Water relations and growth responses of Uniola paniculata (sea oats) to soil moisture and water-table depth

Summary This study examined the water relations and growth responses of Uniola paniculata (sea oats) to (1) three watering regimes and (2) four controlled water-table depths. Uniola paniculata is frequently the dominant foredune grass along much of the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, but its distribution is limited in Louisiana. Throughout most of its range, U. paniculata tends to dominate and be well adapted to the most exposed areas of the dune where soil moisture is low. Dune elevations in Louisiana, however, rarely exceed 2 m, and as a result the depth to the water table is generally shallow. We hypothesized that if U. paniculata grows very near the water-table, as it may in Louisiana, it will display signs of water-logging stress. This study demonstrated that excessive soil moisture resulting from inundation or shallow water-table depth has a greater negative effect on plant growth than do low soil moisture conditions. Uniola paniculata's initial response to either drought or inundation was a reduction of leaf (stomatal) conductance and a concomitant decrease in leaf elongation. However, plants could recover from drought-induced leaf xylem pressures of less than-3.3 MPa, but prolonged inundation killed the plants. Waterlogging stress (manifested in significantly reduced leaf stomatal conductances and reduced biomass production) was observed in plants grown at 0.3 m above the water table. This stress was relieved, however, at an elevation of 0.9 m above the water table. As the elevation was increased from 0.9 to 2.7 m, there were no signs of drought stress nor a stimulation in growth due to lower soil moisture. We concluded that although U. paniculata's moisture-conserving traits adapt it well to the dune environment, this species can grow very well at an elevation of only 0.9 m above the water table. Field measurements of water-table depth in three Louisiana populations averaged about 1.3 m. Therefore, the observed limited distribution of U. paniculata along the Louisiana coast apparently cannot be explained by water-logging stress induced by the low dune elevations and the corresponding shallow water-table depth.     

Growth and carbon allocation of Agropyron desertorum following autumn defoliation

Summary Growth and carbon allocation of a cool season tussock grass, Agropyron desertorum, following defoliation of newly initiated tillers in the autumn of 1988 and 1989 were investigated. Tiller density and mortality, reproductive shoot density, root density, biomass, individual tiller weight, carbon allocation, and soil water depletion were used to evaluate the response of A. desertorum to autumn grazing. Tiller recruitment was lower in the autumn-defoliated treatment in both years compared with the control because of the cessation of tiller development following autumn defoliation. Autumn defoliation also significantly reduced the movement of ¹³C to the roots in 1988 but not in 1989. Soils were cooler and drier in 1989. Other plant growth measurements and soil water depletion rates were not different between treatments. Autumn defoliation in 1988 did not influence tiller recruitment in the following autumn. Two consecutive years of autumn defoliation did not affect tiller overwinter mortality or peak standing crop in 1990.     

Demographic variability in tiller populations of two perennial pampa grasses

Abstract. The general objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the importance of internal influences in regulating the tiller dynamics in natural populations of the warm-season perennial grasses Paspalum dilatatum and Sporobolus indicus, coexisting in Argentine flooded pampa, in as much as they act independently of the underlying external environment, and (2) to evaluate the extent to which interactions between internal and external factors affect the variation in tiller dynamics within such populations. Within-population variation in seasonal development of plants and tillers with different neighbour composition was studied for an annual growth cycle. Tiller survival and tillering were significantly influenced by tiller size. Tiller age influenced tiller fate, as suggested by the additive effects of age and size of tillers. These relationships varied with season and with species. Size and age of tillers showed additive effects with their neighbouring species on the tiller fate of P. dilatatum, but the effects of age and size of S. indicus changed according their neighbourhood. Tiller survival of S. indicus during the early growth season was more size-dependent when the cold-season species Poa lanigera, was the principal neighbour. Flowering and tillering probabilities were positively related through their common positive responses to tiller size. Tiller survival and recruitment between different seasons were strongly related. Independently of neighbour composition, tiller survival was generally inversely related to tiller recruitment in previous seasons. Therefore, significant density-dependent mortality of tillers was found for both species during the early summer when tiller density was expressed by basal area units.     

Physiological responses in two populations of Andropogon glomeratus Walter B.S.P. to short-term salinity

Summary Andropogon glomeratus is a C₄ nonhalophytic grass which exhibits population differentiation for tolerance to short-term salinity exposure. To investigate possible physiological mechanisms whch enable salt-tolerant individuals to survive short-term inundation, gas exchange and water relations parameters were measured before and during a 5-day watering treatment of half-strength synthetic seawater in plants from a tolerant and a non-tolerant population. Photosynthetic recovery was followed for 10 days after the salinity treatment. Photosynthetic CO₂ uptake was substantially inhibited in both populations. Stomatal conductances decreased and intercellular CO₂ concentrations increased, indicating non-stomatal factors were primarily responsible for the decrease in CO₂ uptake. After termination of the salinity treatment photosynthetic capacity increased more rapidly in the tolerant population and reached the pretreatment level after 6 days, whereas the nontolerant population did not recover fully after 10 days. A-Ci curves measured before and after the salinity treatment indicated a decrease in the carboxylation efficiency, and suggested a proportionately greater metabolic inhibition relative to the increase in the stomatal limitation. Osmotic adjustment occurred in a 2-day period in the tolerant population, but there was no change in the osmotic potentials or the water potential at the point of turgor loss in the nontolerant population. Thus short-term salt tolerance in the marsh population is associated with rapid osmotic adjustment and recovcry of photosynthetic capacity shortly after the end of the salinity exposure, rather than maintenance of greater photosynthesis during the salinity treatment.     

Effects of variable precipitation on the structure and diversity of a California salt marsh community

Abstract. We measured the effects of annual variation in climate and experimentally augmented rainfall on patterns of distribution and above-ground productivity in annual plant communities at Carpinteria Salt Marsh in central California. In the driest year, Hutchinsia procumbens was codominant throughout much of the upper marsh; however, Hutchinsia was very rare or not present in the wetter years. Conversely, Juncus bufonius was common in the wettest year and absent in the driest year. Elevational distributions of other annual species also differed among years with different total precipitation. In 1989–1990, an exceptionally dry season, supplemental water decreased soil salinity, increased above-ground productivity of annuals, and caused significant changes in spatial patterns and relative density. In the lowest zone, Hutchinsia occurred only in watered plots and supplemental water increased the density of Spergularia marina. At intermediate elevations Lasthenia glabrata occurred only in watered plots and supplemental water increased the density of Spergularia, Hutchinsia, and Parapholis incurva. At upper elevations, Juncus occurred only in watered plots, and Lasthenia was the only species that increased significantly in density with watering. Unlike natural shifts in species abundance, no species declined significantly in cover in any zone in the watered treatment. Although climatic variation has complex affects on annual plant communities, our experiments isolated important affects of total annual rainfall on the structure of annual plant communities that were similar to those that occurred with natural variation in rainfall. We conclude that variation in total annual precipitation promotes dynamic community composition and spatial distributions among years, and thus increases overall species diversity in the salt marsh.     

An AFLP-based survey of genetic diversity among accessions of sea oats (Uniola paniculata, Poaceae) from the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coast states of the United States

Uniola paniculata, commonly known as sea oats, is a C₄ perennial grass capable of stabilizing sand dunes. It is most abundant along the Gulf of Mexico and southeastern Atlantic coastal regions of the United States. The species exhibits low seed set and low rates of germination and seedling emergence, and so extensive clonal reproduction is achieved through production of rhizomes, which may contribute to a decline in genetic diversity. To date, there has been no systematic assessment of genetic variability and population structure in naturally occurring stands in the USA. This study was conducted to assess the genetic relationship and diversity among nineteen U. paniculata accessions representing eight states: Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Twelve AFLP EcoRI+MseI primer combinations generated a wide range of polymorphisms (42–81%) with a mean of 59%. Overall, the sea oats plants exhibited a low range of genetic similarity. Florida accessions, FL-33 and FL-39, were most genetically diverse and the accessions from both Carolinas and Virginia (NC-1, NC-11, SC-15, and VA-53) harbored less genetic variability. Cluster analysis using the UPGMA approach separated U. paniculata plants into four major clusters which were also confirmed by principal coordinate analysis (PCO). Further examination of the different components of genetic variation by analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated the largest proportion of variability at the state level (47.8%) followed by the variation due to the differences among the genotypes within an accession (34.4%), and the differences among the accessions within a state (17.8%). The relationship between genetic diversity and geographic source of sea oats populations of the United States as revealed through this comprehensive study will be helpful to resource managers and commercial nurseries in identifying suitable plant materials for restoration of new areas without compromising the adaptation and genetic diversity.     

Recovery of sandy beach and maritime forest vegetation on Phuket Island (Thailand) after the major Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004

Question: How rapidly has the sandy beach and maritime forest vegetation on Phuket recovered and regenerated after the impact of the major Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004? What are the characteristics of sandy beach species for regenerating their populations and the invasion patterns of originally non-sandy beach species or other newcomers after the tsunami? Location: Phuket Island, southern Thailand. Methods: Species composition of beaches was studied on the same research plots 6 months before and 9 months after the tsunami. The changes in individual species cover before and after the tsunami were determined by χ² tests. Change in community composition was analysed by detrended correspondence analysis. The relationship between species and environmental factors was analysed by canonical correspondence analysis. Results: The sites disturbed by the tsunami were often invaded by annuals, especially grasses and asteraceous plants, rather than by perennials. In contrast, species with clonal growth by stolons decreased significantly. Factors determining the species habitat differences were soil hardness (penetration resistance of sandy soil), per cent silt content, soil water content and beach management. Habitat differences among originally non-sandy beach herbaceous species that expanded their population or moved to the coast after the disaster were defined by sand accretion or erosion caused by the tsunami. Many sandy beach herbaceous communities changed into Dactyloctenium aegyptium communities because of the tsunami were originally constituted by non-sandy beach D. aegyptium with Cenchrus echinatus. Although the forest floors of most maritime forests were invaded by originally non-sandy beach Tridax procumbens, Eleusine indica or D. aegyptium because of the tsunami, this did not result in a change in the vegetation unit, because species' loss was restricted to the understorey. In time, these forests will recover their previous community composition. Conclusions: Our results suggest that originally non-sandy beach native species invaded the disturbed beaches rapidly after the tsunami but their habitats differ. Sites where sand accumulated on a beach because of the tsunami were invaded by D. aegyptium and E. indica, whereas soil erosion permitted invasion by Digitania adscendens. Tridax procumbens establishes rapidly on wet sites with hard soil, high per cent silt content and low beach management pressure. Sandy beach species with subterranean long rhizomes are strongly tolerant of such disasters. We concluded that the species composition of the beaches disturbed by a temporary large disaster is determined by dormancy and growth forms, with radicoid form being influential.     

Shading and Watering as a Tool to Mitigate the Impacts of Climate Change in Sea Turtle Nests

Increasing sand temperatures resulting from climate change may negatively impact sea turtle nests by altering sex ratios and decreasing reproductive output. We analyzed the effect of nest shading and watering on sand temperatures as climate mitigation strategies in a beach hatchery at Playa Grande, Costa Rica. We set up plots and placed thermocouples at depths of 45cm and 75cm. Half of the plots were shaded and half were exposed to the sun. Within these exposure treatments, we applied three watering treatments over one month, replicating local climatic conditions experienced in this area. We also examined gravimetric water content of sand by collecting sand samples the day before watering began, the day after watering was complete, and one month after completion. Shading had the largest impact on sand temperature, followed by watering and depth. All watering treatments lowered sand temperature, but the effect varied with depth. Temperatures in plots that received water returned to control levels within 10 days after watering stopped. Water content increased at both depths in the two highest water treatments, and 30 days after the end of water application remained higher than plots with low water. While the impacts of watering on sand temperature dissipate rapidly after the end of application, the impacts on water content are much more lasting. Although less effective at lowering sand temperatures than shading, watering may benefit sea turtle clutches by offsetting negative impacts of low levels of rain in particularly dry areas. Prior to implementing such strategies, the natural conditions at the location of interest (e.g. clutch depth, environmental conditions, and beach characteristics) and natural hatchling sex ratios should be taken into consideration. These results provide insight into the effectiveness of nest shading and watering as climate mitigation techniques and illustrate important points of consideration in the crafting of such strategies.     

根茎在羊草响应短期NaCl胁迫过程中的作用

根茎是根状茎型克隆植物的特有结构,在养分储存、运输和分蘖茎的形成等方面起关键性作用。然而有关根茎生理学方面的研究却十分匮乏。为了探讨根茎在植物感应环境胁迫中的作用, 本文以羊草(Leymus chinensis)为实验材料,研究和比较了短期NaCl胁迫根、根茎、根和根茎3种处理方式下羊草对盐胁迫的响应。试验结果表明:200 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理羊草根、根茎、根和根茎24 h,显著(p<0.05)降低羊草叶片净光合速率和蒸腾速率,增加叶片渗透浓度与脯氨酸含量;其中同时处理根和根茎叶片,蒸腾速率和净光合速率的降低程度显著高于分别处理根和根茎。在分别处理根与根茎的情况下,叶片含水量、脯氨酸含量、净光合速率、蒸腾速率均无显著性差异。不论单独胁迫根、根茎还是同时胁迫根和根茎,羊草根、根茎和叶片内Na⁺含量都显著高于对照,而羊草根、根茎和叶片内K⁺含量都显著低于对照。这些结果显示:1)根茎在羊草响应盐胁迫的生理过程中与根系具有类似的功能;2)羊草根茎在盐胁迫条件下能够有效地吸收Na⁺;3)鉴于根茎的生物量和表面积都明显地低于根系,在盐胁迫下羊草根茎吸收Na⁺的效率高于根系。     

Physiological responses of two contrasting desert plant species to precipitation variability are differentially regulated by soil moisture and nitrogen dynamics

Alterations in global and regional precipitation patterns are expected to affect plant and ecosystem productivity, especially in water‐limited ecosystems. This study examined the effects of natural and supplemental (25% increase) seasonal precipitation on a sotol grassland ecosystem in Big Bend National Park in the Chihuahuan Desert. Physiological responses – leaf photosynthesis at saturating light (A_sat), stomatal conductance (g_s), and leaf nitrogen [N] – of two species differing in their life form and physiological strategies (Dasylirion leiophyllum, a C₃ shrub; Bouteloua curtipendula, a C₄ grass) were measured over 3 years (2004–2006) that differed greatly in their annual and seasonal precipitation patterns (2004: wet, 2005: average, 2006: dry). Precipitation inputs are likely to affect leaf‐level physiology through the direct effects of altered soil water and soil nitrogen. Thus, the effects of precipitation, watering treatment, soil moisture, and nitrogen were quantified via multivariate hierarchical Bayesian models that explicitly linked the leaf and soil responses. The two species differed in their physiological responses to precipitation and were differentially controlled by soil water vs. soil nitrogen. In the relatively deeply rooted C₃ shrub, D. leiophyllum, A_sat was highest in moist periods and was primarily regulated by deep (16–30 cm) soil water. In the shallow‐rooted C₄ grass, B. curtipendula, A_sat was only coupled to leaf [N], both of which increased in dry periods when soil [N] was highest. Supplemental watering during the wet year generally decreased A_sat and leaf [N] in D. leiophyllum, perhaps due to nutrient limitation, and physiological responses in this species were influenced by the cumulative effects of 5 years of supplemental watering. Both species are common in this ecosystem and responded strongly, yet differently, to soil moisture and nitrogen, suggesting that changes in the timing and magnitude of precipitation may have consequences for plant carbon gain, with the potential to alter community composition.     

The effects of aspect and exposure on the growth of dune grasses in Cape Hatteras National Seashore

During the month of July 1974, various growth parameters were measured forUniola paniculata (sea oats) andAmmophila breviligulata (American beach grass), plants on the dunes of east- and south-facing beaches of Cape Hatteras. The data were grouped based on the exposure and aspect of dunes studied. ForUniola, height of the flowering culm, number of flowering culms/m², and the height of leaves of non-flowering plants were the most diagnostic parameters. ForAmmophila, the height of the leaves of non-flowering plants was diagnostic. Generally, theUniola plants on the foredunes were taller than those on the backdunes. Plants growing on the southfacing beach were taller than their counterparts on the east-facing beach. On the southfacing beach, the side of the dunes which faces away from the ocean had the taller plants. On the east-facing beach, the side facing the ocean tended to have taller plants. ForAmmophila, the tallest plants were on the back portions of overwash areas. The next tallest occurred on the front of overwash sites. TheAmmophila plants on the ocean side of the dunes were taller than the plants on the back side of the dunes.Presented at the Seventh International Biometeorological Congress, 17–23 August 1975, College Park, Maryland, U.S.A.     

Survival and Growth of Planted Uniola paniculata and Dune Building Using Surrogate Wrack on Perdido Key Florida,U.S.A.

The increasing number of stresses on coastal dune ecosystems requires the use of more effective restoration strategies to enhance dune‐building and increase vegetation reestablishment. In this study, the use of a wheat straw as a surrogate wrack was an effective method to improve growth of spring planted Uniola paniculata (sea oats). Approximately 1,000 U. paniculata plugs were planted within 21 × 4 m plots at six replicate sites. Two weeks later, plantings were divided into 11 × 4 m subplots with half of the subplots receiving five bales of wheat straw and the remaining subplots receiving no wheat straw. This surrogate wrack layer measured approximately 10 cm in depth. Mean aboveground biomass of U. paniculata 6 months after planting with surrogate wrack was 9.25 ± 1.00 g compared with 2.18 ± 0.24 g without surrogate wrack. Number of tillers, tiller height, and basal width were also greater at the end of the first growing season for plants treated with surrogate wrack (p < 0.05). Two years after planting, significantly more inflorescences occurred and aboveground biomass (g/m²) was greater with than without surrogate wrack. Sand accumulation was notably greater with surrogate wrack (11.16 cm) than without wrack (7.78 cm) 8 months after planting (p = 0.1093). However, relative sand accumulation was significantly greater with than without surrogate wrack 2 years after planting. Increased sand accumulation suggests surrogate wrack either directly or indirectly traps more sand by creating an additional obstacle or promoting the growth of dune grasses.     

Observations on the maintenance and measurement of soil water in simple pot experiments and its effects on seed-borne Fusarium culmorum seedling blight of winter wheat

A simple method for maintaining and measuring soil water and the relationship between soil water and seed-borne Fusarium culmorum seedling blight of wheat was investigated under controlled environmental conditions to develop reproducible assay conditions for epidemiological studies and the testing of fungicide seed treatments. For reproducibility, soil matric potential (ψ_m) was used to define soil water, and a range of watering regimes were tested. Treatments were watered to either a maximum ψ_m or to maintain a mean ψ_m in order to establish which parameter best described the effect that soil water had on the incidence of disease symptoms. The severity of disease symptoms was closely related to the mean soil water status and not the maximum ψ_m value. Watering intervals, ranging from three times a day to once every three days, did not affect this relationship. The percentage of seedlings showing symptoms after emergence (i.e. localised or extensive necrotic lesions) was inversely related to the mean ψ_m. With increasing soil dryness (mean ψ_m from -0.14 MPa to -0.17 MPa) the percentage of seedlings with post-emergence symptoms decreased from 50% to 20%. However, as the mean ψ_m changed from -0.14 MPa to -0.17 MPa the percentage of seedlings dying before emergence increased from 25% to 55% in direct proportion to ψ_m. Overall the incidence of infection as indicated by the total number of seedlings showing symptoms either before or after emergence remained relatively constant, and was not significantly related to mean ψ_m.     

Tillering in grain sorghum over a wide range of population densities: identification of a common hierarchy for tiller emergence,leaf area development and fertility

Most studies of tiller development have not related the physiological and morphological features of each culm to its subsequent fertility. This introduces problems when trying to account for the effects of tillering on yield in crop models. The objective of this study was to detect the most likely early determinants of tiller fertility in sorghum by identifying hierarchies for emergence, fertility and grain number of tillers over a wide range of assimilate availabilities. Emergence, phenology, leaf area development and dry weight partitioning were quantified weekly for individual tillers and main culms of tillering and uniculm plants grown at one of four densities, from two to 16 plants m(-2). For a given plant in any given density, the same tiller hierarchy applied for emergence of tillers, fertility of the emerged tillers and their subsequent grain number. These results were observed over a range of tiller fertility rates (from 7 to 91%), fertile tiller number per plant at maturity (from 0.2 to 4.7), and tiller contribution to grain yield (from 5 to 78 %). Tiller emergence was most probably related to assimilate supply and light quality. Development, fertility and contribution to yield of a specific tiller were highly dependent on growing conditions at the time of tiller emergence, particularly via early leaf area development of the tiller, which affected its subsequent leaf area accumulation. Assimilate availability in the main culm at the time of tiller emergence was the most likely early determinant of subsequent tiller fertility in this study.     

TAC4 controls tiller angle by regulating the endogenous auxin content and distribution in rice

Tiller angle, an important component of plant architecture, greatly influences the grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Here, we identified Tiller Angle Control 4 (TAC4) as a novel regulator of rice tiller angle. TAC4 encodes a plant‐specific, highly conserved nuclear protein. The loss of TAC4 function leads to a significant increase in the tiller angle. TAC4 can regulate rice shoot gravitropism by increasing the indole acetic acid content and affecting the auxin distribution. A sequence analysis revealed that TAC4 has undergone a bottleneck and become fixed in indica cultivars during domestication and improvement. Our findings facilitate an increased understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of tiller angle and also provide a potential gene resource for the improvement of rice plant architecture.     

Effects of salinity and temperature on ex situ germination of the threatened Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster,Symphyotrichum laurentianum Fernald (Nesom)

The threatened Gulf of St. Lawrence Aster, Symphyotrichum laurentianum Fernald (Nesom), is an annual coastal halophyte of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. We examined the effects of salinity (0–20 g/L) and temperature (16–30°C) on germination of S. laurentianum seeds over 32 days. The time‐course of germination was significantly affected by both salinity and temperature. At lower temperatures (16°C and 23°C), germination was inhibited by salt water at days 16 and 32. However, at 30°C germination rates after 16 days were highest at an intermediate salinity, whereas after 32 days germination was uniformly high in all salinity treatments. Overall, the effect of temperature on germination was much stronger than the effect of salinity. Delays in germination resulting from exposure to salinity or from low soil temperatures could set up strong size asymmetries between seedlings of S. laurentianum and the surrounding vegetation, leading to suppression of growing seedlings via shading. Because germination has the potential to be a significant population bottleneck for this seed‐dependent annual, conservation efforts should consider microsite suitability for germination in the management of natural populations and in the selection of sites for explants.     

Establishment and growth of seedlings of Eucalyptus obliqua: Interactive effects of litter,water, and pathogens

We studied how leaf litter, water and fungal pathogens affect the establishment, survivorship, and growth of Eucalyptus obliqua using glasshouse and field experiments. In a glasshouse experiment, the presence of leaf litter of E. obliqua increased the establishment of seedlings when the seeds were placed beneath the litter, but dense litter layers reduced seedling emergence when seeds were placed on top. Results from a complementary experiment suggest that the effect of litter may be mediated by the high humidity microenvironment it creates, which may enhance imbibition of unburied seeds. In another glasshouse experiment, litter in combination with excessive water applications reduced seedling emergence and increased seedling mortality, but the addition of fungicide reverted these effects. Litter with lower water application or fungicide added increased seedling emergence. In all cases higher biomass in seedlings growing in litter treatments was associated with earlier emergence. In two recently burnt sites, the density of seedlings of E. obliqua was positively correlated to the presence of litter. Experimental addition of litter in the field reduced soil temperature during the summer, and together with watering, increased soil water content, and the water potential of established seedlings. However, neither treatment had any positive effect on their growth or survivorship. On the contrary, litter addition reduced the height and number of leaves, probably as a result of increased herbivory. We conclude that in Mediterranean-type systems litter may produce various effects on seedling establishment depending on their developmental stage, and the season.     

Emergence and Seedling Growth of a Cultivated and a Wild Strain of Safflower under Various Amounts of Simulated Rainfall

Two separate experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different planting depths and irrigation regimes on the emergence and seedling heights of a cultivated (Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. Arak 2811) and a wild strain (C. oxyacantha Bieb.) of safflower. In the first experiment, three planting depths (0.5, 2.0 and 3.5 cm) and four water levels (6,9,12, and 15 mm) were used. Water was applied only once at the start of the experiment. For Arak 2811, the highest emergence percentage and seedling height were obtained when seeds were planted 0.5 cm deep in the soil and irrigated with the equivalent of 12 mm of rainfall. In the second experiment, five water levels (3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 mm) were applied at 3-day intervals for a period of 25 days and the planting depth was 0.5 cm. For Arak 2811, the seedlings emerged within 4 to 7 days after the first watering while for the wild strain, the emergence started on the 4th day and continued up to the 17th day. The emergence percentage of the wild safflower was almost half of that of the cultivated strain. However, the emerged wild seedlings were much more resistant to low available water than the seedlings of the cultivated variety of safflower.     

CLONAL INTEGRATION ACROSS A SALT GRADIENT BY A NONHALOPHYTE,HYDROCOTYLE BONARIENSIS (APIACEAE)

This study examined the benefits associated with resource sharing among interconnected ramets spanning a soil salinity gradient. Clones of Hydrocotyle bonariensis, a rhizomatous dune perennial, expand into salt marsh communities from surrounding upland dune systems in coastal North Carolina. In rhizome-severing experiments conducted under both field and laboratory conditions, Hydrocotyle was shown to proliferate ramets under saline conditions, provided that these ramets were connected to other ramets growing in nonsaline conditions. Ramets that benefited from resource integration did not appear to be affected by local salt exposure in that these ramets were morphologically similar to those grown under nonsaline conditions. Supporting ramets incurred no net cost in terms of biomass or ramet production, but there was an increased percent allocation to roots and rhizomes. Ramets grown in saline conditions without the benefit of clonal integration showed high mortality and produced little or no net clonal growth. It is likely that the acropetal movement of water allowed Hydrocotyle clones to ameliorate the heterogeneous saline conditions associated with coastal environments.