| Abstract: | Objective] To reveal the leaf functional traits and adaptive strategy of Torreya fargesii at different altitude gradients.Method] Leaves of T. fargesii were selected from the altitudes of 1 570, 1 700, 1 900, 2 125 and 2 360 m in Jiajinshan forest area of Sichuan Baoxing County, and the altitudes of 1 000, 1 200, 1 450, and 1 700 m in Hua'eshan Mountain Nature Reserve of Sichuan Wanyuan County as the research materials. Leaf blade traits such as leaf length, leaf width, leaf girth, leaf area and leaf dry weight were determined, and the influence of altitude on each index and correlation between characters were analyzed. Result] For the leaves from both Baoxing County and Wanyuan County, leaf length, leaf width, leaf girth, leaf aspect ratio and leaf area decreased with the increase of altitude. There was no significant difference in the changes of leaf width, leaf girth and leaf aspect ratio among different altitudes(P0.05), while the difference was significant in leaf length between high altitude and low attitude(P0.05), and the difference was also significant in leaf area for the leaves from Baoxing County between high altitude and low altitude. However, there was no obvious correlation between leaf width and altitude, which could be considered as a relatively stable parameter. Leaf thickness and leaf dry weight increased first and then decreased with altitude,while the specific leaf area decreased first and then increased. In leaf length, leaf girth, leaf width and leaf area parameters, except for leaf width and leaf area for the T. fargesii from Wanyuan County, any two parameters reached significant or very significant positive correlation level(P0.01). Leaf dry weight and leaf thickness had significant or very significant positive correlation, leaf dry weight and leaf area had a certain positive correlation but not significant. There existed no significant positive correlation between specific leaf area and leaf area, while specific leaf area was in negative correlation with leaf dry weight, and the negative correlation of specific leaf area with leaf area of T. fargesii from Wanyuan County reached the significant level.Conclusion] T. fargesii adapted to different altitudes by changing leaf dry weight, leaf area and leaf area ratio, and the most suitable altitudes for the growth of T. fargesii were 1 900 and 1 450 m in Baoxing and Wanyuan area respectively. |
