biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 50:245-250, 2006 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-006-0014-4

Leaf structural dynamics associated with adaptation of two Ebenus cretica ecotypes

T. Syros¹, G. Kofidis², A. S. Economou¹, A. M. Bosabalidis^1,*

¹ Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece

² Department of Botany, School of Biology, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece

Morphological and anatomical features of Ebenus cretica leaflet, such as lanceolate shape, reduced size, dense cover with non-glandular hairs, epidermis of small cells, compact mesophyll, amphipleurous presence of palisade parenchyma, thick cuticle, development of numerous mesophyll phenol-storing cells and the amphistomatic type, disclose the xeromorphic character of the plant. In the island of Crete two ecotypes of E. cretica, ecotype A and ecotype C, are greatly extended. In ecotype A leaflets, the above features are more prominent than in ecotype C. This fact accomplished by physiological data favours the suggestion that plants of ecotype A are better adapted to the xerothermic environment of the island of Crete. This may be the reason that ecotype A occupies the major portion of the island and is predominant in the western and central regions. The distinction of ecotypes A and C, by evaluating the strategies these plants used in order to better adapt and the characteristics of their inflorescences may be used as a criterion for the selection of the most appropriate ecotype for application in floriculture and ornamental horticulture.

Keywords: cuticle; epidermis; Fabaceae; floriculture; leaf anatomy; mesophyll; xeromorphic environment

Subjects: chlorophyll a,b; cuticle; Ebenus cretica; ecotypes; epidermis; gas exchange; leaf anatomy, morphology; stomatal density

Received: July 9, 2004; Accepted: April 27, 2005; Published: June 1, 2006  Show citation