Morphological, Anatomical, and Physiological Characteristics of Heteroblastic Acacia melanoxylon Grown under Weak Light

Acacia melanoxylon is a fast-growing macrophanerophyte with strong adaptability whose leaf enables heteromorphic development. Light is one of the essential environmental factors that induces the development of the heteroblastic leaf of A. melanoxylon, but its mechanism is unclear. In this study, the seedlings of A. melanoxylon clones were treated with weak light (shading net with 40% of regular light transmittance) and normal light (control) conditions for 90 d and a follow-up observation. The results show that the seedlings' growth and biomass accumulation were inhibited under weak light. After 60 days of treatment, phyllodes were raised under the control condition while the remaining compound was raised under weak light. The balance of root, stem, and leaf biomass changed to 15:11:74 under weak light, while it was 40:15:45 under control conditions. After comparing the anatomical structures of the compound leaves and phyllode, they were shown to have their own strategies for staying hydrated, while phyllodes were more able to control water loss and adapt to intense light. The compound leaves exhibited elevated levels of K, Cu, Ca, and Mg, increased antioxidant enzyme activity and proline content, and higher concentrations of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, ABA, CTK, and GA. However, they displayed a relatively limited photosynthetic capacity. Phyllodes exhibited higher levels of Fe, cellulose, lignin, IAA content, and high photosynthetic capacity with a higher maximum net photosynthetic rate, light compensation point, dark respiration rate, and water use efficiency. The comparative analysis of compound leaves and phyllodes provides a basis for understanding the diverse survival strategies that heteroblastic plants employ to adapt to environmental changes.