Morphoanatomical functional traits in xerophytic species of a saline environment

PÉREZ CUADRA, V.; CAMBI, V.

PHYTON - INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY BA ARGENTINA

FUNDACION ROMULO RAGGIO

Lugar: Buenos Aires; Año: 2014 vol. 83

0031-9457

Halophytic community of Salitral de la Vidriera (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) has species with different morphoanatomical functional traits; the aim of this study is to compare these traits in four species, two Asteraceae (B. spartioides and B. tenella) and two Frankeniaceae (F. juniperoides and F. pulverulenta). Leaves and stems were treated under traditional techniques for anatomical study. Leaves of Asteraceae and F. pulverulenta are amphistomatic while in F. juniperoides are hypostomatic. All species have trichomes and only the Frankeniaceae have salt glands. The mesophyll is isolateral in Asteraceae and dorsiventral in Frankeniaceae; the number of foliar vascular bundles is variably. The stems of Asteraceae have subepidermal collenchyma or parenchyma which alternates with chlorenchyma, this tissues combination is not found in the Frankeniaceae stems. B. tenella presents fibers in the cortex while B. spartioides has schysogenous ducts. The stems of the four species showed a complete vascular cylinder and parenchymatic pith. Anatomical differences between species are related to their differential competitive ability, reflected in opposing strategies of survival and perpetuation.