REFLECTIVE LIGHT PROPERTIES OF TISSUE LAYERS IN BEECH (FAGUS-SYLVATICA L) LEAVES

Reflective light properties of various tissue layers (adaxial epidermi s, palisade and spongy parenchyma and abaxial epidermis) of beech (Fag us sylvatica L.) leaves were measured using paradermal (parallel to ep idermis) and transverse sections in the visible and infrared spectral bands by a high-resolution reflectance cytophotometer. Results showed an increment of reflectances of rest leaves following successive remov al of paradermal tissue layers (adaxial epidermis, palisade parenchyma , abaxial epidermis). Reflectances of palisade parenchyma with spongy parenchyma and abaxial epidermis increased linearly in the infrared an d green spectral bands with increasing chloroplast count. The enhancem ent of paradermal reflectances with successive removal of paradermal t issue layers was due to various optical effects of tissue/cell layers, whereby removal of paradermal tissue layers containing light absorber s, e.g. chloroplasts/chlorophyll-protein complexes, is of importance. The parabolic relationships found between lateral reflectances and dis tances of various tissue/cell layers from adaxial epidermis indicated lateral reflectances of the mesophyll to be governed mainly by selecti ve chlorophyll absorbances of light according to Lambert-Beer's law.