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Relations between foliar anatomy, gas exchange and growth in juveniles of four forest species

Abstract:

The aim of the study was to compare anatomical structure of the leaves and ecophysiological traits of the species Cordia thai-siana (Boraginaceae), Cedrela odorata, Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae) and Tabebuia rosea (Bignoniaceae) cultivated in the South of the Maracaibo Lake, Venezuela. Transverse leaf sections were prepared and stained, and gas exchange (CO2 and H 2O) and growth were measured. All the species had hypostomatics leaves with monostratified epidermis at both surfaces, bifacial mesophyll moderately lax spongy parenchyma, and anomocytic stomata. Sig-nificant differences were found for the number of stomata/mm2 and leaf thickness, as well as palisade, spongy parenchyma and epidermis thicknesses. The gas exchange parameters showed that C. odorata has the highest photosynthetic rate (A) and C. thai-siana the lowest rate. The latter species presented better yields, with higher diametrical and length growth, being thus recommended for agroforestry plantations in the studied site.