Crop Science Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education
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Published in Crop Sci 14:444-447 (1974)
© 1974 Crop Science Society of America
677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA
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Morphological and Anatomical Features of Alfalfa Leaves as Related to CO2 Exchange1

R. H. Delaney and A. K. Dobrenz2

Cuttings from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L cv. ‘Mesa-Sirsa’) genotypes which exhibited a wide range in leaflet size were grown under spaced-planted and nonspaced-planted conditions and used to determine the relation. ships between leaflet anatomy, leaflet morphology, and CO2 exchange. These same relationships were evaluated under controlled environmental conditions using alfalfa population MSE-6 which has a broad germplasm base.

Area per leaflet and leaflet width were negatively associated with photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area. Specific leaf weight (SLW) was positively correlated with photosynthesis; however, the correlation coefficients were consistently lower than the r values for leaflet size vs photosynthesis. Photosynthesis expressed as total CO2 uptake per plant was no~ significantly associated with SLW and leaflet size. Plants with small leaves had the greatest SLW, palisade tissue thickness, and leaf thickness. A positive association was observed between palisade tissue thickness and photosynthesis expressed on a leaf area basis. The significance of leaflet size as a selection tool for photosynthetic rate in alfalfa is discussed.

Key Words: Dark respiration • Specific leaf weight • Leaf size • Leaf thickness • Palisade tissue thickness

1 Joint contribution from the Plant Science Division, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming and Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Published with the approval of the Directors of the Wyoming and Arizona Agr. Exp. Sta. as Journal Paper No. 617 and 2162, respectively.

2 Assistant Professor, Plant Science Division, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 and Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721.

Received for publication October 29, 1973.




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Copyright © 1974 by the Crop Science Society of America.