Stomatal distribution and conductance in salt marsh and freshwater Spartina

Scanning electron micrographs showing abaxial surfaces of Spartina leaves. Micrographs by Claudia M. Dasilva-Carvalho (Spartina patens) and Jessica L. Casey (Spartina pectinata). LC, long cell; S, stomata; SC, short cell; SG, salt gland. Bars, 150 µm. – http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/store/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02903.x/asset/image_n/NPH_2903_f4.gif?v=1&t=irbzc59g&s=7309e0a91201d1be91a4837967cd87d06afc571e

Diversity in leaf anatomy, and stomatal distribution and conductance, between salt marsh and freshwater species in the C4 genus Spartina (Poaceae)

by Maricle B. R., Koteyeva N. K., Voznesenskaya E. V., Thomasson J. R., Edwards G. E. (2009)

Brian R. Maricle, Nuria K. Koteyeva, Elena V. Voznesenskaya, Joseph R. Thomasson, Gerald E. Edwards

in New Phytologist 184: 216–233. – DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02903.x – 

Abstract, Full Article (HTML), PDF(5534K), References, Web of Science®  

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02903.x/full

Summary

• • Leaf anatomy, stomatal density, and leaf conductance were studied in 10 species of Spartina (Poaceae) from low versus high salt marsh, and freshwater habitats.
• • Internal structure, external morphology, cuticle structure, and stomatal densities were studied with light and electron microscopy. Functional significance of leaf structure was examined by measures of CO₂ uptake and stomatal distributions.
• • All species have Kranz anatomy and C₄δ¹³C values. Freshwater species have thin leaves with small ridges on adaxial sides and stomata on both adaxial and abaxial sides. By contrast, salt marsh species have thick leaves with very pronounced ridges on the adaxial side and stomata located almost exclusively on adaxial leaf surfaces. Salt marsh species also have a thicker cuticle on the abaxial than on the adaxial side of leaves, and CO₂ uptake during photosynthesis is restricted to the adaxial leaf surface.
• • Salt marsh species are adapted to controlling water loss by having stomata in leaf furrows on the adaxial side, which increases the boundary layer, and by having large leaf ridges that fit together as the leaf rolls during water stress. Differences in structural–functional features of photosynthesis in Spartina species are suggested to be related to adaptations to saline environments.