Optical properties of Salvinia auriculata leaves

The purpose of the thesis was to examine optical properties of Salvinia auriculata leaves. Our goal was to find out if any of measured parameters have influence on leaf reflectance and transmittance. We studied anatomical and biochemical properties of leaves and measured transmittance and reflectance. Leaf reflectance and transmittance were measured in the range between 280 nm and 887 nm. Specific leaf area and density were determined. We analysed leaf structure with microscope and we measured the distance between trichomes and leaf tickness (upper and lower epidermis, aerenchyma). Leaf contents of anthocyanin, chlorophyll, carotenoid and UV-absorbing substances were also measured. The results of optical properties showed that chosen plant samples have very low transmittance and reflectance in the UV area (280-40 nm), while the highest transmittance and reflectance was in NIR area (700-887 nm). In this study, we found that optical properties affect both anatomical and biochemical factors, which were positively or negatively related with leaf reflectance and transmittance. The results showed that the reflectance was affected only by anatomical features such as the thickness of the epidermis, the thickness of the aerenchyma and the distance between trichomes. The transmittance wasaffected by anatomical and biochemical properties