Anatomical and physiological divergences and compensatory effects in two Leymus chinensis (Poaceae) ecotypes in Northeast China

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anatomical and physiological differences between two Leymus chinensis ecotypes coexisted in semi-humid meadow and semi-arid steppe. The study addressed the hypothesis that, at same habitat, the two ecotypes exhibit remarkable divergences in adaptive strategies under drought and salinity, and the function of these strategies is compensatory. Leaf samples were collected from each type at the two sites in field. Sections of 2 cm × 2 cm were cut from the middle of fully expanded leaves and fixed in FAA. Leaf anatomical traits (e.g. stomatal density, leaf thickness and vessel diameters) were examined, and leaf mass per area (LMA), relative water content (RWC), proline, K⁺ and Na⁺ were measured. Compared with the gray green type (GG), the yellow green type (YG) with relative greater LMA and leaf thickness, lower stomatal density and index exhibited more obvious xerophil-liked anatomical traits, while higher RWC, proline, K⁺ and K⁺/Na⁺ for the GG type suggested that the ability of osmotic adjustment and salt tolerance of the GG type were stronger than the YG type. Stronger xerophytic anatomical traits were the supplementary strategies of the YG type for its low ability of osmotic adjustment and salt tolerance to drought and salinity.Concluding, there exist significant differences in anatomical and physiological strategies between the two ecotypes and the compensatory effects of these strategies enable the two ecotypes coexist at similar habitat.