@article{fdi:010051994,
  title = {{L}eaf life span plasticity in tropical seedlings grown under contrasting light regimes},
  author = {{V}incent, {G}r{\'e}goire},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground and {A}ims {T}he phenotypic plasticity of leaf life span in response to low resource conditions has a potentially large impact on the plant carbon budget, notably in evergreen species not subject to seasonal leaf shedding, but has rarely been well documented. {T}his study evaluates the plasticity of leaf longevity, in terms of its quantitative importance to the plant carbon balance under limiting light. {M}ethods {S}eedlings of four tropical tree species with contrasting light requirements ({A}lstonia scholaris, {H}evea brasiliensis, {D}urio zibethinus and {L}ansium domesticum) were grown under three light regimes (full sunlight, 45% sunlight and 12% sunlight). {T}heir leaf dynamics were monitored over 18 months. {R}esults {A}ll species showed a considerable level of plasticity with regard to leaf life span: over the range of light levels explored, the ratio of the range to the mean value of life span varied from 29%, for the least plastic species, to 84%, for the most. {T}he common trend was for leaf life span to increase with decreasing light intensity. {T}he plasticity apparent in leaf life span was similar in magnitude to the plasticity observed in specific leaf area and photosynthetic rate, implying that it has a significant impact on carbon gain efficiency when plants acclimate to different light regimes. {I}n all species, median survival time was negatively correlated with leaf photosynthetic capacity (or its proxy, the nitrogen content per unit area) and leaf emergence rate. {C}onclusions {L}onger leaf life spans under low light are likely to be a consequence of slower ageing as a result of a slower photosynthetic metabolism.},
  keywords = {{A}lstonia scholaris ; carbon balance ; {D}urio zibethinus ; {H}evea brasiliensis ; {L}ansium domesticum ; leaf life span ; light ; plasticity},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}nnals of {B}otany},
  volume = {97},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {245--255},
  ISSN = {0305-7364},
  year = {2006},
  DOI = {10.1093/aob/mcj023},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010051994},
}