Influence of climatic factor on plasticity and asymmetry of laminas of genus Tilia L. species

The properties of bilaterally symmetric laminas of two types: small-leaved limes (Tiliacordata Mill.) and linden broadleaf ones (Tilia platyphyllos Scop.) were compared in the contaminated zone and in the control one (Moscow, 2016-2018). The fluctuating asymmetry (FA) depended on the year and gathering place of laminas, while the plastic variability depended on the year of gathering. The value of FA was higher in T. platyphyllos than in T. cordata. In 2017, the FA of Tilia platyphyllos in the park area (control) was lower than on a traffic highway. The reasons for the increase of the FA were: a) the cold summer of 2017, which inhibited the laminas growth and increased the plastic variability of metric traits; b) motor vehicle pollution. Thus, the climatic conditions of the year contributed to both fluctuation and plastic variability that did not mean a change in the stability of development.