Competitive suppression of Quercus douglasii (Fagaceae) seedling emergence and growth

Reduced recruitment of blue oak (Quercus douglasii) seedlings in California grasslands and woodlands may result from shifts in seasonal soil water availability coincident with replacement of the native perennial herbaceous community by Mediterranean annuals. We used a combination of container and field experiments to examine the interrelationships between soil water potential, herbaceous neighborhood composition, and blue oak seedling shoot emergence and growth. Neighborhoods of exotic annuals depleted soil moisture more rapidly than neighborhoods of a perennial grass or "no-neighbor" controls. Although effects of neighborhood composition on oak seedling root elongation were not statistically significant, seedling shoot emergence was significantly inhibited in the annual neighborhoods where soil water was rapidly depleted. Seedling water status directly reflected soil water potential, which also determined the extent and duration of oak seedling growth during the first year. End-of-season seedling height significantly influenced survival and growth in subsequent years. While growth and survival of blue oak seedlings may be initially constrained by competition with herbaceous species, subsequent competition with adult blue oak trees may further contribute to reduced sapling recruitment.     

土壤盐分及水分含量对落羽杉幼苗生长的影响

One year old Taxodium distichum seedlings were grown in pots with varied soil water and salt (NaC1) levels (alone and in combination) under greenhouse conditions to determine their effects on the growth and biomass allocation of the seedlings. The results showed that there were significant effects of soft salt and water contents on the relative height growth, relative stem diameter growth, biaomass increment and allocation, shoot/root ratio, seedling survival, ratio of branch to stem area, ratio of leaf mass to stem area, and ratio of leaf mass to branch area. According to the biomass increment, relative height growth and relative stem diameter growth, 20 treatments were classified into 3 groups by means of systematic cluster analysis. The first one was the treatments waterlogging, flooding, waterlogging 0.15% NaC1, flooding 0.15% NaC1, and waterlogging 0.3% NaC1, which had a high growth, the second one was the treatments flooding 0.45% NaC1, flooding 0.3% NaCl, 75% of field capacity, and 75% of field capacity 0.15% NaCl, which had a medium growth, and the last onewas the treatments 50% of field capacity, 50% of field capacity 0.15% Nat1, waterlogging 0.45% Nat1,25% of field capacity, 25% of field capacity 0.15% NaC1, 75% of field capacity 0.3% NaC1, 75% of field capacity 0.45% NaC1, 25% of field capacity 0.3% NaC1, 50% of field capacity 0.3% NaC1, 50% of field capacity 0.45% NaC1, and 25% of field capacity 0.45% NaC1, which had a poor growth.     

Seedling Growth Form of Oaks

Growth forms of recently-established oak seedlings were comparedamong five species from California and three species from Japan.Evergreen and deciduous species were included, native to a varietyof habitats. Each seedling was grown in a tall tube in orderto measure main root length and was harvested when leaf expansionhad ceased. The effects of light intensity reduced to 5% onseedling growth form were not strong enough to overcome theinnate differences between species. Shoot/root and leaf area/rootweight ratios were smaller in the species from drier environmentswithin each region, though all Californian oaks showed muchgreater root elongation than did the Japanese oaks. Extensiveroot systems combined with small leaf areas would help seedlingssurvival in xeric and open sites. Large leaf areas combinedwith small roots would be profitable for surviving in shadeunder canopy. In oaks of both regions, xeromorphic evergreengrowth forms are clearly distinguished from hygromorphic evergreengrowth forms. Seedling growth form, habitat moisture gradient, California oaks, Japanese oaks, shoot/root ratio     

光强对杉木幼苗形态特征和叶片非结构性碳含量的影响

选取南方重要的造林树种杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.)Hook)幼苗为研究对象,通过搭建遮荫棚设置5个光照强度(分别为自然光照的100%、60%、40%、15%和5%),研究了幼苗在不同光照强度下的生长形态、生物量积累及分配、叶片的非结构性碳含量(NSC)特征。结果显示:(1)叶长、叶宽和叶面积在40%光照强度下最大,而比叶面积和叶片相对含水量随着光照强度的降低呈递增趋势;(2)随着光照强度的降低,杉木幼苗各器官生物量下降,根生物量比和根冠比降低,茎和叶生物量比增加;(3)杉木幼苗在60%光照强度下叶片非结构性碳含量最高,5%光照强度下含量最低;(4)杉木幼苗比叶面积与叶生物量以及与非结构性碳含量之间存在极显著的负相关关系(P0.01),叶生物量与非结构性碳含量之间存在极显著的正相关关系(P0.01)。杉木幼苗能够通过形态学上的可塑性来适应不同的光强环境,提高光竞争能力和生存适合度,但在5%光照强度下,由于较难维持碳收支平衡而不利于其生长和存活。     

Phenotypic variation in seedlings of a “keystone” tree species (Quercus douglasii): the interactive effects of acorn source and competitive environment

Blue oak (Quercus douglasii) is a deciduous tree species endemic to California that currently exhibits poor seedling survival to sapling age classes. We used common garden techniques to examine how genetic variation at regional and local scales affected phenotypic expression in traits affecting oak seedling growth and survival. Between-population variation was examined for seedlings grown from acorns collected from a northern, mesic population and a southern, xeric population. Within-population variation was examined by comparing seedlings from different maternal families within the mesic population. Acorns were planted into neighborhoods of an annual dicot (Erodium botrys), an annual grass (Bromus diandrus), and a perennial bunchgrass (Nassella pulchra). By varying the species composition of herbaceous neighborhoods into which acorns were planted, the interactive effects of competition and acorn germplasm source on phenotypic expression could also be examined. Potential maternal effects, expressed as variation in acorn size, were assessed by weighing each acorn before planting. Probability of seedling emergence increased significantly with acorn size in the xeric population but not in the mesic population. Similarly, the effect of acorn size on seedling leaf area, stem weight, and root weight was also population-dependent. At a within-population level, acorn size effects on seedling traits varied significantly among maternal families. In addition to acorn size effects, rates of oak seedling emergence were also dependent on an interaction of population source and competitive environment. Interactions between maternal family and competitive environment in the expression of seedling leaf characters suggest the possibility of genetic variation for plasticity in traits such as specific leaf area. Using carbon isotope discrimination () as an index of relative water-use efficiency (WUE), higher water use efficiency was indicated for oak seedlings grown in the annual plant neighborhoods compared to seedlings grown in the bunchgrass neighborhood. This trend may represent an adaptive plastic response because, compared to the bunchgrass neighborhood, soil water depletion was more rapid within annual plant neighborhoods.     

子午岭三种生境下辽东栎幼苗定居限制

辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)是子午岭地区的乡土乔木树种,也是该地区气候顶极群落的建群种,其幼苗的补充更新影响着森林群落的结构及物种组成。在3种典型生境(辽东栎林、人工油松林、灌草丛)中,设置3因素(种子、干扰、遮荫)两水平的野外播种实验(随机区组设计),记录辽东栎幼苗出苗量,并监测幼苗同生群在3种生境中3a间的生长状况,以确定种子及微生境在辽东栎幼苗补充过程中的限制作用。播种实验样方大小30cm×30cm,共计216个样方。结果显示,在辽东栎林及油松林内,增加种子和干扰强度(去除枯落物),能引起出苗量和幼苗补充量的显著增加,且2种处理方式间存在交互作用,表明在郁闭林冠下,辽东栎幼苗的补充受到了种子和微生境的双重限制,枯落物是导致微生境限制的主要因素之一。在灌草丛生境,各种处理方式均不能增加幼苗的补充量,表明辽东栎无法在开阔生境(强光照、干旱)中完成实生幼苗的补充更新。3种生境中的幼苗同生群生存分析表明,辽东栎幼苗在森林群落中存活率显著高于灌草丛群落。根据幼苗生长指标判断,在3种生境中,人工油松林是辽东栎幼苗定居的最佳场所。与实验预期相反,灌木对辽东栎幼苗的补充无显著影响。     

南川木波罗幼苗构件生物量和叶片特征随年龄增长的变化

为深入了解南川木波罗构件种群生物量、比叶面积及叶干物质含量随苗龄叶龄的变化规律,以南川木波罗幼苗(1~5年生)为研究对象,分析其根、茎、叶等构件种群的生物量、SLA、LDMC差异及动态变化。结果表明:(1)单株生物量随着苗龄增加而增加,且差异达显著性水平;(2)各构件生物量增加的幅度不尽相同,其中枝条生物量增长幅度最大,5年生幼苗与2年生幼苗相比达477.23倍,其余构件生物量为主干叶根;(3)枝条和主干的生物量比率总体上呈上升趋势,所占根比率变动较小而叶逐渐下降。表明植物体对各构件生物量投资的不均衡性,主要偏向于枝和主干;(4)SLA随着苗龄的增加呈先上升后降低的趋势,且当年生叶大于1年生叶;幼苗叶片干物质含量(LDMC)随苗龄增加而增加,且1年生叶均高于当年生叶。     

The rhizosphere signal molecule lumichrome alters seedling development in both legumes and cereals

The stimulatory role of lumichrome, a rhizosphere metabolite, was assessed on the growth of legume and cereal seedlings. At a very low nanomolar concentration (5 nm), lumichrome elicited growth promotion in cowpea, soybean, sorghum, millet and maize, but not in common bean, Bambara groundnut and Sudan grass. In soybean and cowpea only, 5 nm lumichrome caused early initiation of trifoliate leaf development, expansion in unifoliate and trifoliate leaves, increased stem elongation and, as a result, an increase in shoot and plant total biomass relative to control. Lumichrome (5 nm) also increased leaf area in maize and sorghum, and thus raised shoot and total biomass but there was no effect on the leaf area of the other cereals. Root growth was also stimulated in sorghum and millet by the supply of 5 nm lumichrome. By contrast, the application of a higher dose of lumichrome (50 nm) depressed development of unifoliate leaves in soybean, the second trifoliate leaf in cowpea, and shoot biomass in soybean. The 50 nm concentration also consistently decreased root development in cowpea and millet, but had no effect on the other species. These data show that lumichrome is a rhizosphere signal molecule that affects seedling development in both monocots and dicots.     

Root growth dynamics of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings in relation to shoot elongation, plant size and tissue nitrogen concentration

Large and high nitrogen (N) concentration seedlings frequently have higher survival and growth in Mediterranean forest plantations than seedlings with the opposite traits, which has been linked to the production of deeper and larger root systems in the former type of seedlings. This study assessed the influence of seedling size and N concentration on root growth dynamics and its relation to shoot elongation in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) seedlings. We cultivated seedlings that differed in size and tissue N concentration that were subsequently transplanted into transparent methacrylate tubes in the field. The number of roots, root depth, and the root and shoot elongation rate (length increase per unit time) were periodically measured for 10 weeks. At the end of the study, we also measured the twig water potential (ψ) and the mass of plant organs. New root mass at the end of the study increased with seedling size, which was linked to the production of a greater number of new roots of lower specific length rather than to higher elongation rate of individual roots. Neither plant size nor N concentration affected root depth. New root mass per leaf mass unit, shoot elongation rate, and pre-dawn ψ were reduced with reduction in seedling size, while mid-day ψ and the root relative growth rate were not affected by seedling size. N concentration had an additive effect on plant size on root growth but its overall effect was less important than seedling size. Shoot and roots had an antagonistic elongation pattern through time in small seedlings, indicating that the growth of both organs depressed each other and that they competed for the same resources. Antagonism between shoot and root elongation decreased with plant size, disappearing in large and medium seedlings, and it was independent of seedling N concentration. We conclude that root and shoot growth but not rooting depth increased with plant size and tissue N concentration in Aleppo pine seedlings. Since production of new roots is critical for the establishment of planted seedlings, higher absolute root growth in large seedlings may increase their transplanting performance relative to small seedlings. The lack of antagonism between root and shoot growth in large seedlings suggests that these plants can provide resources to sustain simultaneous growth of both organs.     

不同光照梯度的遮荫处理对绒毛番龙眼幼苗生长的影响

在不同光照梯度,即100%自然全光照(natural sunlight,NS)、37.3%NS、15.5%NS、4.2%NS、1.6%NS和0.6%NS的人工遮荫条件下,研究了西双版纳季节雨林冠层树种绒毛番龙眼(Pometia tomentosa)幼苗的早期生长和定居后的生长特点。结果表明,光照是影响幼苗生长的重要环境因子。生长早期的幼苗基径和复叶数随遮荫程度的增加而降低;主根长、根冠比、总干重和单株叶面积均以37.3%NS处理最大;比叶面积随遮荫程度的增加而增大,而相对生长率则降低;幼苗株高在0.6%NS下增长最快,表明种子中贮藏的营养物质对幼苗的早期生长可能具有重要作用。37.3%NS处理对定居后绒毛番龙眼幼苗的生长最有利,幼苗的株高、基径、复叶数、叶轴长、复叶最多小叶数、单株叶面积、相对生长率和净同化率均在37.3%NS处理下获得最大增长;幼苗总干重随光照强度的减弱而降低;比叶面积在15.5%NS处理时最大。幼苗比叶面积和根冠比在生长过程中的波动可能是光照和土壤水分共同作用的结果。     

Development and plasticity of endangered shrub Lindera melissifolia (Lauraceae) seedlings under contrasting light regimes

Lindera melissifolia (Walt.) Blume seedlings were raised in a growth chamber to determine the effects of light availability on shoot growth pattern, and basic leaf and stem growth. Lindera melissifolia seedlings exhibited a sympodial shoot growth pattern for 3 months following emergence from the soil medium, but this pattern was characterized by a reduction in leaf blade area approximately 30 days after emergence, followed by increases in leaf blade area. Seedlings receiving low light were 76% taller than seedlings receiving high light. Seedlings receiving low light also had larger leaf blade dimensions, blade area, seedling leaf area, and greater mass. Seedlings raised in high light had a greater proportional distribution of biomass in the roots, suggesting possible water stress from greater vapor pressure deficits. Furthermore, these seedlings displayed sharp angles of blade inclination and blade folding – acclimation that reduces exposure to light and subsequent higher leaf temperatures in open environments. These differences in morphological response to light resulted in high phenotypic variability in L. melissifolia seedlings. Lindera melissifolia seedling development showed a brief period of phenotypic plasticity, followed by ontogenetic plasticity. The short period of phenotypic plasticity may, however, have profound ecological implications for the conservation and recovery of this federally endangered shrub. Further experimentation should take into account the development of ontogenetic standards for comparisons of plant traits in addition to temporal standards.     

不同灌水量对2个蓝浆果品种幼苗生长和耗水规律的影响及相关性分析

以兔眼蓝浆果(Vaccinium ashei Reade)品种'Brightwell'和南方高丛蓝浆果(V.corymbosum hybrids)品种'Misty'为研究对象,研究不同灌水量〔50%WC、75%WC、100%WC(CK)和125%WC〕(WC为单株日耗水量)对幼苗生长、单株耗水量的日变化和月变化、单株净增干质量、总耗水量和水分利用效率的影响,并采用回归分析法对单株月耗水量与月均温和月均空气相对湿度的相关性进行分析.结果显示:随灌水量提高,2个品种幼苗的地径、单株枝长和单株总叶面积的增量总体上均不断增大,但单株枝长增量略有波动;单株根、茎、叶和总干质量总体上均逐渐增大,根冠比则逐渐减小;单株净增干质量和总耗水量均随灌水量提高而增大,而水分利用效率则在50%WC条件下最低、在75%WC条件下最高.在相同灌水量条件下,品种'Misty'幼苗的地径和单株枝长的增量,单株茎、叶和总干质量及水分利用效率基本上均高于品种'Brightwell',而其单株总叶面积增量、单株根干质量、根冠比和总耗水量却基本上低于后者.在7月份至9月份,2个品种幼苗单株耗水量的日变化基本上呈单峰曲线,但其单株耗水量峰值出现的时间段则因品种和灌水量不同而异;在全天不同时间段和不同月份,2个品种幼苗的单株耗水量均随灌水量提高而增大;在相同灌水量条件下,品种'Misty'幼苗的单株耗水量总体上低于品种'Brightwell'.回归分析结果表明:2个品种幼苗的单株月耗水量与月均温呈显著或极显著正相关,与月均空气相对湿度呈显著或极显著负相关.综合分析结果表明:蓝浆果幼苗的耗水量不但与品种特性有关,而且还受到土壤水分含量、气温和空气湿度的影响;在相同灌水量条件下,品种'Brightwell'幼苗的耗水量高于品种'Misty',但其水分利用效率却低于后者.在中国南方地区,品种'Brightwell'和'Misty'的适宜灌水量分别为100%WC和75%WC.     

Structural and functional plasticity of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Quercus ilex</Emphasis> seedlings of different provenances in Italy

Functional and structural leaf traits of Quercus ilex seedlings originated from parent plant acorns from three different localities in Italy were studied. Acorns from three different localities along a gradient from the north to the south of Italy: Nago (site A) in the Garda Lake region at the northernmost limit of holm oak distribution area in Italy, Castelporziano near Rome (site B), at the centre of the distribution area, and Frassanito near Otranto (site C), in a drier area in the south of Italy. Morphological and anatomical leaf traits differed between the provenances with a higher leaf mass area, total leaf thickness and the ratio of palisade to mesophyll thickness in the driest provenance (C seedlings). These traits gave C seedlings a higher water use efficiency, relative water content at predawn and photosynthetic rates than the other provenances in high air temperature conditions. The smaller leaf area of A seedlings seemed to have a higher photosynthetic capacity in low air temperature conditions than B and C seedlings. Growth analysis underlined a higher shoot relative growth rate in B seedlings explaining the highest shoot length and leaf number per shoot. The plasticity index [sensu Valladares et al. (2000) Ecology 81:1925–1936] for physiological traits of the seedlings was higher than morphological and anatomical traits, but the largest differences in plasticity among ecotypes were found for morphological and anatomical traits. The ecotypes of Q. ilex studied here seemed to integrate, at leaf level, functions of growth activity, morphology and physiology related to the climate of the original provenance.     

The sediment burial depth and salinity control the early developments of Suaeda salsa in the Yellow River Delta

Sediment deposition is a common phenomenon in the estuary area. Pot control experiments were conducted to evaluate the interaction effects of sediment burial depth and salt stress on the seed germination and early seedling growth of Suaeda salsa (L.) Pall., an pioneer species of tidal wetland near the Yellow River Delta. The results showed that the percentage of seedling emergence, seedling emergence rate, seedling height, branch number, shoot biomass and root biomass were all significantly affected by salt stress and sediment burial depth. While the interaction of salt and burial depth significantly influenced the branch number, leaf biomass, shoot biomass and total plant biomass. Only 5 cm burial depth without salt stress should 6.25 ± 3.61% seedlings emergence. With the increasing of sediment burial depth and salt stress, percentage of seedling emergence, seedling emergence rate and plant height decreased significantly. However, under the salt treatment of 0 and 1%, the branch number increased dramatically with the increasing of sediment burial depth from 0 to 3 cm. The ratio of leaf to total biomass increased with increasing of burial depth, on the contrary, the ratio of root to total biomass decreased. 0–1 cm sediment burial depth was proved the suitable depths for seed germination of S. salsa in the coastal wetland of the Yellow River Delta. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of how to improve the seedling establishment of S. salsa under the dynamic changes of sediment deposition and salinity in the coastal wetland of the Yellow River Delta.     

Effects of above- and below-ground competition from shrubs on photosynthesis, transpiration and growth in Quercus robur L. seedlings

For a tree seedling to successfully establish in dense shrubbery, it must maintain function under heterogeneous resource availability. We evaluated leaf-level acclimation in photosynthetic capacity, seedling-level transpiration, and seedling morphology and growth to gain an understanding of the effects of above- and below-ground competition on Quercus robur seedlings. Experimental seedlings were established in a typical southern Swedish shrub community where they received 1 of 4 competition levels (above-ground, below-ground, above- and below-ground, or no competition), and leaf-level responses were examined between two growth flushes. Two years after establishment, first-flush leaves from seedlings receiving above-ground competition showed a maximum rate of photosynthesis (A_max) 40% lower than those of control seedlings. With the development of a second flush above the shrub canopy, A_max of these seedlings increased to levels equivalent to those of seedlings free of light competition. Shrubby competition reduced oak seedling transpiration such that seedlings exposed to above- and below-ground competition showed rates 43% lower than seedlings that were not exposed to competition. The impaired physiological function of oak seedlings growing amid competition ultimately led to a 60-74% reduction in leaf area, 29-36% reduction in basal diameter, and a 38-78% reduction in total biomass accumulation, but root to shoot ratio was not affected. Our findings also indicate that above-ground competition reduced A_max, transpiration and biomass accumulation more so than below-ground competition. Nevertheless, oak seedlings exhibited the ability to develop subsequent growth flushes with leaves that had an A_max acclimated to utilize increased light availability. Our findings highlight the importance of flush-level acclimation under conditions of heterogeneous resource availability, and the capacity of oak seedlings to initiate a positive response to moderate competition in a shrub community.     

Endophyte infection of Festuca eskia enhances seedling survival to drought and cutting at the expense of clonal expansion

Aims Symbiotic relationships between fungal endophytes and grass species are known to increase stress resistance in the grass host; however, there is little evidence to suggest that the positive effects occur early in the grass life cycle. In this study, we explored the effects of the endophyte Epichlo? festucae on the growth and survival of Festuca eskia seedlings under drought and frequent cutting stress.Methods Festuca eskia seedlings were collected from the western part of the plant repartition area in a non-symbiotic population located in a mesic and heavily grazed site (W-NS) and from the eastern part in a symbiotic population from a xeric and lightly grazed site (E-S). The E-S population was experimentally freed from its endophyte (E-F). Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to compare growth and survival between the three seedling types under drought stress and frequent cutting. In the first experiment, 126 seedlings per seedling type (n = 378) were grown for 6 weeks under non-limiting conditions before the cessation of watering. After 3 weeks without irrigation, full irrigation was restored for 10 days to measure the survival rate. Leaf length, leaf elongation rate and survival rate were assessed per population. In the second experiment, 156 seedlings per seedling type (n = 468) were grown under non-limiting conditions. All seedlings were cut to 3 cm high, twice a week, during the first month of growth. Leaf elongation and tillering were monitored on 52 seedlings per seedling type. For each type, seedling survival rate was determined by the number of plants alive after 10 days of regrowth, without cutting.Important findings The drought experiment revealed a phenotypic differentiation to drought in 30 F. eskia populations, suggesting adaptive differentiation: the eastern seedlings showed the highest survival rate. A trade-off between growth and survival was highlighted: the highest drought survival rate was associated with the lowest leaf elongation rate under non-limiting water conditions. Endophyte presence in the eastern population increased seedling drought survival. In contrast, cutting survival rate was similar between W-NS and E-S because the presence of the endophyte increased seedling survival to frequent cutting. However, this positive effect came with a cost: the endophyte reduced seedling tillering rate.     

Patterns of seedling recruitment in West-Mediterranean Quercus ilex forest influenced by canopy development

Abstract. Quercus ilex (holm oak) coppice forests belong to the most representative communities in the western part of the Iberian Peninsula. Due to the high sprouting potential of holm oak after coppicing, the dynamics of recruitment of new individuals in existing populations has been largely overlooked. In these forests, the density of seedlings increases in old stands, as a result of the remarkable increase in the recruitment of 1-yr and 2-yr old seedlings, probably due to better environmental conditions for germination. Older seedlings show a tendency towards increasing survival under some degree of canopy closure, since their density appears to be higher just before complete canopy closure takes place. Nevertheless, the reduced growth of seedlings in older stands due to low light levels causes age distributions of holm oak seedlings to change drastically, with saplings older than 15 yr becoming very unusual in these stands. Therefore, a bottleneck of recruitment appears at this sapling stage and prevents vigorous regeneration just before thinning. Present conditions of genet density and management tend to prevent population renewal. Dynamics of the seedling bank reinforce the role of gap formation through small or large scale perturbations in population turnover.     

Effects of root restriction on growth correlations, water relations and senescence of alder seedlings

Root restriction may be of importance for productivity in both forestry and agriculture. To study the physiological effects of root restriction in European alder ( Alnus glutinosa Gaertn.), seedlings were grown in aerated liquid culture under one of four root volumes to induce the following levels of root restriction: 1.5, 6,16 and 500 ml. Root restriction for 96 days reduced shoot elongation, plant dry weight, leaf area and chlorophyll levels and increased leaf area/root dry weight ratio and correlative bud inhibition in seedlings. The initial reduction in root/shoot ratios of severely restricted seedlings was followed by a reduction in leaf water potential, the development of internal water deficits in the upper shoots, a reduction in stomatal opening and transpiration rates and, eventually, stomatal closure. Severe prolonged root restriction (1.5 ml root volume) resulted in a decline in seedling vigour and ultimately, senescence as determined by increased electrical impedance ratios, followed by visible leaf senescence and later, by whole plant senescence. Of the severely restricted seedlings, 40% were dead after 96 days of restriction. The results suggest that imbalanced root/shoot ratios caused the development of internal water stress and the consequent reduction in stomatal aperture, culminating in leaf and whole plant senescence.     

杉木和木荷种子萌发及幼苗生长对光梯度的响应

光是影响种子萌发和幼苗生长的关键因素.为理解不同树种种子萌发及幼苗生长对光梯度变化的响应机制,本文研究了不同光照强度(分别为自然光强的100%、60%、40%、15%和5%)对杉木和木荷种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响,探讨了两树种种子萌发和幼苗生长对光照响应的差异性.结果表明: 光照强度对两树种的种子萌发和幼苗生长均具有显著影响. 随着光照强度的减弱, 杉木种子萌发率增大,萌发指数增大,木荷种子萌发率和萌发指数则先增大后减小,在40%光照强度下达到最大值.两树种幼苗存活率在全光照(100%光照)下均为0,在5%～60%光照处理下则随着光照强度的减弱而显著降低.两树种幼苗根长、地径和株高对光梯度变化的响应趋势一致,随着光照强度的减弱,根长显著减小,地径和株高则先增大后减小,在5%光照强度下达到最小.随着光照强度的减弱,杉木幼苗根、茎、叶及总生物量降低,木荷幼苗生物量积累在15%～60%光照强度下较高, 5%光照强度下最小,且相同光照强度下,木荷幼苗各部分生物量均大于杉木.两树种幼苗应对低光环境时,表现出较大的茎和叶的生物量分配比,而根生物量比和根冠比降低.表明杉木苗期生长不耐阴,需要相对较强的光照,而木荷苗期具有较强的耐阴性,对弱光环境的适应性更强,能够在郁闭的林冠下定植和正常生长.     

广东亚热带森林木本植物幼苗生长特性研究

研究了广东亚热带42种木本植物幼苗的生长及其与物种的生态特性、生活型、种子大小的相互关系.较强光下(H,66.8 μmol m-2s-1)乔木幼苗的茎高和茎生物量显著高于灌木幼苗的相应值,但在较低光下(L,33.7 μmol m-2s-1)两者无显著差异.而阳性植物、耐阴植物和中间型植物之间,茎高和茎生物量无显著差别.乔木幼苗的叶面积和叶生物量比灌木幼苗大,但灌木幼苗的叶片数较乔木幼苗多.大种子种和小种子种幼苗之间,阳性植物、耐阴植物和中间型植物幼苗之间的叶片数和叶面积一般无显著差异.阳性植物幼苗比耐阴植物幼苗侧根数多.乔木幼苗的根生物量和根/茎比显著高于灌木幼苗在较高光下,阳性植物幼苗的根/茎比较耐阴植物幼苗高,但在较低光下无明显差异.45 d幼苗的根生物量与种子重量呈显著的正相关,而90 d幼苗无明显的相关.乔木幼苗个体生物量显著高于灌木幼苗.幼苗相对生长率和叶面积比的大小呈现如下顺序阳性植物＞中间型植物＞耐阴植物,但只有阳性植物和耐阴植物之间有显著差异.阳性植物、中间型植物和耐阴植物幼苗之间的单位叶率无显著差异.