CARACTERÍSTICAS MORFOLÓGICAS FOLIARES Y SU RELACIÓN CON LA DEFOLIACIÓN EN TRES ESPECIES DE PLANTAS FORRAJERAS

Plants respond to biotic and abiotic changes through their phenotypic plasticity. These variations can be expressed in traits related to leaf morphology, plant growth, and defoliation. We evaluated the influence of plant age and leaf age on leaf traits and its relation with defoliation in three forage plant species, Tithonia diversifolia, Morus alba, and Moringa oleifera. Interspecifically, M. oleifera showed thicker leaves, higher dry weight, leaf asymmetry, and leaf area; M. alba showed harder leaves and higher specific leaf area. Intraspecifically, in the M. oleifera leaf area, dry weight, thickness, and hardness of leaves increased only in 30 day-old-plant. While in M. alba intermediate leaves had higher leaf area; and, 90 day-old-plant had higher thickness and hardness. Leaf area and dry weight were higher in 60 and 30 day-old-plants, respectively. In T. diversifolia intermediate leaves showed higher dry weight and leaf thickness, 30 day-old-plant had higher leaf area and leaf dry weight; and, 90 day-old-plant had higher leaf thickness. In addition, we found negative relationships between young leaves with leaf thickness, leaf hardness, and leaf dry weight. Defoliation showed positive relationships with SLA and leaf hardness, and negative ones with leaf thickness, leaf dry weight, leaf asymmetry, and leaf area. We underline, the importance of carrying out research that contributes to the understanding of the interrelationships between leaf structure, its function, and its relationships of morphological traits of plant resistance and tolerance in tropical forage plant species of high economic and ecological importance.

Automated summary

Plants exhibit phenotypic plasticity in response to both biotic and abiotic changes. This study evaluated the influence of plant age and leaf age on leaf traits and their relationship with defoliation in three forage plant species. The results showed variations in leaf thickness, leaf area, and leaf hardness among different plant species. Young leaves were negatively associated with leaf thickness, leaf hardness, and leaf dry weight, while specific leaf area and leaf hardness showed positive relationships with defoliation. This research highlights the importance of understanding the interrelationships between leaf structure, function, and morphological traits in tropical forage plants.