Variation in leaf mesophyll anatomy of fern species imposes significant effects on leaf gas exchange, light capture, and leaf hydraulic conductance

The mesophyll anatomical traits are essential factors for efficient light capture, CO2 diffusion, and hydraulics in leaves. At the same time, leaf governed by xylem traits. Thus, simultaneous analyses of anatomy will clarify links among water use. However, such have been scarcely performed, particularly on non-seed plants. Using seven fern species, we first showed that species with a large thickness had high photosynthetic rate related to drought tolerance, low hydraulic conductance. chloroplast surface area (Sc) per significantly decreased an increase thickness, which may diffusion absorption efficiency each chloroplast. Sc was almost constant suggests ferns enhance their capture ability via regulation density.