Stomatal frequency and gas exchange differs in two blechnum species (pteridophyta, blechnaceae) with contrasting ecological breadth

Translated title of the contribution: Stomatal frequency and gas exchange differs in two blechnum species (pteridophyta, blechnaceae) with contrasting ecological breadth

Cristian Atala, Alfredo Saldaña, Eduardo Navarrete

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

In Chilean temperate forest, the fern Blechnum chilense has a wide ecological breath, but occur mainly in full sun habitats, while Blechnum mochaenum is restricted only to shady sites. We evaluated if the species with different ecological breath behave similarly in their anatomical and physiological traits. Maximal photosynthetic rate (Amax), Stomatal conductance (gs), evapotranspiration (E), and SLA (specific leaf area) were measured in situ in 20 individuals of each fern species. Additionally, we estimated the stomatal density (SD), stomatal index (SI), and stomatal size in leaves of each sampled individual. B. mochaenum, the shade-tolerant species, had lower SD, SI, A, and E, and higher stomatal size and SLA than B. chilense. Higher stomatal frequency could result in greater gas exchange in open sites for B. chilense. The leaf physiology of these fern species seems to depend partially on their stomatal traits.

Translated title of the contributionStomatal frequency and gas exchange differs in two blechnum species (pteridophyta, blechnaceae) with contrasting ecological breadth
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-166
Number of pages6
JournalGayana - Botanica
Volume69
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blechnum
  • Evergreen temperate forest
  • Gas exchange
  • Stomatal density
  • Stomatal index
  • Stomatal size

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