A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape Plants
Leaf wettability, the affinity of a leaf surface to water droplets, affects the interactions between leaves and external environments. This study aimed to determine the interspecific and seasonal variabilities of leaf wettability across 30 common landscape plants, and their relationships with leaf f...
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MDPI AG
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/12/2152 |
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| author | Yan Wang Binbin Li Peipei Bao Ronghua Wang Aoyun Min Peifeng Xiong |
| author_facet | Yan Wang Binbin Li Peipei Bao Ronghua Wang Aoyun Min Peifeng Xiong |
| author_sort | Yan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Leaf wettability, the affinity of a leaf surface to water droplets, affects the interactions between leaves and external environments. This study aimed to determine the interspecific and seasonal variabilities of leaf wettability across 30 common landscape plants, and their relationships with leaf functional traits, surface micromorphology and rainfall interception in Hefei city, China. Results indicated that leaf wettability was species-specific, and the adaxial and abaxial contact angles ranged from 63° to 134° and 66° to 134°, respectively, with the adaxial surface proving more wettable. Leaf wettability gradually increased from spring to winter. Classification of life forms revealed that there were no significant wettability differences among trees, shrubs and herbs, and between evergreen and deciduous plants, but deciduous plants’ wettability increased more significantly in winter. Leaf wettability was not significantly correlated with any leaf functional traits. Single surface microscopic parameters also had low correlations with leaf wettability. Instead, the low-wettability species were found to possess more prominent epidermis cells, dense waxy layers or trichomes on leaf surfaces. Leaf wettability was the best predictor of surface rainwater storage within all functional traits. Our results highlighted that leaf wettability was variable between different species and growth periods due to micromorphological differences, and significantly affected rainfall interception at the leaf scale, which may have great significance for evaluating plant hydrological function in urban areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:50:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-98a375cc938944419c185132d5c1ad9b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T01:50:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-98a375cc938944419c185132d5c1ad9b2023-11-18T13:04:01ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-06-011512215210.3390/w15122152A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape PlantsYan Wang0Binbin Li1Peipei Bao2Ronghua Wang3Aoyun Min4Peifeng Xiong5Plant Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology Research Group, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiangxilu Road 130#, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, ChinaPlant Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology Research Group, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiangxilu Road 130#, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, ChinaPlant Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology Research Group, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiangxilu Road 130#, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, ChinaPlant Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology Research Group, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiangxilu Road 130#, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, ChinaPlant Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology Research Group, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiangxilu Road 130#, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, ChinaPlant Ecophysiology and Ecohydrology Research Group, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Changjiangxilu Road 130#, Shushan District, Hefei 230036, ChinaLeaf wettability, the affinity of a leaf surface to water droplets, affects the interactions between leaves and external environments. This study aimed to determine the interspecific and seasonal variabilities of leaf wettability across 30 common landscape plants, and their relationships with leaf functional traits, surface micromorphology and rainfall interception in Hefei city, China. Results indicated that leaf wettability was species-specific, and the adaxial and abaxial contact angles ranged from 63° to 134° and 66° to 134°, respectively, with the adaxial surface proving more wettable. Leaf wettability gradually increased from spring to winter. Classification of life forms revealed that there were no significant wettability differences among trees, shrubs and herbs, and between evergreen and deciduous plants, but deciduous plants’ wettability increased more significantly in winter. Leaf wettability was not significantly correlated with any leaf functional traits. Single surface microscopic parameters also had low correlations with leaf wettability. Instead, the low-wettability species were found to possess more prominent epidermis cells, dense waxy layers or trichomes on leaf surfaces. Leaf wettability was the best predictor of surface rainwater storage within all functional traits. Our results highlighted that leaf wettability was variable between different species and growth periods due to micromorphological differences, and significantly affected rainfall interception at the leaf scale, which may have great significance for evaluating plant hydrological function in urban areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/12/2152leaf wettabilityseasonalityleaf functional traitssurface micromorphologyurban hydrology |
| spellingShingle | Yan Wang Binbin Li Peipei Bao Ronghua Wang Aoyun Min Peifeng Xiong A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape Plants Water leaf wettability seasonality leaf functional traits surface micromorphology urban hydrology |
| title | A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape Plants |
| title_full | A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape Plants |
| title_fullStr | A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape Plants |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape Plants |
| title_short | A Case Study of Leaf Wettability Variability and the Relations with Leaf Traits and Surface Water Storage for Urban Landscape Plants |
| title_sort | case study of leaf wettability variability and the relations with leaf traits and surface water storage for urban landscape plants |
| topic | leaf wettability seasonality leaf functional traits surface micromorphology urban hydrology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/12/2152 |
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