Spatio-temporal variation in leaf morphofunctional attributes and relation to growth and survival of young woody plants

Abstract

Leaves present adjustments in response to reducing the availability of environmental resources, which may reflect in the plant development. The study investigated the interannual variation in the morphofunctional foliar attributes of seedlings and juveniles of Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemao and Cenostigma pyramidale (Tul.) Gagnom & G.P. Lewis, besides the survival time and growth rates of individuals from two forests of different ages. We analyzed the relationships of the leaf characteristics with plant growth rate and survival time. In two forests, young (24 years) and mature (> 55 years), from the Brazilian semiarid, data sampling of the specific leaf area, specific leaf mass, leaf water content, and mean number of leaves was conducted for 2 years; the growth rate in diameter and height was evaluated during the rainy season of 2016 and the survival time. Most leaf characteristics, growth, and survival rates presented higher values in the young forest, besides more relationships between the leaf attributes and the survival time, according to the species and ontogenetic stage.