Through one hundred years of adaptation in China, The Acer negundo Linn. (as hlea f maple), originally grown in North America, has developed morphological charact er istics to cope the severe situation of its habitats. Two ecotypes from different vegetation belts in the ecotone of eastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region wer e detected. Although there was no macroscopic difference, contrasting micro-ch a racteristics had been observed between the two sources. The leaves from more dro ught and warmer zone were found with more trichomes, more and smaller stomata, l arger subsidiary cells, thicker palisade and flatter epidermal wax than those of leaves from the more humid and colder zone. Microstructures of the leaves from xeric sources can more effectively reduce leaf temperature and conserving water than those of mesic sources. Intra-species difference of the two ecotypes is th e result of adaptation in different environments. This should be considered when characteristics of foliage are used as characters of species in taxonomy.
Plant volatiles induced by wounding play key roles in plant-insect and plant-plant interactions. To deeply understand the mechanism of their induction by wounding and their functions in interplant communications, four diverse tree species: ashleaf maples ( Acer negundo L.), hankow willow (Salix matsudana Koidz.), Chinese white poplar ( Populus tomentosa Carr.) and poplar opera 8277 (P. simonii x P. pyramibalis cv.), were used as materials. The blends of volatiles collected after damage were detected with GCMS. Most of the induced compounds reach high concentrations in 5 h. They are acyclic monoterpenes, fatty acid derivatives, and aromatic compounds. To authors' knowledge, dimethyl adipate, diisobutyl succinate and benthothiazole have never been reported in previous herbivore insect-plant systems, After being damaged 2 h, green leaf volatiles were released in large amount. The repellents were detected in higher concentration after 24 h. The time of releasing is different within different species, but many kinds of volatiles widely existed in different trees. There were some difference among species. Health ashleaf maple released more terpenoids, but poplars and willow produced more aromatic compounds.
