中华水韭残存居群的数量性状分化和地方适应性及其对保育遗传复壮策略的提示

 研究残存居群的数量性状分化及其地方适应性有助于了解不同居群对环境的适应性并制定相应的保育策略。本研究采用同园实验,利用随机区 组设计,对中华水韭(Isoetes s inensis)3个居群的9种优势基因型的数量性状进行巢式方差分析,并采用Bayesian方法计算等位酶（F_ST）和 数量性状（Q_ST）的居群分化值。结果表明,在测量的14个数量性状中,有10个性状在居群间有显著性差异,仅有3个性状在居群内有显著性差 异;多重比较表明其中5个性状的平均值均以松阳居群最高,休宁居群最低;建德居群的大孢子囊的性状和植株高度的平均值最高,休宁居群最 低;推测这可能是与奠基者效应、物种间竞争及中华水韭在自然生境下形成的营养生长和生殖生长之间的权衡有关。对居群数量性状分化的QST 值和等位酶分化的FST值分析比较发现,在假设为自交系时有8个性状的Q_ST值均大于F_ST值,表明存在明显的地方适应性,居群间个体的混合存 在潜在的远交衰退的风险,所以不宜采用居群间相互移植个体的方法来进行中华水韭居群的遗传复壮。对休宁和松阳两个居群的保育应采用提 高居群内基因流和改善生境环境的方法,促进居群内的遗传复壮;对建德居群应尽量减少人为干扰,宜建立特定生境的保护小区。     

濒危植物黄梅秤锤树野生与迁地保护种群的果实性状比较

黄梅秤锤树(Sinojackia huangmeiensis J.W.GeX.H.Yao)是我国120个极小种群野生植物之一。本研究运用独立样本t检验和贝叶斯方差分析比较黄梅秤锤树仅存的1个迁地保护种群和1个野生种群的环境条件、果实形态性状和果实元素含量。结果显示,迁地保护种群和野生种群同处于亚热带地区,年均温和年降水量基本一致。迁地保护种群的果实长度、宽度和长宽比均显著大于野生种群;2个种群在果实重量上呈现相同的趋势,但差异不显著。迁地保护种群在果实形态性状方面,种内变异程度不低于野生种群;土壤和果实中绝大多数元素(Ni元素除外)的含量在2个种群间的变化规律不一致。研究结果表明该物种的迁地保护基本成功,但存在迁地保护种群较小的问题。     

基于灰色关联分析方法评价13种野生兜兰的迁地保护适应性

由于过度收集和对原生境地的破坏,我国野生兜兰已濒临灭绝,对其进行迁地保护十分必要。通过对引种的13种40份野生兜兰资源进行迁地栽培,并观测兜兰种质在迁移地的各种生长性状指标等,本研究利用灰色关联分析方法评价13种兜兰的迁地适应性,分析影响其迁地保护的关键因素。结果表明:(1)带叶兜兰、同色兜兰、长瓣兜兰、文山兜兰适应性较强,与理想种的关联度均在0.8以上;巨瓣兜兰、白花兜兰、小叶兜兰、紫纹兜兰、紫毛兜兰、硬叶兜兰适应性一般,与理想种的关联度在0.7~0.8之间;麻栗坡兜兰、杏黄兜兰、红旗兜兰适应性较差,与理想种的关联度均在0.6以下;(2)不同兜兰种类、同一种类不同产地兜兰种质的迁地生长适应性不同,来源地和栽培温度可能是影响其迁地保护的关键因子。     

不同居群山桐子果实表型性状变异及与环境因子的关系

以国内14个山桐子居群为研究对象,采用方差分析、相关性分析、聚类分析和主成分分析等方法,探究山桐子果实表型性状变异及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明：(1)山桐子的9个果实表型性状在居群间和居群内均有广泛变异,居群间各表型性状的变异系数为6.47%—32.51%,居群内各表型性状的变异系数为4.69%—35.21%。单串果穗重和单串果实重的变异系数较大,单果横径、单果纵径及单果重的变异系数均较小。河南农业大学林木种苗繁育工程技术中心居群表型变异最丰富,四川省方山村居群最小。山桐子果穗表型性状与果实产量性状呈显著正相关,通过聚类分析可将山桐子14个居群分为4个类群,类群Ⅳ中山桐子果实表型性状最为优良,果穗大、单果重,表现出突出的育种优势。(2)山桐子14个居群地土壤pH在5.36—8.49范围内,多数居群土壤为酸性,土壤有效氮、有效磷、有效钾含量低。(3)环境因子中全氮对山桐子果实表型性状影响较大,土壤pH、有效磷含量与果实表型性状存在显著相关性。山桐子果实表型性状存在丰富变异,果穗外形对其产量有着显著影响;土壤pH及有效磷含量是影响山桐子果实表型性状的主要土壤养分因子,在生产中或可通过调节...     

濒危植物版纳青梅保护遗传学研究初报

运用20个10碱基随机引物,对中国龙脑香科(Dipterocarpaceae)特有的珍稀濒危植物版纳青梅(Vatica guangxiensis X. L. Mo)进行了RAPD多态性分析.3个自然居群和1 个迁地保护居群(分布于云南和广西)共扩增出231个位点,多态位点所占比例(PPB)为53.68%;观察等位基因数na=1.536*!8,有效等位基因数ne=1.287*!8,Nei基因多样性指数h为0.168*!6,居群内的遗传多样性水平较低.基于AMOVA和POPGENE的结果均表明居群内的遗传变异大于居群间的遗传变异.居群内的遗传变异为55.09%,居群间的变异为44.91% (AMOVA);基因分化系数Gst为0.374*!6 (POPGENE),表明居群间存在高水平的遗传分化.研究结果对该濒危植物的保护有重要意义.考虑到低水平的遗传多样性和高水平的居群分化,通过居群间种子和幼苗的交换来促进基因流是可行的保护方案.迁地保护居群(ML)不具最高的遗传多样性,表明为了保护此濒危物种的全部遗传变异,需要进一步采集更多个体补充到迁地保护居群中.     

两种濒危水韭植物迁地保护居群的基因流动态及回归重建保育遗传管理策略

采用微卫星分子标记对中华水韭（Isoetessinensis）安徽休宁、浙江建德和东方水韭（I.orientalis）浙江松阳三个孑遗居群的迁地保护居群开展了遗传多样性检测与遗传结构分析。7对多态性微卫星引物在36个迁地保护亚居群的720个样本中共检测到59个等位基因,每位点平均等位基因数（A）为8·43。迁地保护亚居群均维持很高的遗传多样性,多态信息含量（PIC）平均为0·707。迁地保护亚居群间遗传分化较低,遗传分化系数GST仅为0·070,居群间具有较大基因流（Nm=3·59）。单因素方差分析发现水韭孢子或孢子体在沿主要水流方向上的长距离传播能力要强于弱水流方向上的短距离传播能力,水流动态对水韭植物的基因流有重要影响。这与UPGMA聚类分析中迁地保护亚居群按邻近位置或水流相通程度优先聚类的结果相一致,水流所带动的强大基因流导致了不同孑遗居群来源的迁地保护亚居群间的遗传混杂。建议在开展水韭植物的迁地保护或回归自然重建时,对具有地方适应分化或者显著性进化的水韭植物居群应相互隔离而不宜配置在一起,以避免远交衰退的遗传风险。     

濒危植物版纳青梅保护遗传学研究初报

运用 2 0个 10碱基随机引物 ,对中国龙脑香科 (Dipterocarpaceae)特有的珍稀濒危植物版纳青梅 (VaticaguangxiensisX .L .Mo)进行了RAPD多态性分析。 3个自然居群和 1个迁地保护居群 (分布于云南和广西 )共扩增出2 31个位点 ,多态位点所占比例 (PPB)为 5 3.6 8% ;观察等位基因数na =1.5 36 8,有效等位基因数ne =1.2 878,Nei基因多样性指数h为 0 .16 86 ,居群内的遗传多样性水平较低。基于AMOVA和POPGENE的结果均表明居群内的遗传变异大于居群间的遗传变异。居群内的遗传变异为 5 5 .0 9% ,居群间的变异为 44 .91% (AMOVA) ;基因分化系数Gst为 0 .3746 (POPGENE) ,表明居群间存在高水平的遗传分化。研究结果对该濒危植物的保护有重要意义。考虑到低水平的遗传多样性和高水平的居群分化 ,通过居群间种子和幼苗的交换来促进基因流是可行的保护方案。迁地保护居群 (ML)不具最高的遗传多样性 ,表明为了保护此濒危物种的全部遗传变异 ,需要进一步采集更多个体补充到迁地保护居群中     

岷江柏野生居群和迁地保护居群的遗传多样性比较

通过分析岷江柏的迁地保护居群和野生居群的遗传多样性、遗传结构及居群间基因流,判断迁地保 护岷江柏居群的遗传多样性水平,为其迁地保护提供理论基础。本研究利用GBS（Genotyping-by-Sequencing） 测序技术获得的SNP位点对四川大渡河双江口岷江柏迁地保护移栽苗、苗圃播种苗及3个野生居群进行主成分分析（PCA分析）、聚类分析、分子进化树、遗传多样性和遗传结构分析。经过GBS测序共获得高质量Clean Data 118 321 514 728 bp,并开发了1947 047个tags,从中鉴定到了1 259 610个SNP位点。系统发育进化树显示大部分移栽岷江柏居群和野生岷江柏聚在一起,居群结构分析结果显示交叉验证错误率的谷值确定最优分群数为1。4个岷江柏居群的观测杂合度（H_o）、期望杂合度（H_e）、Shannon信息指数I（S_hi）、近交系数（F_is）、多态信息含量（P_ic）的值分别为0.181 5~0.272 0、0.223 2~0.300 3、0.331 0~0.464 9、0.178 0~0.246 5和0.272 2~0.309 2,说明岷江柏居群的遗传多样性水平较高。移栽岷江柏居群的H_e=0.300 3,S_hi=0.464 9,岷江柏居群迁地保护居群遗传多样性总体水平略高于野生居群。野生岷江柏居群中白湾隧道（BW）_vs_松岗镇（SA）的遗传分化指数（F_st）较大,基因流（N_m）较小（F_st=0.091,N_m=2.496）,而迁地保护的岷江柏居群与野生岷江柏居群没有明显的遗传分化,居群间的基因交流频繁（F_st<0.05,基因流N_m>4）,说明没有明显的分群现象,岷江柏居群迁地保护居群遗传多样性较高。因此,移栽濒危植物是迁地保护过程中较好的方法,本文为以后野生岷江柏迁地保护提供参考,为其他树木种质资源的保存提供理论依据。     

南方红豆杉的ISSR遗传多样性分析

采用ISSR标记技术对南方红豆杉迁地保护小种群及其衍生自然种群5个小斑块(小居群)的遗传多样性进行了分析.从90条引物中共筛选出10个多态性引物,获得ISSR谱带102条,其中多态性谱带74条,占72.54%.结果显示,南方红豆杉迁地保护小种群和迁地保护衍生自然种群的Nei's基因多样性指数(H)分别为0.220 9和0.254 8,Shannon信息指数(I)分别为0.322 4和0.376 2.5个小斑块居群的H分别为0.190 7、0.210 4、0.194 4、0.160 5和0.187 3,I分别为0.281 0、0.309 8、0.288 0、0.235 5和0.273 5.迁地保护衍生自然种群的遗传多样性高于迁地保护小种群,但各小生境下的的小斑块居群遗传多样性低于迁地保护小种群.聚类分析结果表明:南方红豆杉迁地保护各自然小居群间的遗传距离与这些居群的地理生境有关,而与地理距离并没有显著相关性.     

新疆东天山地区宽刺蔷薇居群表型多样性分析

对新疆东天山地区6个宽刺蔷薇（Rosa platyacantha）居群进行叶片、花序、果实、种子等11个表型性状的遗传多样性分析,结果表明：宽刺蔷薇各表型性状无论在居群间还是在居群内均表现出显著或极显著差异,存在丰富的表型多样性。6个居群11个性状的平均表型分化系数为27.50%,表明居群内多样性较居群间多样性更为丰富。各表型性状平均变异系数为16.51%,离散程度相对较低。对表型性状进行的变异系数多重比较和主成分分析均显示,果实相关性状的变异是造成宽刺蔷薇表型变异的主要来源。性状相关性分析进一步发现,生殖生长与前期的营养生长并无明显相关关系。聚类分析结果表明,6个宽刺蔷薇居群的表型性状并没有严格依地理距离聚类,而是受到遗传因素与环境条件特别是海拔因子的共同影响。     

原、异位保存东乡野生稻主要农艺性状的比较研究

为了解原、异位保存东乡野生稻主要农艺性状的变化,对庵家山普通野生稻原、异位群体进行了考察和比较分析。结果表明,原、异位保存的东乡野生稻在每穗总粒数、每穗实粒数、结实率等方面存在较大的差异,如异位保存的东乡野生稻每穗总粒数平均为58.28粒,比原位多11.44粒,但其每穗实粒数却较少,为9.89粒,结实率降低了45.43%。从种植环境可以发现,异位保存圃的环境不适宜东乡野生稻的生长,应该选择与原生境相类似的种植环境,以便于东乡野生稻的保存、研究与利用。     

自然干旱梯度下的酸枣表型变异

表型变异是植物应对环境变化的一种策略。酸枣植物从中国东部沿海到内陆腹地均有分布,其表型性状的变异可能解释其对自然干旱梯度的适应机制。为验证这一假说,以烟台、石家庄、银川、吐鲁番4个自然干旱梯度生境中生长的酸枣三年生植株的12个表型性状为调查研究对象,采用变异系数和巢式方差分析对酸枣的表型变异进行分析。结果表明:(1)从烟台到银川,叶面积、叶长、叶周长和叶柄长总体呈减小的趋势,而比叶面积呈增大的趋势;(2)随着干旱程度的增强,二次枝的长度、二次枝的基部粗、二次枝的枣吊数、茎比密度和茎水分含量均呈减小趋势,并且种子重和种子短轴长也均呈减小的趋势;(3)对沿干旱梯度分布的4个酸枣种群而言,叶性状的平均变异系数(33.70%)枝性状的平均变异系数(32.41%)种子性状的平均变异系数(9.07%),并且酸枣性状间存在很强的协变。结果表明酸枣的地上部分形态性状沿干旱梯度表现出很强的变异,推测在未来的气候变化下,酸枣将通过这种表型变异的有效组合来适应环境变化。     

濒危植物长柄双花木(Disanthus cercidifolius var.longipes)的资源分布及濒危现状

通过广泛的野外考察,对长柄双花木(Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes)10个自然居群和2个迁地保护居群进行了深入细致的调查记录,充分掌握了长柄双花木的地理分布和资源状况.调查结果表明,长柄双花木分布极为局限,资源贫乏,居群间彼此孤立.详尽阐述了各居群的生境状况、居群及群落特征,初步分析了该物种的濒危原因,认为长柄双花木特殊的生活史特性及种子仅靠蒴果开裂时的弹力传播,加上居群彼此孤立、缺乏相互交流,从而制约了该物种的自我繁衍及居群的扩张,这可能是其濒危的根本原因.另外,病虫害、自然灾害和人为干扰等外部因素也不容忽视.只有采取就地保护、迁地保护和回归引种三种措施相结合,才能对长柄双花木进行有效保护和科学管理.     

Parental effects in Plantago lanceolata L. III. Measuring parental temperature effects in the field

To determine the evolutionary importance of parental environmental effects in natural populations, we must begin to measure the magnitude of these effects in the field. For this reason, we conducted a combined growth chamber-field experiment to measure parental temperature effects in Plantago lanceolata. We grew in the field offspring of controlled crosses of chamber-grown parents subjected to six temperature treatments. Each treatment was characterized by a unique combination of maternal prezygotic (prior to fertilization), paternal prezygotic, and postzygotic (during fertilization and seed set) temperatures. Offspring were followed for three years to measure the effects of treatment on several life-history traits and population growth rate, our estimate of fitness. Parental treatment influenced germination, growth, and reproduction of newborns, but not survival or reproduction of offspring at least one year old. High postzygotic temperature significantly increased germination and leaf area at 17 weeks by approximately 35% and 2%, respectively. Probability of flowering and spike production in the newborn age class showed significant parental genotype x parental treatment interactions. High postzygotic temperature increased offspring fitness by approximately 50%. The strongest contributors to fitness were germination and probability of flowering and spike production of newborns. A comparison of our data with previously collected data for chambergrown offspring shows that the influence of parental environment on offspring phenotype is weaker but still biologically meaningful in the field. The results provide evidence that parental environment influences offspring fitness in natural populations of P. lanceolata and does so by affecting the life-history traits most strongly contributing to fitness. The data suggest that from the perspective of offspring fitness, natural selection favors parents that flower later in the flowering season in the North Carolina Piedmont when it is warmer. Genotypic-specific differences in response of offspring reproductive traits to parental environment suggest that parental environmental effects can influence the rate of evolutionary change in P. lanceolata.     

A global study of relationships between leaf traits, climate and soil measures of nutrient fertility

Aim This first global quantification of the relationship between leaf traits and soil nutrient fertility reflects the trade‐off between growth and nutrient conservation. The power of soils versus climate in predicting leaf trait values is assessed in bivariate and multivariate analyses and is compared with the distribution of growth forms (as a discrete classification of vegetation) across gradients of soil fertility and climate. Location All continents except for Antarctica. Methods Data on specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N concentration (LNC), leaf P concentration (LPC) and leaf N:P were collected for 474 species distributed across 99 sites (809 records), together with abiotic information from each study site. Individual and combined effects of soils and climate on leaf traits were quantified using maximum likelihood methods. Differences in occurrence of growth form across soil fertility and climate were determined by one‐way ANOVA. Results There was a consistent increase in SLA, LNC and LPC with increasing soil fertility. SLA was related to proxies of N supply, LNC to both soil total N and P and LPC was only related to proxies of P supply. Soil nutrient measures explained more variance in leaf traits among sites than climate in bivariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that climate interacted with soil nutrients for SLA and area‐based LNC. Mass‐based LNC and LPC were determined mostly by soil fertility, but soil P was highly correlated to precipitation. Relationships of leaf traits to soil nutrients were stronger than those of growth form versus soil nutrients. In contrast, climate determined distribution of growth form more strongly than it did leaf traits. Main conclusions We provide the first global quantification of the trade‐off between traits associated with growth and resource conservation ‘strategies’ in relation to soil fertility. Precipitation but not temperature affected this trade‐off. Continuous leaf traits might be better predictors of plant responses to nutrient supply than growth form, but growth forms reflect important aspects of plant species distribution with climate.     

Relationship between acorn size and seedling morphological and physiological traits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus ilex</Emphasis> L. from different climates

Effects of Quercus ilex acorn size on seedling morphological and physiological traits were analysed. The study was carried out with five populations from different geographical areas and covering an aridity gradient. Seedling morphological traits (height and total leaf area) were analyzed during the first growing year. Physiological traits (net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, leaf transpiration, and intrinsic water-use efficiency) were analysed at different air temperatures during spring, summer, and winter months, and in response to water stress. There were significant correlations among the considered acorn (volume, fresh mass) and seedling traits. Differences in growth and physiological traits among the considered populations were found. The larger differences in the growth parameters were observed during the first growing season, and they could be justified by the significant differences among acorn size. On the contrary, the physiological response to air temperature and aridity was more related to the geographical origin of the considered populations than to acorn size. Q. ilex acorn and seedling traits more tolerant to drought might have a high potential for vegetation recovery in afforestation projects and restoration programmes particularly under water-limited environments or in degraded areas.     

Population variation and natural selection on leaf traits in cork oak throughout its distribution range

A central issue in evolutionary biology is the exploration of functional trait variation among populations and the extent to which this variation has adaptive value. It was recently proposed that specific leaf area (SLA), leaf nitrogen concentration per mass (N_mass) and water use efficiency in cork oak play an important role in adaptation to water availability in the environment. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we explored, first, whether there was population-level variation in cork oak (Quercus suber) for these functional traits throughout its distribution range; if this were the case, it would be consistent with the hypothesis that different rainfall patterns have led to ecotypic differentiation in this species. Second, we studied whether the population-level variation matched short-term selection on these traits under different water availability conditions using two fitness components: survival and growth. We found high population-level differentiation in SLA and N_mass, with populations from dry places exhibiting the lowest values for SLA and N_mass. Likewise, reduced SLA had fitness benefits in terms of growth for plants under dry conditions. However, contrary to our expectations, we did not find any pattern of association between functional traits and survival in nine-year-old saplings despite considerable drought during one year of the study period. These results together with findings from the literature suggest that early stages of development are the most critical period for this species. Most importantly, these findings suggest that cork oak saplings have a considerable potential to cope with dry conditions. This capacity to withstand aridity has important implications for conservation of cork oak woodlands under the ongoing climate change.     

干旱对夏玉米苗期叶片权衡生长的影响

叶片是植物对干旱响应最敏感的器官之一,叶片性状变化及其权衡关系能够反映植物对资源的利用策略以及对干旱的适应对策。基于2014年6个初始土壤水分梯度的夏玉米持续干旱模拟试验研究表明,随着干旱的发展,夏玉米各叶片性状均会受到影响,但不同干旱程度的影响不一致。基于水分胁迫系数及干旱持续时间提出了干旱程度的定量表达,随着干旱的发生发展,干旱程度在0—1之间变化。当干旱程度小于0.21时,夏玉米叶片性状不会受到显著影响;0.21—0.76时,叶片性状大小受到影响,但变化趋势不会发生改变;0.76—0.91时,新叶形成补偿不了老叶脱落,有效叶片数、叶干重、绿叶面积和叶含水量等性状提前出现下降趋势;大于0.91时,叶片生长几乎停滞。夏玉米叶片性状在干旱条件下的适应性生长本质上体现了其在快速生长与维持生存之间的权衡,但不同干旱程度下,夏玉米叶片性状生长的权衡策略不同:未发生干旱时,夏玉米倾向于维持较高的代谢活性,一旦干旱程度大于0,夏玉米就会降低叶片代谢活性;当干旱程度小于0.48时,夏玉米倾向于通过迅速增加叶面积来吸收较多的能量,以获得较大的生长速率,为生殖器官的生长及产量形成储备能量;当干旱程度大于0.48时,夏玉米会减小单叶面积以减少水分散失,倾向于资源贮存以提高其生存能力。     

Ontogenetic variations in leaf morphology of the tropical rain forest species Dipterocarpus alatus Roxb. ex G. Don

Under natural conditions ontogenetic development often coincides with changes in environmental factors. When explaining variations in leaf parameters, analyses based solely on environmental factors will lead to significant errors if the plant shows substantial ontogenetic variations in leaf properties. We evaluated intraspecific variations in eight morphological leaf traits of Dipterocarpus alatus over six architectural development stages under two different light conditions. An architectural analysis was conducted to distinguish precisely and objectively developmental stages of D. alatus. Leaves were collected on the most recent complete growth unit on the trunks of trees growing under two different light conditions. Eight leaf morphological traits were measured and calculated using ImageJ on greyscale images of leaf tracings. One-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used to determine differences in leaf traits during ontogeny. The correlation coefficients were compared to determine whether leaf traits correlated more strongly with ontogenetic stage than with light intensity. D. alatus develops through a progressive transformation of its structure and architecture that adds one new axis category stage after stage. Specific leaf area, blade shape index and leaf dissection index decreased whereas blade area, perimeter, length, width and blade dry weight increased. Leaf traits correlated more strongly with ontogenetic stage than with light intensity. Our results demonstrated that studies on the responses of leaf traits to the environment may need to be corrected for an ontogeny effect. To strengthen this conclusion, future work should evaluate leaf variations during the ontogeny of different axis orders and/or axis categories.     

酸枣叶片结构可塑性对自然梯度干旱生境的适应特征

叶片是植物体暴露于环境中面积最大的器官,其最易感知环境变化而发生形态和结构上的改变。为探究植株叶片结构对不同生境的适应机理,研究以生长在烟台-石家庄-宁夏-新疆不同地域气候条件形成的自然梯度干旱环境中的酸枣为试验材料,应用植物显微技术研究酸枣叶片的结构的可塑性对不同自然梯度干旱环境的适应特征。结果表明:酸枣叶表皮着生有表皮毛,表皮细胞外覆有角质层与蜡质。叶肉为全栅型,栅栏组织发达,海绵组织退化,叶肉中有晶体及大量的分泌细胞。从烟台至新疆随生境梯度干旱加剧,酸枣叶片叶面积逐渐变小,叶片厚度依次增加,叶表皮角质层加厚,且上角质层厚度大于下角质层厚度;叶片上下表皮细胞长径及短径先增后降,栅栏组织总厚度和密度依次增大、层数减少,各层栅栏组织细胞的长径逐渐增加。叶脉薄壁细胞相对厚度逐渐减小,导管管径增大,晶体(草酸钙晶体)数增多。在梯度干旱环境中酸枣植株通过减小叶面积、提高栅栏组织密度、增加叶片及角质层厚度降低蒸腾作用,减少水分散失;通过增大导管管径提高水分利用率;通过增加晶体数量提高叶片机械性能,改变细胞的渗透势、提高吸水和保水能力。上述叶片结构的变化是酸枣植株长期对不同自然梯度干旱生境的适应特征。由此可知,叶片形态结构中叶面积、叶片厚度、角质层及叶肉组织(栅栏组织)随环境变化的可塑性较大。