水淹对水竹光合生理特征的影响

为探究耐淹速生竹种水竹对不同程度水淹胁迫的光合生理响应,以一年生水竹(Phyllostachys heteroclada)为试验材料,以正常浇水为对照组,测定根部全淹及根部半淹处理下水竹光合气体交换参数、光合色素及叶片资源利用效率随水淹时长产生的差异。结果表明：水淹胁迫第3天,半淹处理的水竹叶片净光合速率、光饱和点和蒸腾速率较对照均出现显著上升,而全淹胁迫下则无显著差异,其后均随胁迫时间的延长而下降,下降幅度与胁迫程度呈正相关;水淹胁迫处理第6天,水竹叶片气孔导度均显著高于对照组,后呈下降趋势;水淹胁迫导致水竹胞间CO₂浓度呈现先下降后上升的趋势,至第9天与对照组的数据差异不显著,其恢复时长与胁迫程度呈正相关;暗呼吸速率及光补偿点则随胁迫时长的增加而上升;总光合色素呈现先下降后上升趋势,叶绿素与类胡萝卜素的比例仍保持在3∶1,而叶绿素a与叶绿素b的比例从3∶1下降至2∶1;叶片水分利用率呈现先下降后上升的趋势,而表观光能利用率与表观CO₂利用率均呈现下降趋势,其下降幅度随水淹时长的延长而逐渐减小。研究表明,半淹胁迫短期内对水竹的光合作用表现出...     

EFFECTS OF LONG-TERM SUBMERGENCE ON SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY GROWTH OF FOUR RIPARIAN PLANT SPECIES IN THREE GORGES RESERVOIR REGION, CHINA

 地瓜藤(Ficus tikoua)、荻(Triarrhena sacchariflora)、牛鞭草(Hemarthria altissima)和狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)是三峡库区常见的岸生植物, 自然分布于河岸带不同垂直高程的地段。为了明确它们在成库后“三峡库区消落区”长期完全水淹条件下的存活和生长情况, 实验设置对照(不进行水淹, 常规供水管理)和完全水淹两个处理, 30、60、90、120、150和180 d 6个水淹时间水平, 研究了4种植物在完全水淹条件下的存活、生物量变化和恢复生长。结果发现: 1) 4种植物在完全水淹条件下的存活率与其在河岸带上的垂直分布高程密切相关。分布于距江面高程较高的河岸段的地瓜藤植株, 在全淹30 d后就全部死亡; 分布在中高程河岸段的荻在全淹150和180 d后全部死亡; 可以分布于低高程河岸段的牛鞭草和狗牙根, 淹没180 d后存活率分别为90%和100%。2)全淹抑制了荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根的生长, 总生物量增量显著低于对照植株。与水淹0 d相比, 全淹处理植株的地上部分生物量显著降低, 荻在全淹60和120 d后, 地下部分生物量显著降低, 但牛鞭草和狗牙根的地下部分生物量与水淹0 d水平相比无显著差异。3)水淹处理结束后, 存活的荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株都能很好地恢复生长。在恢复生长过程中, 全淹30、60和90 d后, 荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总分枝长相对生长速率与对照植株无显著差异, 全淹120、150和180 d后, 牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总分枝长相对生长速率显著高于对照植株。全淹处理的荻、牛鞭草和狗牙根植株的总叶片数相对生长速率始终显著高于对照植株。遭受长期完全水淹后, 植株在有限的营养储备条件下, 快速产生叶片以迅速积聚光合产物可能是植物更为优化的恢复生长方式。     

淹水对三峡库区消落带香附子生理特性的影响

为了阐明香附子对三峡库区消落带水淹的耐淹机理,该研究模拟三峡库区消落带夏季汛期水淹环境,设置常规水分管理(CK)、根部水淹(T1)、半淹(T2)以及全淹(T3)4个不同处理组,研究香附子对不同淹水环境的生理响应机制。结果显示:(1)经过45d的水淹处理,所有水淹处理香附子叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素以及总叶绿素的含量均显著下降,但叶绿素a/b值仍维持在CK水平;(2)淹水并没有增加T1和T3处理植株可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量,但显著增加了T2植株叶片脯氨酸和可溶性糖的含量;(3)随着水淹时间的延长,各水淹处理植株叶片丙二醛含量逐渐升高,且自水淹15d后均与CK植株差异显著;(4)所有水淹处理香附子植株SOD、CAT和APX等抗氧化酶活性均有所增加,但随着水淹时间的继续延长,T3植株叶片SOD和CAT活性逐渐下降。(5)经过45d的水淹处理,各水淹处理植株淀粉含量在叶和根中均显著增加。研究表明,虽然淹水对香附子产生了一定的伤害,但香附子能够通过调节体内各种保护酶活性和渗透调节物质含量来增加对水淹的抵御能力,而且根部高浓度淀粉含量也为香附子耐受水淹胁迫提供了稳定的能量供应。     

刈割与水淹对三峡库区消落带优势物种狗牙根存活及恢复生长的影响

三峡库区消落带蓄水期间植物腐烂分解释放的养分会增加库区的富营养化风险,水淹前刈割是消减水体污染风险的有效方式之一,但刈割对库区消落带适生植物恢复生长的影响尚不清楚。为探究三峡库区消落带适生植物对水淹和刈割胁迫的耐受情况,选取消落带适生植物狗牙根为研究对象,设置对照(CK)、浅淹(SF)、浅淹-对照(SFK)、全淹(TF)、全淹-对照(TFK)5种水淹处理和不刈割(NC)、留茬30 cm(S30)、留茬20 cm(S20)、留茬10 cm(S10)4个刈割强度,研究不同水淹和刈割处理对狗牙根存活、生长和光合特征的影响。结果表明：(1)狗牙根在不同水淹和刈割处理下整体可保持较高的存活率(≥83.3%)。(2)刈割和水淹处理对狗牙根的形态生长和生物量分配均存在显著影响。与对照相比,SF组狗牙根的根长、基径和生物量显著降低,TF组狗牙根的株高、基径、根长和生物量显著降低,但是SFK和TFK处理(脱离水淹胁迫)相比SF和TF组却显著增长。(3)刈割和水淹处理对狗牙根的光合速率影响显著,其中SF组狗牙根的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)和蒸腾速率(Ci)显著降低,TF处理叶片全部凋落无光合作用...     

淹水对三峡库区消落带香附子生长及光合特性的影响

为了阐明三峡库区消落带水位变化对香附子实生幼苗的影响,本研究模拟三峡库区消落带水淹环境,设置对照(CK)、根淹(T1)、半淹(T2)、全淹(T3)4个处理组,揭示香附子对库区消落带水位变化引起的不同水淹环境的光合生理响应机制。结果表明:经过45d的水淹后,所有处理香附子植株的基径、茎高和非光化学淬灭都有所增加,说明香附子植株对不同水淹环境都做出了积极的响应;植株叶长、叶宽及地上生物量在不同水淹环境中有不同的响应,与对照相比,半淹处理植株叶长、叶宽及地上生物量有所增加,而根淹、全淹处理植株叶长、叶宽及地上生物量有所下降;随着水淹时间的增加,所有水淹处理植株叶片比叶面积、净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率、最大光化学效率、电子传递速率以及光化学淬灭都显著低于对照,根淹和半淹植株虽有下降,但仍能保持较高的水平,而全淹植株则下降明显。研究表明,香附子能很好地适应水淹环境(尤其是部分水淹环境),未来可以应用于三峡库区消落带的植被重建,特别是针对长期遭受水位涨落的低海拔区域(145～160m),同时,香附子响应水淹的特性也为未来三峡库区消落带耐淹植物的筛选提供了依据。     

长期深淹对三峡库区三种草本植物的恢复生长及光合特性的影响

硬秆子草（Capillipedium assimile）、双穗雀稗（Paspalum distichum）和狗牙根（Cynodon dactylon）在经受与三峡水库水位运行节律基本一致的水淹时间和水淹持续时期,但淹水深度（0、5、15和25m）不同的处理后,对其进行了恢复生长和光合特性研究。结果表明：（1）3种草本植物之间相比,狗牙根的存活率最高,所有处理植株存活率达到了100％;硬秆子草和双穗雀稗随着水淹深度的增加,存活率呈降低趋势,5in深处理存活率达到了100％,15in和25m深处理存活率在80％以上。（2）3种草本植物恢复生长后的叶片净光合速率Pn、蒸腾速率Tr、气孔导度Gs、水分利用效率WUE和表观CO2利用效率CUEapp与未淹对照相比没有显著差异;不同物种相同水淹处理之间比较,狗牙根的各光合指标显著高于硬秆子草和双穗雀稗。（3）结合三峡库区消落带植被恢复物种筛选的基本条件和本试验不同处理植株的恢复生长及其光合特性的研究,结果表明,硬秆子草、双穗雀稗和狗牙根是能够忍耐长期深淹胁迫的、适宜于三峡库区消落带植被恢复与重建的优良物种。三者之间的耐淹能力从大到小依次为：狗牙根〉硬秆子草〉双穗雀稗。     

三峡库区岸生植物秋华柳对水淹的光合和生长响应

为阐明三峡库区岸生植物秋华柳(Salix variegata)对水淹的耐受机制,模拟三峡库区消落带水淹发生的情况,研究了在不同水淹时间和水淹深度处理下秋华柳的光合和生长特性。实验设置了对照(不进行水淹,常规供水管理)、水淹根部(植株置于水中,植株地下部分被淹没)、水下0.5 m(植株置于水中,植株顶部在水面下0.5 m)和水下2 m(植株置于水中,植株顶部在水面下2 m)4个不同的水淹深度和0、10、20、40、60和90 d 6个不同的水淹时间处理,并测定了在不同水淹时间和水淹深度处理下秋华柳的光合作用、叶绿素荧光和生长。研究结果发现:随着水淹时间的延长,对照和水淹根部植株都具有高的净光合速率、表观量子效率和羧化效率。水淹40 d后,相同水淹深度处理秋华柳植株的净光合速率显著高于耐水湿环境的垂柳(Salix babylonica)(p<0.05)。水淹90 d后,全淹处理植株的光合能力较对照有显著的下降(p<0.05),对照、水下0.5 m和水下2 m植株的净光合速率分别为13.2、10.1和8.05 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,同时全淹植株PSII的最大光化学效率也有一定程度的下降,显著低于对照和水淹根部处理的植株(p<0.05)。水淹40、60和90 d后,全淹植株的胞间CO₂浓度都高于对照和水淹根部植株。随着水淹时间的增加,水淹根部植株不定根数量不断增加,而全淹植株只有极少量的不定根产生。水淹根部植株的主茎长的增量、分枝数的增量、主茎新生叶片数、根生物量的积累和总生物量的积累都高于全淹植株,全淹植株在水淹过程中,其主茎长、分枝数、主茎新叶数、根生物量和总生物量都有增加,同时其凋落叶片较多。水淹90 d后,秋华柳植株的存活率为100%。研究结果表明,秋华柳在经过较长时间的水淹后,表现出较强的光合和生长适应性,可以考虑将秋华柳列为三峡库区消落带植被构建的物种之一。     

三峡库区狗牙根对深淹胁迫的生理响应

选取三峡库区自然消落带野生狗牙根(XC)和非消落带野生狗牙根(FC)为研究对象,采用三重复裂区设计试验,主区为两品种,副区为6个不同深度水淹处理(0,1,2,5,10m和15m),分析了各处理植株几种酶活性和碳水化合物含量的变化情况.结果显示:①不同生境狗牙根受深淹胁迫后,丙二醛(MDA)都呈递增趋势,表明狗牙根在深淹胁迫下受到了不同程度的膜脂过氧化伤害,且随胁迫程度的增加受伤害增大.②超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性和醇脱氢酶(ADH)活性较对照都有所增加;XC处理POD和SOD的最大值出现在5m深水淹处理,而FC出现在2m深处理,且XC 5米深淹处理GR值较对照和其他处理明显大;各受淹处理地下茎可溶性糖含量和淀粉含量都保持在较高水平.③从抗氧化酶活性和ADH活性的变化规律,以及淹水胁迫下植株的能量代谢情况,初步得出XC与FC都具有一定的耐淹性,且XC较FC具更耐深淹的能力,表明狗牙根作为禾本科植物遗传上具有一定的耐淹性,自然消落带狗牙根因长期生长于水淹胁迫环境,耐淹能力得到了进一步强化.从狗牙根对深淹胁迫的生理响应上,证明狗牙根是宜用于三峡水库消落带植被恢复的物种.     

水淹对互花米草生长及生理的影响

研究了互花米草在不同没顶水淹时间处理下,株高、叶面积等生长指标以及叶片光合速率与色素、脯氨酸、可溶性糖和蛋白质含量等生理指标变化情况。结果表明,随着水淹时间延长,米草株高和叶面积呈下降趋势,叶片光合速率下降;叶片中自由水/束缚水、叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量、可溶性糖在不同水淹时长处理之间也存在显著差异;但可溶性蛋白质和游离脯氨酸含量在各处理间差异无显著性。     

四种水库消落带植物对水淹环境的适应性研究

研究了百花湖消落带四种优势植物双穗雀稗(Paspalum distichum)、空心莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)、牛鞭草(Hemarthria altissima)和狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)在模拟水淹环境下的生长指标和叶绿素含量,以期了解其对水淹环境的适应特征。结果表明:1) 水淹条件下,双穗雀稗、空心莲子草和牛鞭草生长加剧,狗牙根生长缓慢,四种植物损失了不适应全淹环境的分枝和叶片。2)双穗雀稗、牛鞭草和狗牙根表现为茎的生长,空心莲子草表现为茎和分枝的生长。植株顶端冒出水面后,双穗雀稗、空心莲子草和牛鞭草叶的生长加剧。3)四种植物的叶绿素a、b的含量降低,叶绿素b降低比叶绿素a更显著,叶绿素a/b值显著升高。植株顶端冒出水面后,双穗雀稗、空心莲子草和牛鞭草叶绿素a、b含量显著升高,叶绿素a/b值显著降低。4)经过不断地适应和进化后,四种植物能更好地适应水淹环境。     

狗牙根营养繁殖体对模拟水淹的生物学响应

研究了水淹条件下狗牙根(Cynodon daetylon)繁殖体的形态特征和生物量的变化及其水淹后的恢复状况.结果表明,水淹深度的增加会诱导植株茎快速增高,而叶片数则明显下降.水淹时间对植株叶片数、茎直径、茎与根长比的影响显著,而对分枝数、茎长、根长、茎节数不显著.植株地上部生物量和总生物量随着水淹时间的延长而显著减少,但地下部生物量的变化不显著.所有实验处理的植株水淹后都能存活且恢复生长.但水淹对恢复期植株的生长仍有影响,植株的茎长、根长、分枝数、直径、叶片数、叶长、宽度以及叶的长宽比都随水淹时间的延长而显著减少,但茎节数与叶片数的差异不显著.根、茎、叶生物量和植株总生物量也随着水淹时间的延长而减少.实验表明狗牙根繁殖体通过延长茎长、改变叶形和减少生物量等方式对水淹显示出较强的耐受能力.     

泥沙掩埋和干旱对三峡库区消落带狗牙根生长恢复的影响

三峡库区消落带植物恢复不仅面临长期淹水逆境,还面临泥沙、干旱等环境因素的胁迫。蓄水期后引种三峡库区消落带狗牙根,掩埋于不同粒径和埋深的沉降泥沙,探讨泥沙掩埋、干旱对反季节淹水后狗牙根出苗和生长恢复的影响。结果表明:在埋深≥8cm和粒径1.25 mm条件下消落带狗牙根萌发苗不能穿透覆盖层出苗。泥沙掩埋导致狗牙根出苗率显著降低,随着埋深增加狗牙根出苗率迅速下降;并且在埋深相同的条件下随着粒径减小狗牙根出苗速率呈增大趋势。随着埋深增加和粒径减小处理组株高、叶长的增长显著被抑制,处理组的株高、叶片数、叶长显著低于对照组。随着干旱、泥沙掩埋复合胁迫时间延长狗牙根分株株高、叶片数、叶长、叶宽的生长发育显著被抑制,且随着泥沙粒径减小和埋深增加其光合电子传递速率呈显著降低趋势,热耗散量显著增大。同时,干旱、泥沙掩埋复合胁迫导致处理组分株光合电子传递速率和热耗散能力显著低于对照组,光合作用能力显著降低,易受到夏季高光伤害。因此,三峡库区周年淹水导致狗牙根对泥沙掩埋以及干旱复合胁迫的耐受能力显著降低,在泥沙掩埋以及干旱复合胁迫下消落带狗牙根的生长恢复能力随粒径减小和埋深增加呈显著降低趋势,会导致库区消落带狗牙根种群衰退演替加快。     

高羊茅对高温的生理生态响应

分析了昼/夜38℃/30℃高温下2种高羊茅草坪草(凌志和交战Ⅱ)与狗牙根叶片的相对含水量、叶绿素含量、细胞膜脂过氧化、抗氧化系统以及光合作用等生理生态指标的变化.结果表明:随高温时间的延长,2种高羊茅的相对含水量、叶绿素含量、净光合速率和最大光能转化效率均呈降低趋势,而且凌志高羊茅的平均降幅小于交战Ⅱ高羊茅.经过9d的高温处理,凌志高羊茅叶片超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶的平均活性比交战Ⅱ高羊茅分别高19.7%、17.9%和17.7%,而凌志和交战Ⅱ高羊茅的净光合速率分别下降了60.7%和81.9%.与交战Ⅱ高羊茅相比,凌志高羊茅具有更高的光化学转换功能,有利于减轻高温对光合器官的损伤,使其保持较高的净光合速率.在整个高温处理过程中,狗牙根的各项生理生态指标随时间变化的差异不显著.狗牙根、凌志高羊茅和交战Ⅱ高羊茅对高温胁迫的适应能力由强到弱.     

Don’t leave me behind: viability of vegetative propagules of the clonal invasive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carpobrotus edulis</Emphasis> and implications for plant management

The capacity of succulent plants to create new invasive focus starting from disconnected plant fragments involves severe difficulties in the management of invaded areas. In the case of the succulent stoloniferous Carpobrotus edulis, clonality further difficults land restoration since management practices usually fragment and outspread vegetative propagules. In order to contribute to a better management of this highly invasive species, we explored fragment viability during the first month after disconnection. We hypothesized that period after separation from maternal clumps and propagule size, both influence the capacity of C. edulis to establish and develop new vegetative structures. With this objective, we separate apical fragments with two different sizes that were sown under greenhouse conditions after a sequence of storing time. We further examined morphological and physiological attributes as survival, length growth and biomass, FW/DW ratio, relative water content and leaf hydration, osmolarity and fluorescence. Biochemical parameters were also included through the measurement of phenol and tannin content together with photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll _a,b and carotenoids) and derived ratios. After 2 months, apical propagules did not show signs of morphological, physiological or biochemical deterioration with increasing storing periods. Propagules showed improved or at least similar performance after storing for longer periods, with slight or no differences between different sized propagules in morphological or physiological values as indicated by the absence of enhanced leaf water status, the maintenance of photosynthetic efficiency (high F_v/F_m values) and the stability in photosynthetic pigments content. Our results indicate that the growth of C. edulis propagules is not significantly constrained during the first month after disconnection, no matter the size of apical fragment considered. As a final remark, we consider that our results are important to ameliorate and efficiently monitor and manage invaded areas where C. edulis had been recently eliminated.     

三峡库区消落区几种两栖植物的适生性评价

根据三峡库区消落区的环境特征,两年间通过在库区消落区山地实验基地的种植及实地淹没试验,对几种备选用于生态修复的两栖植物进行适生性评价筛选研究.结果表明:狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)、野地瓜藤(Ficus tikoua)、尼泊尔蓼(Polygonum nepalense )、水花生( Alternanthera philoxeroides)、百喜草(Paspalum Notatum )、香根草(Vetiveria zizanioides)、苏丹草(Sorghum sudanense)在100～150d的低水位出露期内均可完成生长、发育成熟过程,可作为消落区生态恢复的备选物种.其中,苏丹草可作为速生物种,能迅速恢复水位下降后消落区的植被覆盖率;复合群落在生长期间比单一种群提前5～10d完成对地表的覆盖,群落的稳定性、耐淤积性及抗干扰性较强,次年的萌发也更好,有利于构建稳定的生态系统;狗牙根、尼泊尔蓼和野地瓜藤根系生长良好,其中狗牙根在一个生长季内根系最长可达75cm, 有利于消落区控制水土流失;在自然水淹最深为15m,淹没时间6d的情况下,复合群落组植物、尼泊尔蓼、野地瓜藤、狗牙根和苏丹草的植物均能短期耐水淹和淤泥,水花生则是在水淹较深处能够生长良好;180d水下1.0～1.5m的连续淹水实验结果表明,狗牙根和野地瓜藤的耐淹性较强,经过长达半年的淹水过程能够成活,并在次年自然萌发;同时5～25m的深部淹水实验表明,随着深度增加,狗牙根的落叶率逐步提高,在180d的淹没后能够成活,并在次年自然萌发,可作为构建消落区生态系统的两栖植物物种.     

夜间变暖提高荫香叶片的光合能力

研究了不同氮供应的条件下夜间变暖对荫香叶片光合能力的影响。当植株生长在相同的日间温度(25℃),而夜间温度从18℃增至20℃时,叶片的光合速率增高(p<0.05)。高氮供应的植株,夜间变暖下其叶片光合速率较低氮供应的高,氮供应增高能促进夜间变暖提高叶片光合速率的效应。在低氮供给和夜间变暖下,植株叶片的光下呼吸和暗呼吸的增高显著(p<0.05)。无论在高氮或低氮供应下,生长在夜间变暖下的植物,其叶片的R ub isco最大羧化速率(Vcm ax)和光合电子传递最大速率(Jm ax)增高(p<0.05),氮供应能增强夜间变暖对Vcm ax和Jm ax的正向效应。夜间变暖降低植株叶片的比叶重,而增加单位叶干重的氮含量(Nm),单位叶面积的氮含量(Na)没发生明显变化。随着全球气候变化,夜间趋暖将有利于树木叶片光合能力的提高,结合高氮供给将会明显地增高植物的碳固定。     

Effects of root flooding and stage of development on the growth and photosynthesis of field bean (Vicia faba L. minor)

Field bean plants were subjected to flooding stress for 7 days, during two stages of development: at the vegetative phase (4-week-old seedlings) and at the generative phase (8-week-old plants). The height of plants, total area of leaves, the number of undamaged leaves, dry plant matter, chlorophyll content, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) activity, the maximum quantum yield of PS2 photochemistry (Fv/Fm ratio), the photosynthesis rate (P _N) and stomatal conductance (g _s) were determined. A strong reduction in stem elongation and leaf area as well as in dry matter production was observed as a result of flooding. The responses from vegetative plants were greater than in generative plants. Waterlogging decreased chlorophyll a and b in leaves, notably at the vegetative stage, and persisted after cessation of flooding. After flooding, photosynthesis was strongly reduced and positively correlated with decreased stomatal conductance. Damage to the photosynthetic apparatus resulted in a lower Fv/Fm especially in young seedlings. In vegetative plants Fv/Fm quickly returned to the control levels after the soil was drained. The results show that an excess of water in the soil limits growth and injures the photosynthetic apparatus in field beans, but that the extent of the injury is strongly age dependent.     

Responses to flooding intensity in Leontodon taraxacoides

Natural flooding is one of the major factors affecting vegetation dynamics in many regions of the world. The Flooding Pampa Grasslands (Argentina) are frequently exposed to flooding events of diverse intensity and duration, some of which Leontodon taraxacoides , an exotic dicot. frequent in these grasslands, seems to survive. Its responses to four different water depths (0, 1, 7 and 13 cm) were studied. The results indicate that plants in conditions of total submergence (depth of 13 cm) did not survive. In less severe flood conditions, increases in the leaf insertion angle resulted in the maintenance of a large proportion of the total leaf area above the water. Differences in leaf length and a decrease in the width and the proportion of lobes per leaf were also found under partial submergence conditions (depth of 7 cm). Root and leaf aerenchyma, present in unflooded plants, showed a significant increase in flood conditions. In spite of the anatomical and morphological responses, total biomass and leaf area were severely affected by water depth. Control plants allocated more biomass to reproductive organs, while partly submerged plants allocated more to leaves and less to reproductive organs. Mature L. taraxacoides plants presented a wide range of plastic adjustment as a survival strategy in soil anaerobiosis, and appear to be able to survive short spring floods in a vegetative state; in contrast, they might not tolerate total submergence conditions imposed by more intense and long-lasting floods.     

Vegetative and reproductive phenology of the mangrove Kandelia obovata

Mangroves in the subtropical area of Japan are growing to their northern limits, yet little is known of their phenology. The aim of the present study was to understand both vegetative and reproductive phenology patterns, such as leaf emergence, leaf fall, bud setting, flowering, fruiting and propagule setting, in the mangrove Kandelia obovata. The phenology of this species was assessed using litter‐fall data for 5 years. Leaf and stipule litter‐falls continued with a clear monthly pattern throughout the years. New leaf production and leaf fall peaked in summer, immediately after the propagules fell. Leaf and stipule litter‐falls were linked to monthly sunshine hour, and monthly mean air temperature and monthly mean air relative humidity, respectively. Kandelia obovata had a distinct flowering period, with the flowering phenophase starting in spring and continuing into summer. Fruit initiation started at the end of summer and continued into autumn, whereas propagule production occurred during winter and spring. Flowering of K. obovata was influenced by monthly sunshine hour and monthly mean air temperature, whereas fruit and propagule litter‐falls were not linked to any climatic factors. The present results showed that a small portion (4.4%) of flowers developed into propagules. The average development period from flower buds to mature propagules was approximately 11 months. Kendall's consistency coefficient suggested that the monthly trends in vegetative and reproductive litter‐fall components, except for branches, did not change significantly among years.