Slow Leaf Development of Evergreen Broad-leaved Tree Species in Japanese Warm Temperate Forests

Rates of light-saturated net photosynthesis (P_Nmax) and darkrespiration (Rd) on a leaf area basis, leaf dry mass per area(LMA), leaf nitrogen content on a leaf area basis (LNa) andinstantaneous nitrogen use efficiency (NUE=P_Nmax/LNa) were followedduring leaf development in six evergreen broad-leaved tree speciestypical of warm-temperate forests in Japan. These species wereCastanopsissieboldii, Quercus myrsinaefolia, Quercus glauca, Machilus thunbergii,Cinnamomum japonicumandNeolitsea sericea.When expansion of leafarea was complete, P_Nmax was about one third of its peak valueand increased for another 15 to 44 d. Rd at full leaf expansionwas about 1.5 to 3.5-times greater than steady-state rates.These facts suggest that leaf development was still underwayat the time of full leaf area expansion. Low P_Nmax at full leafexpansion was caused both by low leaf nitrogen content and lowNUE. P_Nmax increased with the increase in LMA during leaf developmentin all six species; data from the literature for other specieswith different life forms also indicated a similar tendency.The steady-state LMA varied markedly among species. Becauseleaves with larger steady-state LMAs need more resources fortheir construction, they will also need longer periods for maturation.We hypothesized that the period required for the attainmentof peak P_Nmax, the ‘leaf maturation period’, dependson the steady-state LMA. Plotting data from the present studytogether with those from literature for other plants acrossseveral life forms showed a strong positive relationship betweenleaf maturation period and steady-state LMA, supporting thehypothesis.Copyright 1998 Annals of Botany Company. Castanopsis sieboldii, Cinnamomum japonicum,delayed period, expansion period, full leaf expansion,Machilus thunbergii,maturation period,Neolitsea sericea, Quercus glauca, Quercus myrsinaefolia,steady-state LMA.