Leaf epicuticular wax and cuticle of the Polar Urals plants grown under contrasting geochemical conditions

摘要

The epicuticular wax and cuticle structure of upper and lower leaf epidermal cells has been investigated in 11 plant species which grew under contrasting geochemical conditions (hypomatic, serpentinits, rocks with high concentrations of nickel and typical zonal acidic slate soils) in the Polar Urals. No difference in the structural types of wax deposits and cuticle of leaves in plants of the same species grown on different substrates was found. Structural type of cuticle and wax deposits is species_specific. However there are quantitative variations in the epicuticular wax density and cuticle thickness. The density of wax particles and the cuticle thickness are lower in plants grown on serpentinits, compared with those grown on slate soils. Based on a widespread concept of serpentinomorphosis and data obtained it is assumed that quantitative variations of the epicuticular wax density and cuticle thickness correlate with high concentrations of soil nickel. The notion of serpentinomorphosis is introduced.