Variation in leaf anatomy, vascular traits and nanomechanical cell-wall properties among European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances

Abstract

& Key message Structural and ultrastructural traits of leaf xylem vary among European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) provenances in relation to climate. High tracheary element lumen area was observed in central Europe and decreased towards the range margins, while tracheary element density displayed opposite trend. Leaf anatomy and xylem cell-wall deformation were associated with climate continentality at the sites of origin. & Context Understanding structural and physiological properties of tree populations adapted to local climate in response to climate may be of direct relevance for forestry. & Aims Identifying patterns of heritable geographical variation and phenotypic associations of leaf-anatomical, vascular and cellwall properties in European beech, a dominant tree species of European forests. & Methods Fifteen beech populations planted in a common-garden test were studied employing gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements as well as light and atomic force microscopies of leaf samples. & Results Nanomechanical properties of leaf-xylem cell walls did not show a clear geographical trend, but were correlated with the temperature seasonality of the site of origin. Populations from eastern Germany, northern Poland and the Czech Republic showed lower tracheary element lumen area and higher tracheary element density compared with the other populations, while xylem conductivity negatively correlated with latitude. Thickness of leaf parenchyma layers increased towards the East and, consequently, correlated with temperature indicators of climate continentality. No correlation between structural and physiological traits was observed.

Comparative anatomy of leaf petioles in temperate trees and shrubs: the role of plant size, environment and phylogeny

“…While vessels with bigger diameter are found in longer petioles (with larger leaves), narrower vessels are developed on shorter petioles (with smaller leaves). Leaf vascular properties are commonly known to be strongly determined by leaf morphology (Salisbury, 1913;Coomes et al, 2008) but consistent responses are also connected with climatic variables (Sellin and Kupper, 2007;Scoffoni et al, 2008;Sack, 2012;Sanginés de Cárcer et al, 2017;Hacke et al 2017;Kardošová et al, 2020). Even though we observed that xylem vessels tend to enlarge with higher levels of precipitation and temperature, the strongest relationship was still found with leaf size.…”

Interannual adjustments in stomatal and leaf morphological traits of European beech (Fagus sylvaticaL.) demonstrate its climate change acclimation potential

“…Various studies have reported that the stress tolerance of beech populations of different origin is affected by adaptation when grown under the same conditions in provenance trials (Kurjak et al 2019;Kardošová et al 2020;Wang et al 2021). Despite their drought vulnerability, beech trees possess high acclimation and post-stress recovery potential (Gebauer et al 2020).…”

Comparative anatomy of leaf petioles in temperate trees and shrubs

“…While vessels with bigger diameter are found in longer petioles (with larger leaves), narrower vessels are developed on shorter petioles (with smaller leaves). Indeed it is known that leaf vascular properties are strongly determined by leaf morphology but consistent responses are also connected with climatic variables (Sellin and Kupper 2007;Scoffoni et al 2008, Sanginés de Cárcer et al 2017, Kardošová et al 2020. Even though we observed that xylem vessels tend to enlarge with higher levels of precipitation and temperature, the strongest relationship was still found with leaf size.…”