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Leaf conductance of primary and mature leaves ofPinus roxburghii: A comparison

  • Original Articles
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Journal of Forest Research

Abstract

We used a null-balance porometer to measure leaf conductance of mature and primary leaves of natural seedlings, saplings, and trees ofPinus roxburghii (chir) during autumn at four sites at 1,320–1,930 m elevation in the central Himalaya of India. Our hypothesis that primary leaves had higher leaf conductance than mature leaves (needles in fascicles), based on measurements in other pines, was rejected. Comparisons on the same saplings and seedlings showed lower leaf conductance for primary leaves than for mature leaves. Primary leaves on seedlings and saplings also did not consistently have higher leaf conductance than mature leaves on near-by trees. Mature leaves on seedlings, however, did often have higher conductance than mature leaves on nearby trees. Mean values for leaf conductance (mmol m−2 s−1, based on total leaf surface area) ranged from 42–82 for mature leaves on trees, 60–121 for mature leaves on seedlings, and 28–67 for primary leaves on seedlings. Compared to published values for other pine species, conductance of mature leaves ofP. roxburghii is relatively low.

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Author notes

  1. Satish C. Garkoti

    Present address: Department of Ecology, Assam University, Silchar, Assam, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, 97331-2902, Corvallis, OR, USA

    Donald B. Zobel

  2. Botany Department, Kumaun University, 263 002, Naini Tal, India

    Satish C. Garkoti & Surendra P. Singh

Authors
  1. Donald B. Zobel
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  2. Satish C. Garkoti
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  3. Surendra P. Singh
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Additional information

Funding for this study was provided by grants from the United States National Science Foundation, INT-9312052 and INT-9404043. We appreciate the review of an early draft by Barbara Bond.

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Zobel, D.B., Garkoti, S.C. & Singh, S.P. Leaf conductance of primary and mature leaves ofPinus roxburghii: A comparison. J For Res 6, 1–5 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02762715

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02762715

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