Nitrogen acquisition by annual and perennial grass seedlings: testing the roles of performance and plasticity to explain plant invasion

Differences in resource acquisition between native and exotic plants is one hypothesis to explain invasive plant success. Mechanisms include greater resource acquisition rates and greater plasticity in resource acquisition by invasive exotic species compared to non-invasive natives. We assess the support for these mechanisms by comparing nitrate acquisition and growth of invasive annual and perennial grass seedlings in western North America. Two invasive exotic grasses (Bromus tectorum and Taeniatherum caput-medusae) and three perennial native and exotic grasses (Pseudoroegneria spicata, Elymus elymoides, and Agropyron cristatum) were grown at various temperatures typical of autumn and springtime when resource are abundant and dominance is determined by rapid growth and acquisition of resources. Bromus tectorum and perennial grasses had similar rates of nitrate acquisition at low temperature, but acquisition by B. tectorum significantly exceeded perennial grasses at higher temperature. Consequently, B. tectorum had the highest acquisition plasticity, showcasing its ability to take advantage of transient warm periods in autumn and spring. Nitrate acquisition by perennial grasses was limited either by root production or rate of acquisition per unit root mass, suggesting a trade-off between nutrient acquisition and allocation of growth to structural tissues. Our results indicate the importance of plasticity in resource acquisition when temperatures are warm such as following autumn emergence by B. tectorum. Highly flexible and opportunistic nitrate acquisition appears to be a mechanism whereby invasive annual grasses exploit soil nitrogen that perennials cannot use.     

Effects of the habitat-soil factor on transgenerational plasticity in a diaspore-polymorphic cold desert annual

Plant and Soil - We determined effects of soil from three habitats differing in physiochemical properties on transgenerational plasticity in diaspore production of the diaspore-polymorphic annual...     

Within-generation and transgenerational plasticity in growth and regeneration of a subordinate annual grass in a rainfall experiment

Precipitation changes may induce shifts in plant species or life form dominance in ecosystems, making some previously subordinate species abundant. The plasticity of certain plant functional traits of these expanding subordinate species may be one possible mechanism behind their success. In this study, we tested if the subordinate winter annual grass Secale sylvestre shows plasticity in growth and reproduction in response to altered environment associated with field-scale rainfall manipulations (severe drought, moderate drought, and watering) in a semiarid grassland, and whether the maternal environment influences offspring germination or growth in a subsequent pot experiment. Compared to control plots, S. sylvestre plants grew 38% taller, and produced 32% more seeds in severe drought plots, while plants in watered plots were 17% shorter, and had 22% less seeds. Seed mass was greatest in severe drought plots. Plants growing in drought plots had offspring with enhanced juvenile shoot growth compared to the progeny whose mother plants grew in watered plots. These responses are most likely explained by the decreased cover of previously dominant perennial grasses in severe drought plots, which resulted in wetter soil compared to control and watered plots during the peak growth of S. sylvestre. We conclude that the plasticity of this subordinate annual species in response to changing environment may help to gain dominance with recurring droughts that suppress perennial grasses. Our results highlight that exploring both within-generation and transgenerational plasticity of subordinate species may lead to a better prediction of changes in plant species dominance under climate change.

     

Superoxide dismutase and total peroxidase activities in relation to drought recovery performance of mycorrhizal shrub seedlings grown in an amended semiarid soil

We studied the effect of inoculation with a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, Glomus deserticola (Trappe, Bloss. & Menge) and Glomus mosseae (Nicol & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe) and addition of a composted organic residue on plant growth, nutrient uptake, mycorrhizal colonisation and superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and total peroxidase (POX, EC 1.11.1.7) activities in shoots of Juniperus oxycedrus seedlings after well-watered, drought and recovery periods. The mycorrhizal inoculation and composted residue addition significantly increased the growth, foliar nutrients (N, P, K) and shoot water content of the plants, independent of the water regime. POX activity in control plants increased during drought (about 250% higher than under well-watered conditions) and returned to initial levels after re-watering. The seedlings inoculated with AM fungi showed the highest values of POX activity, followed by the plants grown in the amended soil, which varied little during the drought and recovery periods. Drought decreased the SOD activity in shoots of both J. oxycedrus seedlings inoculated with AM fungi and those grown with composted residue, but did not affect that of control plants. After re-watering, the SOD activity in mycorrhizal or residue-amended plants increased, showing values similar to control plants.     

土壤干旱胁迫对九头狮子草和圆苞金足草幼苗形态和生理特性的影响

采用称重控水法控制土壤相对含水量分别为(85.0±2.5)％(对照)、(67.5±2.5)％(轻度干旱)、(50.0±2.5)％(中度干旱)和(32.5±2.5)％(重度干旱),对土壤干旱胁迫条件下九头狮子草[Peristrophe japonica (Thunb.)Bremek.]和圆苞金足草(Goldfussia pentstemonoides Nees)2年生苗的植株形态及生理特性变化进行了研究.结果表明:经土壤干旱胁迫处理30 d后供试2种植物的外部形态均有一定变化,其中九头狮子草主要变化为叶片失绿、变薄且萎蔫、枝条下垂;圆苞金足草主要变化为茎干倒伏、叶片变软且叶柄低垂.随土壤干旱胁迫程度的增加,供试2种植物叶片的自然饱和亏、临界饱和亏、需水程度、束缚水含量、束缚水与自由水的含量比值、脯氨酸含量和可溶性糖含量均呈逐渐增加的趋势且均高于对照,而自由水含量、最高水势、最低水势和可溶性蛋白质含量均逐渐降低且总体上低于对照.总体上看,在重度干旱胁迫条件下供试2种植物各生理特性均与对照有极显著或显著差异,而在轻度或中度干旱胁迫条件下部分指标与对照无显著差异.供试2种植物各生理指标的变化幅度有明显差异,在同一干旱胁迫条件下九头狮子草叶片的自然饱和亏、需水程度、自由水含量、最高水势和最低水势的降幅、脯氨酸含量和可溶性蛋白质含量的降幅均高于圆苞金足草,其临界饱和亏、束缚水含量、束缚水与自由水的含量比值和可溶性糖含量均低于圆苞金足草.综合分析结果表明:供试2种植物对土壤干旱胁迫均具有一定的耐性,但圆苞金足草具有更强的抵御干旱的生理机制.     

Phenotypic plasticity in response to mechanical stress: hydrodynamic performance and fitness of four aquatic plant species

Plastic responses of plants exposed to mechanical stress can lead to modified, performance-enhancing, morphologies, sometimes accompanied by costs to reproduction. The capacity to present short-term plastic responses to current stress, the resulting performance (expected lower mechanical forces), and the costs of such responses to reproduction were tested for four aquatic plant species. Two ramets of the same genet were submitted to running vs standing water treatment. Traits describing the morphology, hydrodynamic performance and reproduction (sexual and vegetative) were measured. For one species, plastic responses led to reduced hydrodynamic forces, without apparent costs to reproduction, indicating that the plastic response could be beneficial for plant maintenance in stressful habitats. For two species, plastic responses were not associated with variations in performance and reproduction, possibly because of the low hydrodynamic forces experienced, even for morphologies produced under standing conditions. For one species, plastic responses were associated with a sharp decrease in sexual reproduction, without variations in performance, revealing the negative impact of currents over a short time scale. Species maintenance is linked to the capacity of individuals to tolerate mechanical forces. The contrasting responses to currents may be a key element for predicting community dynamics.     

Growth features of Acacia tortilis and Acacia xanthophloea seedlings and their response to cyclic soil drought stress

Seedlings of Acacia tortilis (Forsk) Hyne and Acacia xanthophloea Benth. were raised under controlled glasshouse conditions. Control plants were watered daily while other treatments involved withholding water for 2, 4 and 6 days with 1‐day rehydration to container capacity. Compared to A. tortilis, A. xanthophloea seedlings showed higher leaf area, relative growth rates and total dry weight production under adequate water supply conditions. However, with increased water stress, A. xanthophloea seedlings could not alter their pattern of carbon allocation, retaining their root : shoot (r : s) ratio of about 0.5. By comparison, A. tortilis seedlings shifted carbon allocation to the roots, leading to a r : s ratio of 1.5 in water‐stressed seedlings, compared to 0.5 in the control plants. The ability of A. tortilis to reallocate carbon to the roots away from the shoots and to actually increase root growth compared to A. xanthophloea was a dehydration postponement strategy that may be important in species survival during drought.     

Cytokinin-producing, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria that confer resistance to drought stress in Platycladus orientalis container seedlings

One of the proposed mechanisms through which plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) enhance plant growth is the production of plant growth regulators, especially cytokinin. However, little information is available regarding cytokinin-producing PGPR inoculation on growth and water stress consistence of forest container seedlings under drought condition. This study determined the effects of Bacillus subtilis on hormone concentration, drought resistance, and plant growth under water-stressed conditions. Although no significant difference was observed under well-watered conditions, leaves of inoculated Platycladus orientalis (oriental thuja) seedlings under drought stress had higher relative water content and leaf water potential compared with those of noninoculated ones. Regardless of water supply levels, the root exudates, namely sugars, amino acids and organic acids, significantly increased because of B. subtilis inoculation. Water stress reduced shoot cytokinins by 39.14 %. However, inoculation decreased this deficit to only 10.22 %. The elevated levels of cytokinins in P. orientalis shoot were associated with higher concentration of abscisic acid (ABA). Stomatal conductance was significantly increased by B. subtilis inoculation in well-watered seedlings. However, the promoting effect of cytokinins on stomatal conductance was hampered, possibly by the combined action of elevated cytokinins and ABA. B. subtilis inoculation increased the shoot dry weight of well-watered and drought seedlings by 34.85 and 19.23 %, as well as the root by 15.445 and 13.99 %, respectively. Consequently, the root/shoot ratio significantly decreased, indicative of the greater benefits of PGPR on shoot growth than root. Thus, inoculation of cytokinin-producing PGPR in container seedlings can alleviate the drought stress and interfere with the suppression of shoot growth, showing a real potential to perform as a drought stress inhibitor in arid environments.     

马尾松菌根化苗木对干旱的生理响应及抗旱性评价

采用温室盆栽方法,研究了持续干旱及复水处理后,接种褐环乳牛肝菌7、牛肝菌1、鸡油菌、彩色豆马勃和土生空团菌的马尾松苗木生理变化,并对菌根化苗木进行抗旱性评价.结果表明:在持续干旱条件下,马尾松苗木的丙二醛和相对质膜透性随之增加,但菌根化苗木的丙二醛和相对质膜透性均显著低于未接种苗木(对照);复水后,菌根化苗木中丙二醛和质膜透性较对照迅速降低.在持续干旱胁迫前21 d,马尾松苗木超氧阴离子自由基产生速率增加,同时也诱导了菌根化苗木中过氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和硝酸还原酶活性显著增加.随着胁迫时间的延长,苗木复水后的恢复能力各异.在胁迫14 d复水后,苗木过氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和硝酸还原酶的活性均得以恢复.菌根化苗木抗旱性的强弱为牛肝菌7＞牛肝菌1＞鸡油菌＞土生空团菌＞彩色豆马勃.过氧化物歧化酶和丙二醛与马尾松菌根化苗木抗旱性关联度较大,可以作为抗旱鉴定的主要指标.     

Grasshoppers amensalistically suppress caterpillar performance and enhance plant biomass in an alpine meadow

Amensalism may be common between non‐trophically linked animals in natural ecosystems, where variation among species in body sizes and foraging modes may give rise to one‐sided interference. However, species and ecosystem‐level consequences of animal–animal amensalism are largely unknown. In a Tibetan alpine meadow, dominant herbivorous grasshoppers trigger a death feigning anti‐predator response of co‐occurring grassland caterpillars despite posing no consumptive threat. We hypothesized that: 1) grasshoppers reduce the performance of caterpillars while incurring no cost to themselves; and 2) this amensalism reduces top–down control of plant composition and biomass. We tested these hypotheses by factorial manipulation of both herbivores within replicate field enclosures. Grasshoppers significantly suppressed caterpillar feeding, growth rate, survival, reproductive effort and delayed metamorphosis. In contrast, grasshopper performance was unaffected by the caterpillars. Suppression of caterpillar feeding decreased overall herbivore suppression of plant biomass by 58% and shifted the functional composition of the plant community (i.e. increased sedge: forb ratio). These results suggest that consideration of non‐trophic interactions such as amensalism will help predict the consequences of species losses for the structure and functioning of ecosystems.     

Photosynthesis and photoprotection under drought in the annual desert plant Anastatica hierochuntica

Anastatica hierochuntica is an annual desert plant, which was recently shown to have unusually low nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) and a high PSII electron transport rate (ETR). In the current study, we examined how these unusual characteristics are related to a lack of CO₂ and inhibition of net photosynthetic rate (P_N). We compared the photosynthetic and photoprotective response of A. hierochuntica and sunflower (Helianthus annuus), under conditions of photosynthetic inhibition, with either low CO₂ or drought. We found that under nonsteady state conditions of low CO₂ availability, A. hierochuntica exhibited about half of the NPQ values and almost twice of the ETR values of H. annuus. However, the long-term inhibition of P_N under drought caused a similar increase in NPQ and a decrease in ETR in both A. hierochuntica and H. annuus. These results suggest that the unusually low NPQ and high ETR in A. hierochuntica are not directly related to a response to drought conditions.     

Phenotypic plasticity and mechanical stress: biomass partitioning and clonal growth of an aquatic plant species

Mechanical stresses from wind, current or wave action can strongly affect plant growth and survival. Survival and distribution of species often depend on the plant's capacity to adapt to such stresses, particularly when amplified by climatic variations. Few studies have dealt with plastic adjustments in response to mechanical stress compared to resource stress. We hypothesized that mechanical stress should favor plastic adjustments that result in increased biomass production in zones protected from the stress and that altered growth patterns should be reversible after mechanical stress removal. Here we measured plastic adjustments in morphological traits and clonal architecture for an aquatic clonal species (Berula erecta) under two contrasting mechanical stresses in the field-standing vs. running water. Reversion of the morphological changes was then assessed using transplants in standing water. In the case of mechanical stress, size reduction, biomass reallocation within clones (higher allocations to clonal growth and to belowground organs), and a more compact growth form (reduced spacer lengths) contributed to reducing the damage risk. The removal of mechanical stress induced compensatory growth, probably linked to the production of low density tissues. However, most patterns of dry mass partitioning induced by current stress were not reversed after stress removal.     

The fate of surface roots of citrus seedlings in dry soil

The top portions of the root system of deeply rooted plantsare frequently in dry soil while deeper roots still have accessto water. We expected that many surface roots would be shedwhen subject to localized soil drying. We further hypothesizedthat the cost of fine root construction per unit root lengthwould be negatively correlated with the rate at which root lengthis shed. Seedlings of four citrus root- stocks that varied widelyin specific root length (cm g^–1 root) were used to testthese hypotheses. Plants were grown for 4 months in a split-potsystem divided into a top and bottom pot. After roots were wellestablished in the bottom pot, water was withheld from the toppots of half of the plants; plants were harvested every 2 weeksthereafter. Sufficient water was supplied to the bottom potto prevent shoots of droughted seedlings from experiencing significantwater stress. All plants were labelled with ¹⁴CO₂ 48 h beforeharvesting, and autoradiographs made of the fine roots harvestedfrom the droughted compartment. Comparisons of the autoradiographswith digitized images of the root system allowed us to assessroot mortality and root sink activity. As expected, the proportionof ¹⁴C-labelled photosyrithate allocated to fine roots in thetop pot declined with soil drying in all four genotypes; however,there was no genotypic effect on this decline. Contrary to ourexpectations, extensive root mortality was not apparent forany genotype, even after 60 d of localized soil drying. Apparently,selection for rapid shedding of roots in response to soil dryinghas not occurred in these Citrus species. Key words: Carbon allocation, drought, root death, split root, root autoradiography     

Morphological and ecophysiological plasticity in dioecious plant Populus tomentosa under drought and alkaline stresses

Photosynthetica - Morphological and ecophysiological traits showed by male and female Populus tomentosa Carr. trees were studied under various degrees of water and alkaline stresses. The results...     

干旱胁迫下尖果沙枣幼苗的根系活力和光合特性

以尖果沙枣1年生实生苗为材料,研究了自然干旱时不同土壤相对含水量对幼苗叶片细胞质膜相对透性、叶片相对含水量、根系活力、光合色素含量和光合参数等指标的影响.结果表明:土壤相对含水量从70%(CK)降到40%时,幼苗根系活力和净光合速率均逐渐上升并达到最大值,分别为1178μg.g-1.h-1和21.9μmol.m-2.s-1;光合色素含量稳步上升;蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均保持稳定;叶片细胞质膜相对透性保持较低水平.土壤相对含水量从40%降到20%时,幼苗叶片相对含水量仍在50%以上,叶片细胞质膜相对透性仍保持较低水平;根系活力和光合色素含量仍较高;但其他光合参数开始缓慢下降.土壤相对含水量从10%降到5%时,幼苗叶片细胞质膜相对透性急剧上升;叶片相对含水量、根系活力、总叶绿素含量、光合参数均极显著下降;而土壤相对含水量为10%时幼苗表现出最高的水分利用效率.尖果沙枣土壤相对含水量最好控制在40%~50%,其1年生实生苗的永久萎蔫系数为4.3%(土壤相对含水量).     

Response of chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to drought stress in sugar beet seedlings

We compared the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence between two sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) species differing in drought tolerance. Our results indicated that there were different responses to the drought stress of these sugar beet species. In drought-tolerant sugar beet, the F ₀ increased slightly, while qN increased substantially, indicating that these plants can protect PSII reaction centers from the damage. F _v/F _m and qP decreased slightly during the initial period of drought stress; this suggests that there is a slight impact of drought stress on the openness of PSII reaction centers, and thus the plants did not suffer seriously. This was further shown by the decreased Yield and electron transfer rate. The parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence were stable and can be used as an important indicator for sugar beet seedlings in the early drought tolerance.     

Population differentiation for plasticity to light in an annual herb: Adaptation and cost

Phenotypic plasticity allows plants to cope with environmental heterogeneity. Environmental variation among populations may select for differentiation in plasticity. To test this idea, we used the annual plant Geranium carolinianum, which inhabits old fields that are densely vegetated and lack canopy cover and wood margins with tree shade but less neighbor shade. Individuals from three populations of each habitat were planted in natural low and high light environments, and morphological traits important for light acquisition were measured. Old-field plants were more plastic, with greater elongation of petioles and internodes in low light than those from wood margins. This larger shade avoidance response suggests evolution of greater plasticity to neighbor shade than to the tree canopy. Fitness of old-field plants was high across both light environments, whereas fitness of wood-margin plants was reduced in low light. Selection favored longer internodes in low than high light. Finally, plasticity for internode length was negatively associated with fitness in high light, suggesting a cost of plasticity for this trait. Together these results indicate that shade-avoidance plasticity of petiole and internode length is adaptive. However, greater elongation of internode length may be constrained by the cost of plasticity expressed in high light. The evolution of plasticity appears to reflect a balance between its adaptive nature and its cost to fitness.     

Planting position and shade enhance native seedling performance in forest restoration for an endangered malagasy plant

The critically endangered tree Schizolaena tampoketsana is confined to a few diminished and degraded forest fragments on the Malagasy highlands. This habitat is vulnerable to loss due to frequent fires in the surrounding grassland that threaten to spread into the forest. One of these fragments is the focus a conservation project and here the managers aim to conserve S. tampoketsana by restoring its forest habitat to its former extent as evidenced by remnant woody plants. To inform this activity the survival and early-stage growth of seedlings of four locally native tree species were compared under contrasting conditions of proximity to the remaining forest and shade. After 12 months, seedlings of three species(Baronia taratana, Eugenia pluricymosa, Uapaca densifolia) survived better and experienced improved growth in height in grassland close to the existing forest rather than distant from it, and two survived better with shade rather than unshaded. A number of mechanisms could explain these results including reduced exposure to desiccating sunlight and winds and better soil and greater water availability close to the forest. The seedlings of one species(Nuxia capitata) survived well under all conditions. This study suggests that reforestation in these dry highlands is most feasible adjacent to remnant forest fragments and in microhabitats that minimize water loss, though young plants of some tree species may be capable of surviving in harsher conditions.