Relationship Between Leaf Venation And Environment In Querecus Acutissima And Quercus Variabilis

Quercus acutissima and Q.variabilis are two important forest species in China.In this study,to better understand the correlation between vein structure and environmental adaptation,LEAF GUI was used to investigate the venation in Quercus species distributed naturally in north china.The conclusions are as follows:(1)The leaf morphological traits of Q.acutissima were closely correlated with mean annual temperature.The leaf area and perimeter of Q.acutissima were positively related with mean annual temperature;both leaf area and perimeter were enhanced as mean annual temperature increased,implying that temperature-dependent changes in leaf area and perimeter may interact at some point.(2)There was a strong correlation between the leaf vein structure of Q.acutissima and the mean annual temperature.The distance between the veins of Q.acutissima leaves increased with the rise of mean annual temperature.(3)Negative correlation between the leaf vein structure of Q.acutissima and the mean annual precipitation was observed.The number of leaf areole and nodes,and the density of leaf veins decreased with the increase in mean annual precipitation,indicating that leaf venation was sensitive to leaf mean annual precipitation..(4)There was a strong correlation between the leaf morphological traits of Q.variabilis and the mean annual temperature.As in Q.acutissima,the leaf area and perimeter of Q.variabilis increased with rising mean annual temperature.Further analysis showed that the change in leaf area was more sensitive to annual mean temperature in Q.acutissima,while the change in leaf perimeter was more sensitive to annual mean temperature in Q.variabilis.(5)As in Q.acutissima,close correlation between the vein structure of Q.variabilis and the mean annual temperature was also found in this study.Comparative analysis between the vein distance of two species and the mean annual temperature,showed similar changes in the vein structure in response to mean annual temperature(6)There was a strong correlation between the vein structure of the Q.variabilis and the mean annual precipitation.The areole number of Q.variabilis had positive correlation with mean annual temperature.However,the number of nodes,and leaf vein density in Q.variabilis leaves had negative correlation with mean annual precipitation.(7)In summary,the leaf vein structures in Q.acutissima and Q.variabilis change significantly and similarly in response to climate changes,demonstrating high ecological adaptability to fluctuating environment.