corresponding author e-mail: G.Woodall@botany.uq.edu.au
Leaf developmental patterns were characterized in four rainforest tree
species of Syzgium. Leaf optical properties, pigment
changes, expansion characteristics, stomatal development, and
photosynthetic rates were studied. In both S.
luehmannii and S. wilsonii photosynthetic
development was delayed until after full leaf expansion. Rates of O2
evolution were negative during expansion of S.
luehmannii and S. wilsonii leaves and
stomatal conductance was 10-20 mmol m-2
s-1 lower than for corresponding leaves of
S. moorei. Stomatal conductance showed that the
development of functional stomata was delayed until after full leaf
expansion in S. luehmannii and S.
wilsonii, however, low stomatal conductance was not responsible
for the lack of photosynthetic potential during leaf expansion in these
species. Leaves of S. luehmannii and S.
wilsonii required less than 10 d for full leaf expansion and
contained anthocyanin during expansion. In contrast, leaves of S.
moorei and S. corynanthum expanded slowly
(20-40 d required for full leaf expansion), exhibited positive rates of O2
evolution and did not accumulate anthocyanin. In S.
luehmannii and S. wilsonii anthocyanin was
located in the vacuole of distinct cell layers just below the upper
epidermis and the possible functions of anthocyanin accumulation are
discussed. This is the first report where such variation in leaf
development has been characterized in the one genus.Key
words: Anthocyanin, leaf expansion, photosynthetic development,
delayed leaf greening, stomatal development.
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