Leaf gas films of Spartina anglica enhance rhizome and root oxygen during tidal submergence

Gas films on hydrophobic surfaces of leaves of some wetland plants can improve O(2) and CO(2) exchange when completely submerged during floods. Here we investigated the in situ aeration of rhizomes of cordgrass (Spartina anglica) during natural tidal submergence, with focus on the role of leaf gas films on underwater gas exchange. Underwater net photosynthesis was also studied in controlled laboratory experiments. In field experiments, O(2) microelectrodes were inserted into rhizomes and pO(2) measured throughout two tidal submergence events; one during daylight and one during night-time. Plants had leaf gas films intact or removed. Rhizome pO(2) dropped significantly during complete submergence and most severely during night. Leaf gas films: (1) enhanced underwater photosynthesis and pO(2) in rhizomes remained above 10 kPa during submergence in light; and (2) facilitated O(2) entry from the water into leaves so that rhizome pO(2) was about 5 kPa during darkness. This study is the first in situ demonstration of the beneficial effects of leaf gas films on internal aeration in a submerged wetland plant. Leaf gas films likely contribute to submergence tolerance of S. anglica and this feature is expected to also benefit other wetland plant species when submerged.