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Physiological and morphological leaf trait variations in two Apennine plant species in response to different altitudes

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Photosynthetica

Abstract

Morphological and physiological traits of Crepis pygmaea L. subsp. pygmaea and Isatis apennina Ten. ex Grande growing at different altitudes in the Gran Sasso Massif (Abruzzo, Italy) were analyzed. The two populations of C. pygmaea and I. apennina growing at the highest altitude (C p2 and I p2 at 2,310 m a.s.l. and 2,350 m a.s.l., respectively) had a lower leaf mass area (LMA) than the two populations growing at the lowest altitude (C p1 and I p1 at 2,250 m a.s.l. and 2,310 m a.s.l., respectively). Leaf tissue density (LTD) had the same LMA trend, decreasing 23 and 10% in C. pygmaea and I. apennina, respectively, from the highest to the lowest altitude. C. pygmaea and I. apennina had the highest photosynthetic rates (P N) in July decreasing on an average 17 and 30%, respectively, in August and 50 and 38%, respectively, in September. Leaf respiration (R) in I p1 and I p2 had the same trend as C p1 and C p2, showing the highest rates in September. Global warming could drive C. pygmaea and I. apennina toward higher altitudes in the Gran Sasso Massif. Nevertheless, C. pygmaea with the higher plasticity index (PI) both at physiological and at morphological levels (0.50 and 0.35, respectively) might have a competitive advantage over I. apennina over the long term.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll content

DM:

leaf dry mass

E :

transpiration rate

g s :

stomatal conductance

H:

plant height

L:

leaf thickness

LA:

leaf area

LMA:

leaf mass per unit of leaf area

LTD:

leaf tissue density

P g :

gross photosynthetic rate

PI:

plasticity index

P N :

net photosynthetic rate

PAR:

photosynthetically active radiation

PCA:

Principal component analysis

R :

leaf respiration rate

RH:

relative air humidity

RWCpd :

predawn relative leaf water content

T a :

air temperature

TLA:

total leaf area per plants

WUE:

instantaneous water-use efficiency

Ψpd :

predawn leaf water potential

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P. le A. Moro, 5 00185, Rome, Italy

    L. Gratani, R. Catoni & L. Varone

  2. Department of Environmental Science, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio loc. Coppito, 67100, L’Aquila, Italy

    G. Pirone & A. R. Frattaroli

Authors
  1. L. Gratani
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  2. R. Catoni
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  3. G. Pirone
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  4. A. R. Frattaroli
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  5. L. Varone
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Correspondence to L. Gratani.

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Gratani, L., Catoni, R., Pirone, G. et al. Physiological and morphological leaf trait variations in two Apennine plant species in response to different altitudes. Photosynthetica 50, 15–23 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-012-0006-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-012-0006-x

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