Ecological adaptation characteristics of Populus euphraticaeuphratica and Tamarix ramosissima leaf microstructures in the lower reaches of Tarim River

Abstract

In order to explore the ecological adaptation in leaf microstructures of Populus euphratica and Tamarix ramosissima in the lower reaches of Tarim River; we used scanning electron microscopy to observe epidermal, cuticular and cross-sectional structures of P. euphratica and T. ramosissima leaves. In addition, their cell submicroscopic structures were studied with transmission electron microscopy. The results revealed that through long-term adaptation to the same environmental conditions, micro-structural of the leaves for the two species exhibit high degree of homoplasy: there is cavity between cuticle and epidermal, and cuticle bulges outwards to form processes mammillaris and epidermal hairs; stomata concaves; fence and vascular tissues are developed; both alisade cells and thin walled cells have chloroplast; vacuoles occupies large volume of the cell space; etc. These features help plants resist drought stress. The salt glands and salt crystallization of T. ramosissima reveals the strong ability of salt stress resistance, but its drought-resistance capacity is weaker than P. euphratica. The specific components of the various shapes of crystal structures in their leaves call for further study.