Foliar elemental microprobe data and leaf anatomical traits consistent with drought tolerance in Eucalyptus largiflorens (Myrtaceae)

In food-productive river basins, ecosystems reliant on natural flows are affected by climate change and water removal. One such example is Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), to which the ecologically important black box tree Eucalyptus largiflorens (Myrtaceae) unique. Little known about its mineral nutrition response flooding. A field study conducted at Hattah Kulkyne National Park MDB examined nutrient Al distribution in mature young foliage of trees whose status varied with respect presence surface floodwaters. Black also interest due emerging evidence capacity accumulate high foliar salt concentrations. Here, cryo scanning electron microscopy alone (SEM), combined energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were applied evaluate leaf anatomy elemental patterns cellular whole-leaf levels. Variation levels across flooded dry aligned nutritional fluctuations this drought-tolerant species occasional infrequent The microprobe data provide drought tolerance demonstrating that extended conditions lack do not elicit anatomical changes nor storage these elements. Foliar Na concentrations ~2000–6000 mg kg–1 DW found co-localised Cl mesophyll dermal cells leaves, suggesting vacuolar disposal as a detoxification strategy.