Variation in baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) leaf morphology and its relation to drought tolerance
Variation in baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) leaf morphology and its relation to drought tolerance
The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) is a valued savannah tree. Although variation in fruit characteristics of this tree have been studied, no studies to our knowledge have been carried out on variation of leaf morphology which can be linked to drought adaptation mechanisms. Accessions of baobab from different ecosystems in Benin were characterised for leaf size and thickness, stomata size and density on the abaxial surface of leaves. Significant variation was found in leaf size and stomata characteristics. Trees from northern study sites had higher stomata density and smaller guard cell length than those from southern study sites. The results show that pruning has a significant effect on leaf size, but not on stomatal characteristics. Trees from northern study sites showed more xerophytic characteristics than those from the south. It seems that genetic and physiological effects may play a role in baobab drought adaptation.
adansonia digitata, drought, leaf morphology, stomatal density, stomatal size
17-25
Cuni Sanchez, A.
1ee4cc78-654e-41ed-8084-3a29df8868a1
Haq, N.
d59a37ec-54c6-4267-be57-de498ae37c0b
Assogbadjo, A.E.
fdcfcc30-e070-4f31-9055-f7f031befe39
January 2010
Cuni Sanchez, A.
1ee4cc78-654e-41ed-8084-3a29df8868a1
Haq, N.
d59a37ec-54c6-4267-be57-de498ae37c0b
Assogbadjo, A.E.
fdcfcc30-e070-4f31-9055-f7f031befe39
Cuni Sanchez, A., Haq, N. and Assogbadjo, A.E.
(2010)
Variation in baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) leaf morphology and its relation to drought tolerance.
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 57 (1), .
Abstract
The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata L.) is a valued savannah tree. Although variation in fruit characteristics of this tree have been studied, no studies to our knowledge have been carried out on variation of leaf morphology which can be linked to drought adaptation mechanisms. Accessions of baobab from different ecosystems in Benin were characterised for leaf size and thickness, stomata size and density on the abaxial surface of leaves. Significant variation was found in leaf size and stomata characteristics. Trees from northern study sites had higher stomata density and smaller guard cell length than those from southern study sites. The results show that pruning has a significant effect on leaf size, but not on stomatal characteristics. Trees from northern study sites showed more xerophytic characteristics than those from the south. It seems that genetic and physiological effects may play a role in baobab drought adaptation.
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Published date: January 2010
Keywords:
adansonia digitata, drought, leaf morphology, stomatal density, stomatal size
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Local EPrints ID: 73975
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73975
ISSN: 0925-9864
PURE UUID: ba28c289-cb02-4420-888b-15a3a47a5188
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Date deposited: 11 Mar 2010
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 08:33
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Author:
A. Cuni Sanchez
Author:
A.E. Assogbadjo
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