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Estimation of chlorophyll in Quercus leaves using a portable chlorophyll meter: effects of species and leaf age

Estimation de la chlorophylle dans les feuilles de Quercus en utilisant un chlorophyllomètre portable : effets de l’espèce et de l’âge des feuilles

Annals of Forest Science volume 67, page 108 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • The potential of a chlorophyll meter (CCM-200, Opti-Sciences, Tyngsboro, MA, USA) for the estimation of total leaf chlorophyll contents was evaluated in leaves of different developmental stages for Quercus pyrenaica Willd., Q. faginea Lam., Q. suber L. and Q. ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.

  • • For all species and leaf stages, a strong non-linear relationship (P < 0.0001) was found between the chlorophyll content index (CCI) and leaf chlorophyll content per unit area. In all species, the slope of the CCI-chlorophyll content relationship varied during leaf development, suggesting that caution should be exercised when using the CCM-200, since the interpretation of CCI readings should be limited to samples of similar leaf age. Also, the data indicate that the models should also be speciesspecific, owing to differences in the intercept and/or slope of the equations.

  • • The addition of fresh LMA as a complementary parameter improved the accuracy of chlorophyll estimation in non-species-specific equations to a considerable extent when leaf samples of similar development were considered.

  • • After due consideration, it may be concluded that the CCM-200 chlorophyll meter is a reliable method for acquiring an estimation of chlorophyll contents in Mediterranean Quercus species, with potential use as an effective tool in forest management.

Résumé

  • • Le potentiel d’un chlorophyllomètre (CCM-200, Opti-Sciences, Tyngsboro, MA, USA) pour l’estimation du contenu total des feuilles en chlorophylle a été évalué dans des feuilles à différents stades de développement chez Quercus pyrenaica Willd., Q. faginea Lamb. Q. suber L. et Q. ilex L. subsp. ballota (Desf.) Samp.

  • • Pour toutes les espèces et les feuilles à différents stades, une forte relation non linéaire (P < 0,0001) a été trouvée entre l’index de teneur en chlorophylle (CCI) et la teneur en chlorophylle des feuilles par unité de surface. Chez toutes les espèces, la pente de la relation CCI-teneur en chlorophylle a varié avec le développement de la feuille, ce qui suggère que la prudence est de mise lors de l’utilisation du CCM-200,puisque l’interprétation des indications du CCI devraient être limitées à des échantillons de feuilles d’âge similaire. Aussi, les données indiquent que les modèles devraient également être spécifiques à l’espèce, en raison des différences dans l’interception et/ou la pente des équations.

  • • L’ajout de nouvelles LMA en tant que paramètre complémentaire a amélioré la précision de l’estimation de la chlorophylle dans les équations non spécifiques de l’espèce, et ceci dans une large mesure lorsque des échantillons de feuilles de développement similaires ont été examinés.

  • • Après mûre réflexion, il peut être conclu que le chlorophyllomètre CCM-200 est une méthode fiable pour l’acquisition d’une estimation de la teneur en chlorophylle des espèces méditerranéennes de Quercus, avec la possibilité de l’utiliser comme un outil efficace pour la gestion des forêts.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Área de Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Unamuno, 37007, Salamanca, Spain

    Fernando Silla, Ana González-Gil, Ma Esther González-Molina, Sonia Mediavilla & Alfonso Escudero

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  1. Fernando Silla
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  2. Ana González-Gil
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  3. Ma Esther González-Molina
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  4. Sonia Mediavilla
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Correspondence to Fernando Silla.

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Silla, F., González-Gil, A., González-Molina, M.E. et al. Estimation of chlorophyll in Quercus leaves using a portable chlorophyll meter: effects of species and leaf age. Ann. For. Sci. 67, 108 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest/2009093

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Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X