Changes in micromorphological characters of platanus orientalis L. leaves in Turkey

Abstract

In this study, it is aimed to determine the variation of some leaf characters of Platanus orientalis L. depending on the climate type. For this purpose, in a country dominated by three climate types (Terrestrial, Black Sea and Mediterranean), leaves samples of Platanus orientalis trees were collected. Scaled images were obtained with the help of electron microscope (SEM = Scanning Electron Microscope) of collected leaf samples. Thus, with measurements made on these images, stoma length (µm), stoma width (µm), por length (µm), por width and stoma density (1 mm2 area). The obtained data were evaluated as statistic and the change of these characters according to climate type and city was evaluated. In addition, by applying correlation analysis to the data, it was attempted to determine the relations between the subject characters and climate data. As a result of the study, no significant effect of the climate could be detected on the characteristics examined. This situation can be interpreted that morphological characteristics are shaped by many environmental factors and genetic structure besides climate. The authors suggest an increase and diversification in studies on the subject in order to determine how and under which conditions micromorphological characteristics are shaped. For this reason, it can be shown that the subjects of the study are collected from the individuals which were primarily raised for landscaping, and the practices in landscape studies change the micro ecological conditions in a clear way.