LEAF MICROMORPHOLOGY OF SEA CLIFF AND INLAND PLANTS OF AGROSTIS STOLONIFERA L. DACTYLIS GLOMERATA L. AND HOLCUS LANATUS L.

Abstract

SUMMARYScanning electron microscope examination of the morphology of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces of salt spray-tolerant and normal plants of Agrostis stolonifera L., Dactylis glomerata L. and Holcus lanatus L. was carried out. Differences were found in degree and types of waxiness of epidermal cells, number and size of macro-hairs and prickles, epidermal cell lengths and extent to which stomata were sunken. These differences were consistent with a reduction of the wettability, and hence salt spray damage, to adaxial leaf surfaces. Abaxial leaf surface differences were much less pronounced.

Leaf gas films contribute to rice (Oryza sativa) submergence tolerance during saline floods

“…Leaf hydrophobicity has previously been suggested as an adaptation to prevent adverse effects of salt spray on leaves of some coastal plants (Ahmad & Wainwright ; McNeilly et al . ). Variation in leaf wettability and leaf Na + retention (upon spraying with or immersion into water containing 500 m m NaCl) was linked to distributions of three Agrostis stolinefera ecotypes growing in sheltered inland habitats, seawater spray‐zone or salt marshes (Ahmad & Wainwright ).…”