土壤结构与光照水平对秋茄某些生长和生理参数的影响

在香港的３个红树森样地即黄竹湾（沙土）、西径（沙壤土）和米埔（粘壤土）进行了土壤结构对秋茄（Kandelia candel(L.)Durce)生长和生理影响的研究,并在米埔比较了林内和林外秋茄幼苗的生长和生理参数以观察光照水平的效应。在沙土和沙壤土生长的１．５年秋茄幼苗比粘壤土具有较粗的基径的较高的总生物量,说明秋茄幼苗在沙土和沙壤土中比在粘壤土中生长更好。沙土１．５ 茄幼苗的叶片厚度分别为沙壤土和粘壤土的１．７５和２．０５倍,表明沙土中的秋茄幼苗具有旱生结构以维持体内水分。然而,沙土和沙壤土４．５年秋茄幼树的叶片厚度无显著差异,沙土和沙壤土中１．５年秋茄幼苗分配于根系的生物量比例约为５０％,高于粘壤土的值（约４０％）。沙土和沙壤土中１．５年的秋茄比粘壤土具有较低的叶绿素含量、根系活力、硝酸盐还原酶活性、过氧化物酶（ＰＯＸ）活性、超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）活性及较高的丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）含量。米埔１．５年秋茄幼苗在红树林外比林内有更好的长势,具有更大的叶面积、特殊叶面积、叶片数量及生物量。林内幼苗具有较高叶绿素含量,较低叶绿素a/b比值,较高硝酸盐还原酶活性和较强的根系活力,林外幼苗的叶片ＰＯＸ和ＳＯＤ活性比林内的值稍高,ＭＤＡ含量比林内显著要高。     

光照条件对蒙古栎幼苗生长特性和光合特征的影响

为了研究不同光照条件下蒙古栎幼苗的生长过程,本文通过控制实验,模拟设计4种不同的光照条件:全光照(FS)、轻度遮荫(LS)、中度遮荫(MS)和重度遮荫(SS),对蒙古栎幼苗的形态特征、光合特性和生物量分配进行比较研究。结果表明:中度遮荫和重度遮荫条件下蒙古栎幼苗的比叶面积显著大于全光照和轻度遮荫,不同光照条件下苗高无显著差异,全光照条件下蒙古栎幼苗的地径显著大于中度遮荫和重度遮荫,同时,全光照条件下的主根长度和根径显著大于3种遮荫条件,而轻度遮荫和中度遮荫又显著大于重度遮荫;最大净光合速率表现为轻度遮荫全光照中度遮荫重度遮荫的趋势,表观量子效率在全光照与轻度遮荫时显著大于中度遮荫和重度遮荫,暗呼吸速率无显著差异;全光照下单株总生物量和根系生物量最高,轻度遮荫和中度遮荫次之,重度遮荫最低;叶片生物量和茎生物量差异较小;不同器官生物量分配表现为根叶茎,并且根生物量所占比重在68%~76%之前;全光照、轻度遮荫和中度遮荫的根冠比显著高于重度遮荫。     

光照强度和氮水平对白三叶幼苗生长与光合生理特性的影响

采用植物生长箱溶液培养方式,对白三叶幼苗进行了不同光强(2个水平)和氮浓度(5个水平)处理,探讨其生长、生物量和光合生理特征对生境变化的响应.结果表明:两种光强下白三叶幼苗茎和叶生物量随氮素浓度呈先升高后降低,而根系生物量和根冠比则随氮素浓度增高而降低.光照强度降低使白三叶幼苗根、茎、叶和整株生物量分别降低67.8%、29.9%、42.5%和45.2%;低光处理使幼苗的根冠比显著下降,而比叶面积(SLA)明显提高.幼苗根系体积随氮素浓度增高而降低,高生长光强根系体积显著高于低生长光强下的白三叶.幼苗根系表面积、根系长度和根系直径随氮素浓度增加呈先增加后降低趋势,两种不同生长光强下幼苗根系长度和根系直径差异显著,而根系表面积差异不明显.白三叶叶片光合速率(Pn)随氮素浓度增加呈先增加后降低趋势,高生长光强白三叶Pn显著高于低生长光强下的白三叶.两种生长光强间叶片气孔导度(Gs),胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和蒸腾速率(Tr)无显著差异,但氮素浓度对叶片Gs、Ci和Tr均有显著影响.光、氮及其交互作用对白三叶幼苗生长发育产生了显著影响,光照不足和氮缺乏都将导致白三叶幼苗生长减弱,但幼苗对这些不利环境具有较强的调节和适应能力.     

容器规格和添加生物炭的基质配方对西南桦幼苗生长的影响

为了揭示容器规格和添加生物炭的基质配方对西南桦(Betula alnoides)无性系幼苗生长的影响,以3个西南桦优良无性系(FB4、FB4+和FB01)作为研究对象,选用3种容器规格(4.5 cm×8.0 cm,6.0 cm×9.0 cm,8.0 cm×12.0 cm,直径×高)和6种基质配方(黄心土、沤制树皮、锯末、炭化树皮和竹炭不同比例)开展育苗试验,通过比较不同处理幼苗生长和根系形态等指标,结合育苗效果综合评价,确定适宜的容器规格和基质配方。结果表明:基质配方、容器规格、无性系均显著影响西南桦幼苗的地径、苗高、叶面积、叶片数、生物量和根系形态,且存在显著的交互效应。比较所有无性系在相同基质种类下不同基质比例之间的生长表现后发现:6个基质配方中,基质4表现出明显的生长优势,其地径、苗高、生物量、分枝数、叶面积、叶片数、根长、根表面积、根体积和根平均直径分别是其他基质配方的1.01～1.36、1.11～1. 62、1. 13～2. 94、1. 05～3. 94、1. 05～2. 86、1. 03～2. 44、1. 29～2.17、1. 29～2.20、1.32～2.44和1.00～1.60倍。所有无性系幼苗的地径、苗高、叶面积、叶片数、生物量和根系形态特征均随着容器规格的增大而增加,表明容器规格越大对幼苗生长的促进作用越明显。对西南桦幼苗的生长指标和根系形态指标进行主成分分析,筛选出叶面积、根表面积、根平均直径和存活率作为苗木质量综合评价指标,进一步计算综合评价指数发现,无性系FB4+、容器规格3(8.0 cm×12.0 cm)和基质4(74.625%黄心土+24.875%沤制树皮+0.5%竹炭)的综合评价指数最大(1.566),其育苗效果最好。     

种子更新与萌蘖更新蒙古栎一年生幼苗生长特性的比较

通过比较辽东山区一年生蒙古栎实生幼苗和萌生幼苗的生长指标,探讨不同更新方式(种子更新与萌蘖更新)下1年生蒙古栎幼苗维持生长的形态和养分分配特征的差异。结果表明:1年生蒙古栎幼苗各器官的生物量在实生幼苗和萌生幼苗之间存在显著差异,主要表现为萌生幼苗叶重和茎重和茎质比均显著大于实生幼苗,实生幼苗的叶质比、光合组织/非光合组织大于萌生幼苗(P0.05);萌生幼苗生长性状表现出茎矮而粗的特征,实生幼苗表现出茎高而细、根系粗而长的特征;比叶面积、叶片氮含量、叶片δ13C含量在两种更新起源的幼苗之间无显著差异;萌生幼苗茎、叶和单株含水量均大于实生幼苗(P0.05);幼苗各器官结构性碳和非结构性碳含量在不同更新方式之间无显著差异,但萌生幼苗叶片、茎可溶性糖含量显著小于实生幼苗,萌生幼苗的叶片淀粉库显著大于实生幼苗(P0.05);可见,两种更新方式的蒙古栎幼苗通过不同的生长策略适应环境:萌生幼苗依赖于母体供应的养分和水分维持生长,同时将自身光合作用积累的淀粉储存于叶片中;实生幼苗主要依靠茎的高生长、增加光合组织生物量以便最大限度地利用光资源,同时通过在叶片和茎内储存更多的可溶性糖含量维持自身生长。     

不同光环境对海南龙血树幼苗表型可塑性及生存策略的影响

为了解光照对海南龙血树(Dracaena cambodiana)幼苗生长的影响,研究了不同光照环境下海南龙血树幼苗形态、生理特性和生物量分配的变化,并分析了其生态适应性。结果表明,海南龙血树幼苗的形态、生理和生物量分配指标在不同光照强度间存在显著差异,各指标的可塑性指数为0.08~0.86,其中根茎叶及总生物量的可塑性指数普遍较高(0.67~0.86),表明海南龙血树幼苗有较好的光照适应性,其策略主要是通过调整根茎叶生物量的分配来适应光照的变化。随着光照强度的降低,海南龙血树幼苗的比叶面积、叶根比呈现显著增大趋势,表明幼苗可通过增加单株叶面积比例,扩大光合作用面积,有效调节自身生物量配置。37.3%自然光照(L2)是海南龙血树幼苗生长的最佳光照强度。现存海南龙血树生境改变,生境缺少林荫以致光照强度过大,不利于幼苗根系生长,难以度过干旱季节,可能是海南龙血树自然更新失败的重要原因之一。     

不同光环境下胡桃楸幼苗的形态可塑性及其响应研究

为了探求不同光环境对胡桃楸幼苗生长的影响,对全光照（100%光照）、中光照（60%光照）、低光照（30%光照）3种光环境下胡桃楸幼苗的生长、形态特征、生物量分配和水分特征开展研究。结果表明：胡桃楸幼苗的形态在不同光环境下存在明显的可塑性变化,生物量分配和水分特征均表现出不同程度的差异。低光照条件下,胡桃楸幼苗生长快,株高、地径分别为全光照的1.14、1.18倍;冠幅大,是全光照的1.40倍;叶片宽大,叶长和叶宽分别是全光照的1.25和1.36倍;分枝数明显少于全光照。3种光环境下胡桃楸幼苗地上部分生物量存在显著差异,地下部分差异不显著。叶片相对含水量随着光照的降低呈现逐渐增加的趋势;全光照条件下叶片饱和持水量与叶片干鲜比明显大于遮阴条件;3种光照条件下叶绿素含量差异显著。胡桃楸幼苗为适应不同光环境,在形态和生理方面都做出适应性调整,适当的遮阴处理有利于胡桃楸幼苗生长。     

构树幼苗对接种丛枝菌根真菌的生长响应

利用石灰岩适生植物构树进行菌根真菌摩西球囊霉(GM)、地表球囊霉(GV)和透光球囊霉(GD)的单独接种(SI)、混合接种(CI)和不接种(N)处理试验,测定了构树幼苗生长3个月后的形态及生长指标.结果表明:接种VA真菌促进了宿主构树的生长,单株地上部分、地下部分生物量和全株生物量等生长指标均较对照组显著提高,4种处理下构树幼苗生物量较对照提高了2.49～8.19倍,其中CI处理生物量最大,而单株叶片数目与对照组没有显著差异.不同接种处理的构树幼苗生长响应不同.在SI处理中,GD对构树幼苗生长效应最大,而CI处理较SI处理对构树幼苗的促进效应更加明显.CI处理中地径、苗高和总叶面积分别是对照组的1.5、2.2和6.0倍.各处理中根冠比最大的为CI(0.446).说明宿主植物与菌种存在一定的选择性.     

模拟酸雨对蒙古栎幼苗生长和根系伤流量的影响

选择中国北方落叶阔叶林的主要组成树种蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica Fisch.ex Ledeb.)的1年生幼苗为研究对象,设置4个酸雨酸度(重度、中度、轻度和对照)和3个降雨量(自然雨量和增、减雨量30％),以期阐明酸雨对蒙古栎幼苗形态生长、生物量和根系伤流量的影响,探讨中国北方日趋严重的酸雨是否会影响蒙古栎幼苗的生长,为酸雨区森林恢复植物的选择提供依据.研究结果显示:1)在本实验的酸雨酸度下,酸雨降雨量的增加对蒙古栎幼苗各生理生态指标均有一定的促进作用;2)酸雨酸度对蒙古栎幼苗形态和生物量的影响不显著,但酸度增加降低了幼苗的根系伤流量;3)增雨的重度酸雨处理促进了蒙古栎幼苗形态生长和生物量累积;4)两因素对蒙古栎幼苗的影响没有交互作用.说明蒙古栎对酸雨具有一定的抗性,可考虑选择为酸雨区植被构建的物种.     

落叶阔叶树种蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)对林缘不同光环境光能和水分的利用

由于砍伐、林火等形成的林缘是典型的生态过渡区,并以高生物多样性和快速变化的光环境为最显著特征。研究植物在林缘附近不同光环境下对光能和水分的利用特征有利于在个体层次揭示林木更新、森林群落动态的生理生态学基础,具有重要意义。蒙古栎是长白山地区落叶阔叶林及阔叶红松林中的常见阳性树种。通过对长白山白桦林林缘及附近蒙古栎的野外观测研究,结果表明:①林冠对林缘光照等的影响随距离林缘远近的不同而不同。林缘及附近区域的光环境存在巨大差异,温度和水分条件等也有显著变化。②蒙古栎光合的日进程为单峰型,净光合速率的高峰值达20μmolCO2·m-2·s-1,未见明显午休;林外蒙古栎的净光合速率及日光合总量均大于(或远大于)林缘和林内的净光合速率及日光合总量,表明蒙古栎在林外强光下生长最快;此外,对低光的高效利用显示蒙古栎可在林内低光环境正常生长。③蒙古栎在不同光环境下蒸腾速率的日进程为单峰型,林外最高可达近8mmolH2O·m-2·s-1。虽然蒙古栎在林外的蒸腾速率、日蒸腾量及水分利用率均较高,但与林内弱光环境相比,水分利用率增加的趋势略有降低,这是蒙古栎对林外强光环境的一种适应。④蒙古栎叶片的气孔导度随光照的增加而增大,这有利于植物在强光下增加净光合速率和蒸腾速率,有利于植物在强光下快速生长。另外,蒙古栎的叶片胞间CO2浓度从早至晚呈增加趋势;随日PAR总量的增加,蒙古栎的叶片胞间CO2浓度呈降低趋势。弱光环境下胞间CO2浓度的增加,有利于植物固定CO2、增加对光能和水分的利用效率。     

The scaling of leaf area and mass: the cost of light interception increases with leaf size

For leaves, the light-capturing surface area per unit dry mass investment (specific leaf area, SLA) is a key trait from physiological, ecological and biophysical perspectives. To address whether SLA declines with leaf size, as hypothesized due to increasing costs of support in larger leaves, we compiled data on intraspecific variation in leaf dry mass (LM) and leaf surface area (LA) for 6334 leaves of 157 species. We used the power function LM=alpha LAbeta to test whether, within each species, large leaves deploy less surface area per unit dry mass than small leaves. Comparing scaling exponents (beta) showed that more species had a statistically significant decrease in SLA as leaf size increased (61) than the opposite (7) and the average beta was significantly greater than 1 (betamean=1.10, 95% CI 1.08-1.13). However, scaling exponents varied markedly from the few species that decreased to the many that increased SLA disproportionately fast as leaf size increased. This variation was unrelated to growth form, ecosystem of origin or climate. The average within-species tendency found here (allometric decrease of SLA with leaf size, averaging 13%) is in accord with concurrent findings on global-scale trends among species, although the substantial scatter around the central tendency suggests that the leaf size dependency does not obligately shape SLA. Nonetheless, the generally greater mass per unit leaf area of larger than smaller leaves directly translates into a greater cost to build and maintain a unit of leaf area, which, all else being equal, should constrain the maximum leaf size displayed.     

New seed morphological features in Moehringia L. (Caryophyllaceae) and their taxonomic and ecological significance

Abstract

Relative growth rate (RGR) is a fundamental trait for comparative plant ecology but cannot be measured in situ, leading to problems in interpreting vegetation function. However, the components of RGR (net assimilation rate (NAR), leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf weight ratio (LWR), and specific leaf area (SLA)) can be calculated for wild plants from morphological measurements (leaf area, leaf dry mass, whole plant dry mass), which potentially reflect RGR. Seeds of 19 species from Italian prealpine calcareous grasslands were collected and seedlings were cultivated under controlled conditions. RGR, NAR, LAR, LWR and SLA were analysed. The results demonstrated that RGR was positively correlated with SLA and LAR (p < 0.01). Furthermore, LAR was positively correlated with LWR and negatively with NAR (p < 0.05). Monocotyledons showed significantly higher LAR, LWR and NAR than dicotyledons, as the latter allocated a greater proportion of biomass to stems, but RGR and SLA showed no such phylogenetic constraint. Therefore SLA is the most reliable indicator of RGR in ecological and functional surveys of prealpine calcareous grasslands, and has the additional advantage that it can be measured from leaf material alone. Lower mean RGR and SLA for calcareous grassland species suggests that this vegetation is less likely to recover from the effects of disturbance than meadows and dry meadows.     

不同模拟增雨下白刺比叶面积和叶干物质含量的比较

以荒漠生态系统典型植物白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)为研究对象,根据内蒙古磴口多年平均降水量和植物生长规律,设计两个增雨时段(生长季前期与生长季后期),每个增雨时段设置两个增雨梯度(72.5mm/a(50%)、145mm/a(100%)),对天然白刺灌丛进行增雨实验,研究了不同模拟增雨处理下2012年与2013年生长季白刺叶片的比叶面积(SLA)与叶干物质含量(LDMC)的变化。结果表明,增雨处理可以增加白刺叶片的SLA及LDMC,同时期增雨100%处理对SLA及LDMC的影响大于50%处理,但同时期增雨的两个处理之间无显著差异;白刺叶片SLA在生长季前期对水分响应明显,LDMC则在生长季后期对水分反应敏感;相同增雨处理,2012年白刺叶片SLA及LDMC的净增加值高于2013年;SLA与LDMC在2012年呈显著负相关,在2013年虽呈负相关,但相关性不显著。在未来降雨增加的背景下,荒漠植物白刺叶片SLA与LDMC对增雨具有较强的协调适应能力,在不同生长季节可以通过改变不同的叶片性状来适应环境变化。     

Leaf traits and their interrelationship of 23 plant species in southeast of Keerqin Sandy Lands,China

Six leaf traits,i.e.,fresh mass (FM),dry mass (DM),leaf dry matter content (DMC),area (AR),specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness (TH) from 23 plant species in the southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands,China were measured.The results show that leaf traits of herbs were more diversified than those of shrubs and trees and aver-age SLA tended towards a decreasing trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.On the contrary,DMC and DM show an upward trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.No apparent difference was found in TH.Except for DM and TH,there were significant variations in SLA and DMC among three different growth forms.Moreover,a significant correla-tion was found between SLA and DMC.It is concluded that SLA and DMC could be used to predict species posi-tion along a resource use gradient.     

Phenotypic plasticity of lianas in response to altered light environment

The growth, morphology and biomass allocation of 11 liana species (six light-demanding and five shade-tolerant) were investigated by growing plants in three contrasting light environments (i.e., field, forest edge and forest interior). Our objectives were to determine: (1) changes in plant traits at the species level; and (2) differences in light-demanding and shade-tolerant species in response to altered light environment. We found that all seedlings of liana species increased in total biomass, total leaf area, relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), height, basal diameter, root length, leaf number, root mass/total plant mass (RMR) and root-to-shoot dry biomass (R/S ratio), and decreased in leaf area ratio (LAR), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf size, stem mass-to-total plant mass ratio (SMR) and leaf mass-to-total plant mass ratio (LMR) with increasing light availability. Under the three light environments, the two types of species differed significantly in total biomass, total leaf area, RGR, NAR, LAR, SLA and leaf number, and not in leaf area. Only light-demanding species differed significantly in height, root length, basal diameter, RMR, SMR, LMR and R/S ratio. The mean plasticity index of growth and biomass allocation were relatively higher than the morphological variables, with significant differences between the two groups. Our results showed that liana species respond differently to changing light environments and that light-demanding species exhibit higher plasticity. Such differences may affect the relative success of liana species in forest dynamics.     

Trends in Biomass Fractionation in Wheat and Barley from Wild Ancestors to Modern Cultivars

Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that cultivar selection during the process of domestication in cereal plants led to a change in dry mass allocation, e.g., less root mass and more leaf mass or more leaf area per unit leaf mass. We divided 24 varieties of diploid, tetraploid and hexaploid winter wheat and two-rowed winter barley into three categories of domestication levels (wild species, old landraces and modern cultivars) and compared the patterns of dry matter fractionation at the time of anthesis under standardized outdoor growth conditions. In both cereals, total biomass per individual increased significantly with domestication level but, to our surprise, we found no significant change in dry matter investment between domestication levels: neither the dry mass fraction of leaves increased, nor was there a trend of reduced investment in stems and roots, contrary to what we expected. Specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area ratio (LAR) of modern wheat and barley cultivars were significantly lower compared to wild varieties. Major differences in both cereals were of a purely morphological nature, namely a decrease in the number of stems and ears from wild species to domesticated varieties, along with more synchronous tiller development and therefore similar tiller size. Fertilizer increased total biomass in all domestication levels in both cereals, but influenced the dry matter fractionation only in barley. Tissue nitrogen concentration was unresponsive to both domestication and fertilization. The expected shift in functional traits, conventionally considered to determine plant growth, was not found. Indeed, dry matter fractionation among the major plant biomass components seems to be very conservative.     

去除干扰对内蒙古典型草原植物叶片功能属性的影响

以内蒙古典型草原为研究对象,选取放牧和割草、去除放牧、去除放牧和割草样地进行群落调查和叶片属性测量,比较分析各样地土壤性质、群落生产力及主要物种的比叶面积(SLA,Specific Leaf Area)、叶片干物质含量(LDMC,Leaf Dry Matter Content)、叶片氮含量(LNC,Leaf Nitrogen Concentration)在个体、功能群和群落水平对去除干扰的响应。结果表明,1)去除干扰处理在短期对土壤特性和群落生产力的影响不显著;2)多数物种在放牧和割草样地SLA较低,说明典型草原多数物种的SLA表现为放牧逃避;3)不同功能群植物叶片属性对去除干扰的响应不一致,去除放牧后,多年生杂类草的SLA和LDMC不受影响,但LNC变小;多年生禾草的SLA增加,而LDMC和LNC无显著变化。一年生植物在去除放牧和割草后,LNC显著增加。去除割草后,多年生禾草SLA减小,而多年生杂类草SLA、LNC增加,LDMC减小;4)在群落水平,放牧和割草样地由于较占优势的多年生禾草SLA较低,群落比叶面积最低,在去除放牧和割草样地,群落叶片氮含量显著增加;5)在内蒙古典型草原,LDMC能够很好地将多年生禾草和多年生杂类草区分,SLA在个体、功能群和群落水平均比LDMC敏感。     

广西多穗柯叶片性状变异及幼苗生长量研究

多穗柯是一种珍贵天然野生药用植物,可以开发出保健食品色素和天然医用药品,广西的资源较丰富,该研究采集巴马、那坡、德保及田林等4个产地的多穗柯种子进行播种育苗,并跟踪调查测定一年生幼苗的叶片性状及幼苗生长量,并进行相关性分析。结果表明:(1)不同产地间叶片性状及幼苗生长指标均存在不同程度的差异,其中巴马与那坡、德保、田林在叶长、叶宽、叶面积、叶脉间距、叶鲜重、叶片干物质含量、叶片组织密度等叶片性状上的差异均达到显著水平,在株高、地径、单株干重、主根长、单株根干重及单株叶干重等生长指标上亦存在显著差异,且生长量是后3个产地的1~2倍;通过比较各产地的叶片保水力及植株净生长量,巴马的多穗柯植株耐旱性及生长速度优于其他三地。综合各性状表现,认为巴马的多穗柯苗期表现比较好,生长速度快,长势好,抗旱性较强,可作为多穗柯优良种源的初步选择。(2)8月份是多穗柯株高、地径的生长高峰期,建议此时应加强肥水管理,调节适宜的水肥光热条件,尽量延长幼苗的快速生长时间,以获得苗木的最大累积生长量。(3)叶片性状与幼苗生长量的相关性分析结果显示,叶面积与株高、地径、单株干重、单株根干重以及单株叶干重等呈极显著正相关,叶脉间距、叶绿素相对含量(SPAD)与株高、单株干重呈显著或极显著正相关,比叶面积与株高、地径呈显著负相关。因此,在以后的优株表型选择中,要优先考虑叶子大、叶脉间距宽、中老熟叶片叶色浓绿的植株。该研究结果为多穗柯优良种质资源的早期筛选提供了一定的依据。     

Scaling‐up from leaf to canopy‐aggregate properties in sclerophyll shrub species

Abstract: Plant species vary widely in their average leaf lifespan (LL) and specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per dry mass). The negative LL–SLA relationship commonly seen among species represents an important evolutionary trade‐off, with higher SLA indicating greater potential for fast growth (higher rate of return on a given investment), but longer LL indicating a longer duration of the revenue stream from that investment. We investigated how these leaf‐economic traits related to aggregate properties of the plant crown. Across 14 Australian sclerophyll shrub species, those with long LL accumulated more leaf mass and leaf area per unit ground area. Light attenuation through their canopies was more severe. Leaf accumulation and light attenuation were more weakly related to SLA than to LL. The greater accumulation of foliage in species with longer LL and lower SLA may counterbalance their generally lower photosynthetic rates and light‐capture areas per gram of leaf.     

Simulation of leaf area development based on dry matter partitioning and specific leaf area for cut chrysanthemum

This work aims to predict time courses of leaf area index (LAI) based on dry matter partitioning into the leaves and on specific leaf area of newly formed leaf biomass (SLA(n)) for year-round cut chrysanthemum crops. In five glasshouse experiments, each consisting of several plant densities and planted throughout the year, periodic destructive measurements were conducted to develop empirical models for partitioning and for SLA(n). Dry matter partitioning into leaves, calculated as incremental leaf dry mass divided by incremental shoot dry mass between two destructive harvests, could be described accurately (R(2 )= 0.93) by a Gompertz function of relative time, R(t). R(t) is 0 at planting date, 1 at the start of short-days, and 2 at final harvest. SLA(n), calculated as the slope of a linear regression between periodic measurements of leaf dry mass (LDM) and LAI, showed a significant linear increase with the inverse of the daily incident photosynthetically active radiation (incident PAR, MJ m(-2 )d(-1)), averaged over the whole growing period, the average glasshouse temperature and plant density (R(2 )= 0.74). The models were validated by two independent experiments and with data from three commercial growers, each with four planting dates. Measured shoot dry mass increase, initial LAI and LDM, plant density, daily temperature and incident PAR were input into the model. Dynamics of LDM and LAI were predicted accurately by the model, although in the last part of the cultivation LAI was often overestimated. The slope of the linear regression of simulated against measured LDM varied between 0.95 and 1.09. For LAI this slope varied between 1.01 and 1.12. The models presented in this study are important for the development of a photosynthesis-driven crop growth model for cut chrysanthemum crops.