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<p>Leaf wettability is a key functional trait influencing plant–water interactions, gas exchange, and surface-mediated ecological processes in wetland ecosystems. Despite its ecological importance, the physicochemical determinants of leaf wettability in hydrophytic plants remain poorly understood. This study quantified leaf wettability in nine wetland plant species from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra representing floating, submerged, and emergent habitats. Contact angle measurements were combined with analyses of leaf morphological, anatomical, and physicochemical traits, including leaf dimensions, thickness, water adhesion, stomatal and trichome density, surface structure, and surface free energy, assessed separately for adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Contact angles showed substantial interspecific and surface-specific variation, ranging from 61° to 143° on adaxial surfaces and 47° to 124° on abaxial surfaces. Among all measured traits, surface free energy exhibited a strong and significant negative relationship with contact angle, while most other physical traits did not show significant correlation. The presence of dense trichomes in the floating species <i>Pistia stratiotes</i> promoted water beading, indicating a localized structural influence on wettability. Additionally, Scanning Electron Microscopy further revealed distinct micro- and nanostructural features contributing to surface-specific wettability patterns. These findings position leaf wettability as a functional trait, underscoring the ecological importance of nanoscale surface traits in hydrophyte adaptation and plant–water interactions in freshwater wetlands, with implications for management and restoration.</p>

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Decoding leaf wettability: the role of physiochemical leaf traits in hydrophytic plants

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月19日

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  • Shubham. T. Bole,
  • Ratan. V. More,
  • Mansingraj. S. Nimbalkar,
  • Tukaram. D. Dongale,
  • Nilesh. V. Pawar

摘要

Leaf wettability is a key functional trait influencing plant–water interactions, gas exchange, and surface-mediated ecological processes in wetland ecosystems. Despite its ecological importance, the physicochemical determinants of leaf wettability in hydrophytic plants remain poorly understood. This study quantified leaf wettability in nine wetland plant species from the Western Ghats of Maharashtra representing floating, submerged, and emergent habitats. Contact angle measurements were combined with analyses of leaf morphological, anatomical, and physicochemical traits, including leaf dimensions, thickness, water adhesion, stomatal and trichome density, surface structure, and surface free energy, assessed separately for adaxial and abaxial surfaces. Contact angles showed substantial interspecific and surface-specific variation, ranging from 61° to 143° on adaxial surfaces and 47° to 124° on abaxial surfaces. Among all measured traits, surface free energy exhibited a strong and significant negative relationship with contact angle, while most other physical traits did not show significant correlation. The presence of dense trichomes in the floating species Pistia stratiotes promoted water beading, indicating a localized structural influence on wettability. Additionally, Scanning Electron Microscopy further revealed distinct micro- and nanostructural features contributing to surface-specific wettability patterns. These findings position leaf wettability as a functional trait, underscoring the ecological importance of nanoscale surface traits in hydrophyte adaptation and plant–water interactions in freshwater wetlands, with implications for management and restoration.