ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Response of Leaf Functional Traits
of Cerasus yedoensis (Mats.) Yü Li to
Serious Insect Attack
Congyan Wang, Jun Liu, Hongguang Xiao, Daolin Du
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Institute of Environment and Ecology, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering,
Jiangsu University,
Zhenjiang 212013, P. R. China
Submission date: 2015-08-11
Final revision date: 2015-10-22
Acceptance date: 2015-10-22
Publication date: 2016-01-25
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(1):333-339
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ABSTRACT
The morphological features of plants, such as leaf functional traits, are adaptations that enable them to
live under different environmental conditions. Thus, leaf functional traits can provide a link between various
environmental factors and leaf functions. This study aims to gain insights into the differences in leaf
functional traits between healthy (no insect attack) and damaged (serious insect attack) Cerasus yedoensis
Yü li. Petiole diameter, leaf length, leaf thickness, ratio of leaf length to petiole length, leaf shape index, and
single leaf wet and dry weight of damaged leaves were significantly higher than those of healthy leaves, but
lower for leaf moisture and specific leaf area (SLA). Plasticity indices of petiole diameter, petiole length,
leaf length, leaf width, and leaf shape index of healthy leaves were higher than those of damaged leaes,
but contrary for the plasticity indices of the ratio of leaf length to petiole length, leaf moisture, and SLA
of healthy leaves. SLA was positively correlated with leaf moisture but negatively correlated with petiole
diameter, leaf length, leaf thickness, ratio of leaf legth to petiole length, leaf shape index, and single leaf wet
and dry weight. After serious insect attack, damaged C. yedoensis contained increased quantities of material
investment per unit area to exhibit a more efficient anti-herbivore defense; thus, leaf moisture and SLA
were decreased, but leaf thickness, and single leaf wet and dry weight were increased. Meanwhile, damaged
leaves also were more slender and invested more biomass to the lamina than to the petiole.