Relationships between endophyte diversity and leaf optical properties

Arturo Sanchez-Azofeifa, Yumi Oki, G. Wilson Fernandes, Ronald Aaron Ball, John Gamon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

A single tropical plant species can harbour hundreds of endophyte species within its tissues. Beyond this, little is known about the relationship between endophyte colonization, leaf traits and spectral properties of leaves. We explore these relationships in Coccoloba cereifera, a plant well known for its symbiotic properties. Endophyte richness in C. cereifera was statistically correlated with leaf traits such as water content, the ratio of fresh weight/dry weight and polyphenol/leaf specific weight. Endophyte diversity was also related to spectral vegetation indices of chlorophyll content. The associations among endophyte diversity, leaf traits and spectral reflectance pose new questions and present new opportunities to better understand plant-fungal symbioses and related leaf optical properties.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)291-299
Number of pages9
JournalTrees - Structure and Function
Volume26
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Leaf optics
  • Photosynthesis
  • Plant-endophyte interaction
  • Rupestrian field
  • Spectral reflectance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Forestry
  • Physiology
  • Ecology
  • Plant Science

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