Foliar plasticity in Schinus terebinthifolia (anacardiaceae), a tropical/subtropical species commonly used in revegetation programmes


Citation

Dias-Pereira, J. and Andrade, G. C. and de Araújo, H. H. and Sant'Anna-Santos, B. F. and Francino, D. M. T. and Azevedo, A. A. (2024) Foliar plasticity in Schinus terebinthifolia (anacardiaceae), a tropical/subtropical species commonly used in revegetation programmes. Journal of Tropical Forest Science (JTFS) (Malaysia), 36 (1). pp. 68-79. ISSN 0128-1283

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the influence of light on structural aspects of Schinus terebinthifolia sun and shade leaves. At the morphological level, leaf length, width, area and dry mass were measured. Anatomical analysis assessed the thickness and area of leaf blade and leaf tissues, histolocalised lipids and phenols, and calculated stomatal index. Sun leaves showed lower number of leaflets (22%) and lower leaf (50%) and leaflet area (30%). Petiole length and width were respectively 34 and 33% higher in shade leaves. Tissue proportion, stomatal index and stomatal density showed no variation between morphotypes. However, epidermal periclinal outer-wall thickness in sun leaflets was higher on both the adaxial (24%) and abaxial (27%) leaf surfaces, as was the total adaxial (11%) and abaxial (23%) epidermal thickness. Analogously, palisade and spongy parenchyma thicknesses were higher in sun leaflets (62 and 45%, respectively). Histochemical reaction for phenol detection was stronger in sun leaves. Schinus terebinthifolia showed high foliar phenotypic plasticity in response to different light conditions that occur even on a single-individual basis, across different crown regions.


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Abstract

The study aimed to assess the influence of light on structural aspects of Schinus terebinthifolia sun and shade leaves. At the morphological level, leaf length, width, area and dry mass were measured. Anatomical analysis assessed the thickness and area of leaf blade and leaf tissues, histolocalised lipids and phenols, and calculated stomatal index. Sun leaves showed lower number of leaflets (22%) and lower leaf (50%) and leaflet area (30%). Petiole length and width were respectively 34 and 33% higher in shade leaves. Tissue proportion, stomatal index and stomatal density showed no variation between morphotypes. However, epidermal periclinal outer-wall thickness in sun leaflets was higher on both the adaxial (24%) and abaxial (27%) leaf surfaces, as was the total adaxial (11%) and abaxial (23%) epidermal thickness. Analogously, palisade and spongy parenchyma thicknesses were higher in sun leaflets (62 and 45%, respectively). Histochemical reaction for phenol detection was stronger in sun leaves. Schinus terebinthifolia showed high foliar phenotypic plasticity in response to different light conditions that occur even on a single-individual basis, across different crown regions.

Additional Metadata

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Item Type: Article
AGROVOC Term: leaves
AGROVOC Term: lipids
AGROVOC Term: phenols
AGROVOC Term: stomata
AGROVOC Term: revegetation
AGROVOC Term: phenotypic plasticity
AGROVOC Term: light
AGROVOC Term: plant anatomy
Geographical Term: Brazil
Uncontrolled Keywords: Ecological plant anatomy, leaf micromorphometry, light acclimation, phenotypic plasticity, sun and shade leaves
Depositing User: Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited: 21 Apr 2026 07:10
Last Modified: 21 Apr 2026 07:10
URI: http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/2957

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