Abstract

MELO-CRUZ, Omar; MARTINEZ-BUSTAMANTE, Enrique  and  CORREA-LONDONO, Guillermo. Foliar morphometric indicators for early detection of water stress in Gmelina arborea Roxb. in agroforestry systems of Santafé de Antioquia. Colomb. for. [online]. 2012, vol.15, n.2, pp.215-226. ISSN 0120-0739.

Leaf asymmetry was assessed in individuals of Gmelina arborea Roxb. growing under different soil water conditions in a dry forest agroforestry system (AFS), in Santafé de Antioquia. Leaf asymmetry was correlated with additional morphometric parameters, such as angle of insertion of the petiole in the leaf in mature individuals and the ratio of the number of teeth on the edge of the blade in juvenile leaves to propose new indicators of early stage stress. The models generated had R² values of above 75 %, which support their use in identifying developmental instability as an early indicator of water stress. Similarly, leaf diversity was assessed between the two phenotypes of leaves (ML and JL), with conventional morphometric variables (length of the midrib, leaf perimeter, specific leaf area and dry matter), because they are characters related to leaf form and function. There were marked differences in form and behavior between the two types of leaf indicating a further source of instability evident from leaf ontogeny. The results of this work will allow the optimization of management strategies of G. arborea in the AFS as an early indicator of water stress.

Keywords : leaf asymmetry; tropical dry forest; leaf phenotype; developmental instability.

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