Leaf Traits of Calophyllum Inophyllum L. (Calophyllaceae) in Different Locations Suggest Suitability for Planting Outside of Natural Habitat
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Philippine Journal of Science 150 (4): 643-655, August 2021 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Date Received: 09 Nov 2020 Leaf Traits of Calophyllum inophyllum L. (Calophyllaceae) in Different Locations Suggest Suitability for Planting Outside of Natural Habitat Ma. Kristina T. Calibo, Crusty E. Tinio, Marilyn S. Combalicer, and Lerma S.J. Maldia* Department of Forest Biological Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, Philippines Calophyllum inophyllum L. (bitaog), a native tree species in the Philippines that can be found growing in different locations (urban, coastal, and forest areas) with varying climatic conditions, were studied to compare the morphological and anatomical characters in relation to climatic factors. Nine leaf morphological characters (arrangement, apex, base, margin, shape, venation, texture, length, and width) were observed. The thicknesses of the epidermis, vascular tissues, and mesophyll were measured. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to show significant differences in morphological and anatomical characters among locations. The linear mixed model was used to determine if leaf characters were affected by precipitation (PPT) and temperature (Temp) in each location. A significant difference in the quantitative morphological characters of C. inophyllum leaves was observed only in leaf length (LL), which was found negatively correlated with leaf width (LW) across locations. Palisade mesophyll (PM) and spongy mesophyll (SM) were found to have significant differences among locations. Leaves in the coastal area, which is the natural habitat of the species, had the thickest mesophyll. It was found out that C. inophyllum grows best in the coastal area and least in the urban area based on the quantitative measurement of leaf morphological characters such as LL and LW. On one hand, trees in the urban area have smaller LL, LW, PM, and SM as affected by the climatic variables. We, therefore, conclude that morphological and anatomical characteristics of C. inophyllum are altered once the species is grown outside of its natural habitat. Keywords: climatic factors, coastal area, forest area, linear mixed model, mesophyll, urban area INTRODUCTION (Allen 2002). It grows in a wide variety of habitats, but it naturally occurs in coastal areas (Orwa et al. 2009). The Phenotypic plasticity together with genetic determination capability of the species to withstand poor soil conditions is important in understanding how plants respond to and water availability and resist strong winds makes it environmental change (Royer et al. 2009; Rozendaal et suitable in the coastal area (Gilman and Watson 1993). al. 2006; Fritz et al. 2018). Phenotypic plasticity acts to Due to its long, broad, and evergreen leaves, dense crown, increase the performance of plants under stress (Xu et al. and horizontal branches (Allen 2002; Kainuma et al. 2008). Calophyllum inophyllum of Family Calophyllaceae 2016), it has become a common ornamental plant in urban is a native species among Southeast Asian countries settings like parking lots and street sides. Commonly, it is used for aesthetics and shade (Prabakaran and Britto *Corresponding Author: [email protected] 643 Philippine Journal of Science Calibo et al.: Morphology and Anatomy Vol. 150 No. 4, August 2021 of Calophyllum inophyllum 2012). In the Philippines, the Department of Environment (BGC) in Taguig City (14° 33’ 15.8652’’ N, 121° 3’ 32.4’’ and Natural Resources (DENR) considers C. inophyllum E; 16 masl) represented the urban area. BGC is a financial as an ideal forest tree species to promote reforestation and business hub that sits within the busy city of Metro and biological diversity. It has been planted in watershed Manila. Different tree species, including C. inophyllum, areas and various reforestation sites. are planted in the BGC for landscape. Based on the record of the Joseph Server Associates, Inc. (JSA, Inc.) – the Although C. inophyllum is widely planted in the Philippines, contracted grounds maintenance, tree servicing, and the possible variation in characters of the species in landscape management of the BGC – the C. inophyllum different locations in relation to varying temperature, trees in the BGC were planted in 2003 using earth-balled relative humidity (RH), rainfall, light intensity, and other saplings from Batangas and measured around 10 cm environmental factors has not been extensively studied. diameter at breast height (June B. Micosa, JSA, Inc.’s A comparative study of the leaf traits (morphological and resident forester-arborist of BGC; pers. comm.). Third, anatomical) of C. inophyllum from different locations is Barangay Simlong in Batangas City (13° 40’ 35.76’’ N, helpful to determine its suitability to thrive in varying 121° 3’ 32.4’’E; 13.8 masl) represented the coastal area, environmental conditions. Furthermore, correlating the which is the ideal natural habitat of the species. species characteristics such as leaf characters to various climatic factors such as temperature, light intensity, RH, For each location, the morphological characters were and rainfall will determine the differences in their growth estimated from six adult trees of C. inophyllum. From each responses in terms of morphological, physiological, and tree, six samples of matured leaves (third leaf from the top) other parameters when planted in various locations. The from each of the three portions of the tree crown (lower, physiognomy (sizes and shapes) of the leaves has been middle, and upper) were used, while one leaf from each shown to have a strong correlation with temperature and portion (lower, middle, upper) of the individual sampled moisture from global to local scales (reviewed in Peppe et tree was used in the analysis of anatomical characters. al. 2011). Specifically, the site-mean leaf size typically is proportional with water availability and, to a lesser extent, By the number of observations, the average of each temperature. In urban areas, the effects of environmental morphological parameter was taken from a total of 18 factors in relation to morphology (primarily leaf size/area) leaves per tree, bringing a total of 108 observations (36 and anatomy of leaves of urban trees show significant average observations per location). For the anatomical differences. The study of Xu et al. (2006) showed that characteristics, the average measurement per character the main meteorological factors affecting the growth was taken from a total of three leaves per tree replicated and development rhythms of main tree species leaves 10 times each leaf, bringing a total of 180 observations in the urban forest of Shenyang in Liaoning Province of (six average observations per location). China were temperature of its phenological period. Plants The number of samples, particularly in the urban area, was located in the area with high RH have larger, narrower, assumed enough to represent the effects of environmental and thicker leaves compared to those with low RH variables on the morphology and anatomy of the leaves (Hovenden et al. 2012). Therefore, the objective of this over the period considered in the study since the sampled study was to determine the morphological and anatomical trees in BGC have the same length (years) of exposure to characteristics of the C. inophyllum growing in different the new environment after transplanting. As mentioned, locations and climatic variables over a certain period. C. inophyllum trees in the BGC were hauled from similar natural habitats. Hence, the assumption that trees in BGC will have large variability (i.e. genotype variation) in their response to the environmental variables considered in MATERIALS AND METHODS the study was assumed to be less likely. It is more of the average response that is expected given the time it was Location of the Study Sites and Sample Collection removed from its original habitat and had been exposed There are three locations included in this study (Figure to a new condition, which was similarly considered for 1). First, the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve (MMFR) in the other two sites. Some publications mentioned in the the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), Results and Discussion sections (e.g. Li et al. 2015; Laguna (14° 8’ 6.8064’’ N, 121° 11’ 40.0272’’ E; 115 masl) Oggero et al. 2016; Arimy et al. 2017; Muniz et al. 2018, represented the forested area. MMFR is a biodiversity-rich and others) also made use of limited leaf samples and able mature secondary tropical forest. Although C. inophyllum to detect morpho-anatomical responses to environmental trees are growing naturally in the MMFR, based on our variables. survey, there were very limited adult trees (around 10 potential mother trees) and others are already planted for the campus landscape. Second, the Bonifacio Global City 644 Philippine Journal of Science Calibo et al.: Morphology and Anatomy Vol. 150 No. 4, August 2021 of Calophyllum inophyllum Figure 1. Location of the three study sites in Luzon, Philippines. 645 Philippine Journal of Science Calibo et al.: Morphology and Anatomy Vol. 150 No. 4, August 2021 of Calophyllum inophyllum Morphological Characteristics of Calophyllum of the RH, PPT, and Temp varied significantly among inophyllum the three locations (Figures 6a, b, and c, respectively). Nine (9) morphological characters were measured in The mean RH was lowest in urban compared to forested the three locations. Qualitative characters such as leaf and coastal areas. The mean PPT was lowest in