Relation of leaf micromorphology with photosynthesis and water efflux in some Indian mangroves

TLDR: In this tropical estuary high salinity prevails in soil and water, hence the dominating mangrove vegetation develops some morpho-anatomical adaptations to cope with such adverse ecology.

Abstract: Stomatal size and frequency, cuticle thickness and the amount of mesophyll tissues were measured in leaves of 14 mangrove species belonging to seven families of the Sundarbans vegetation. The rate of assimilation and water efflux were estimated in vitro. In this tropical estuary high salinity prevails in soil and water, hence the dominating mangrove vegetation develops some morpho-anatomical adaptations to cope with such adverse ecology. Some architectural parameters of leaves have a significant relation with carbon assimilation and water-use characteristics. In all the studied taxa, photosynthesis is positively correlated to stomatal frequency and the amount of mesophyll tissue, while an inverse relation exists with stomatal size. Similarly, transpiration and stomatal conductance directly correlate to the abundance of stomata, but reciprocate to their size. Cuticle thickness is inversely related to transpiration, but hardly any relation was noticed with the rate of photosynthesis and stomatal conductance. The amount of mesophyll tissue has a direct relation with carbon assimilation, while its effect upon transpiration and stomatal conductance seems to be insignificant.