Effects of temperature and photoperiod on vegetative growth of white clover (Trifolium repens) ecotypes

Effects of photoperiod and temperature on vegetative growth of seedling populations and clones of white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) originating from various latitudes (58°48'–69°54'N) and altitudes (up to 1100 m above sea level) were studied in a phytotron. Dry matter production, stolon elongation, petiole elongation and leaf lamina size were enhanced by long photoperiod. The requirement for long photoperiod increased with decreasing temperature. At 6°C the maximum growth was recorded under 24-h daylength. At 18°C already an increase in photoperiod from 12 to 15 h significantly enhanced growth, and maximum growth was obtained at 21-h photoperiod. The studied populations responded similarly to daylength, and the results did not indicate photoperiodic ecotypes in the material. The southernmost clones and populations generally had the highest dry matter production at all temperature treatments (6–18°C). Variation between clones within one location was, however, significant, and rapidly growing clones were found also in high-latitude locations. Dry matter production was poorly correlated with the morphological characters observed, but in some cases significant correlation with leaf lamina size was found.     

Growth and physiological responses to drought and elevated ultraviolet-B in two contrasting populations of Hippophae rhamnoides

In the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau of China, sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides L.), which is a thorny nitrogen-fixing deciduously perennial shrub, has been widely used in forest restoration as the pioneer species. In our study, two contrasting populations from the low and high altitudinal regions were employed to investigate the effects of drought, ultraviolet-B (UV-B) and their combination on sea buckthorn. The experimental design included two watering regimes (well watered and drought stressed) and two levels of UV-B (with and without UV-B supplementation). Drought significantly decreased total biomass, total leaf area and specific leaf area (SLA), and increased root/shoot ratio, fine root/coarse root ratio and abscisic acid content (ABA) in both populations. However, the high altitudinal population was more responsive to drought than the low altitudinal population. On the other hand, elevated UV-B induced increase in anthocyanins in both populations, whereas the accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds occurred only in the low altitudinal population. The drought-induced enhancement of ABA in the high altitudinal population was significantly suppressed in the combination of drought and elevated UV-B. Moreover, significant drought × UV-B interaction was detected on total biomass in both populations, total leaf area and fine root/coarse root in the low altitudinal population, and SLA in the high altitudinal population. These results demonstrated that there were different adaptive responses between two contrasting populations, the high altitudinal population exhibited higher tolerance to drought and UV-B than the low altitudinal population.     

Sensitivity of white clover to UV-B radiation depends on water availability, plant productivity and duration of stress

Abstract Nine populations of white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) were grown for 12 weeks with supplemental application of 13.3 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹ ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation under controlled environmental conditions. Drought was applied during the last four weeks of the experiment. Under well-watered conditions, UV-B decreased white clover growth on average by 20%. Cultivars bred for agricultural performance were sensitive to UV-B, while slow-growing ecotypes were UV-B-tolerant. After four weeks of water stress, there were no significant population differences in UV-B responsiveness. UV-B sensitivity decreased with increasing exposure to drought and with longer duration of UV-B irradiation, suggesting that the direction and extent of the UV-B 3× drought interaction depends on the duration of stress. The population comparisons indicate that low constitutive growth rate and adaptation to other forms of stress may be related to UV-B tolerance under well-watered conditions, but not during extended periods of drought.     

Linking species performance to community structure as affected by UV-B radiation: an attenuation experiment

Aims UV-B radiation is known to affect plant physiology and growth rate in ways that can influence community species composition and structure. Nevertheless, comparatively little is known about how UV-B radiation induced changes in the performance of individual species cascades to affect overall community properties. Because foliage leaves are primarily responsible for photosynthesis and carbon gain and are the major organ that senses and responds to UV-B radiation, we hypothesized that, under reduced UV-B radiation, species with larger leaf areas per plant would manifest higher growth rates and hence tend to improve their community status compared to species with smaller leaf areas per plant in herbaceous plant communities.Methods We tested this hypothesis by examining plant traits (leaf area per plant and plant height), plant growth rate (aboveground biomass per plant and plant biomass per area) and community status (species within-community relative biomass) for 19 common species in a two-year field experiment in an alpine meadow on Tibetan Plateau.Important findings Aboveground biomass per plant, as well as per area, progressively increased in a 39% reduced (relative to ambient) UV-B treatment during the experimental period. At the second year, 11 out of 19 species significantly or marginally significantly increased their plant height, leaf area per plant and aboveground biomass per plant. No species was negatively affected by reducing UV-B. As hypothesized, the increase in aboveground biomass per plant increased with increasing leaf area per plant, as indicated by cross-species regression analysis. Moreover, the change in species within-community status increased with increasing leaf area per plant. Our study demonstrates that UV-B radiation has differential effects on plant growth rate across species and hence significantly affects species composition and plant community structure. We suggest that UV-B radiation is an ecological factor structuring plant communities particularly in alpine and polar areas.     

不同剂量UV-B辐射对冬小麦幼苗形态及生理指标的影响

UV-B辐射增强对植物的影响效果存在差异,即使是同一物种的不同品种之间也存在差异。本研究以对UV-B不同耐性的2个冬小麦品种科遗26和泰山269为材料,比较了品种间及UV-B的剂量间的形态指标、生物量及生理指标的差异。结果表明:高剂量UV-B处理抑制了株高、叶色、茎数、鲜质量、光反应系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)和光合速率,促进了丙二醛、类黄酮含量的增加及相对电导率的提高,2个品种的趋势基本相同,但泰山269的变化幅度大于科遗26,说明泰山269比科遗26敏感;低剂量的UV-B对株高、叶色、茎数、鲜质量表现出促进的趋势,对类黄酮的促进作用较大,对Fv/Fm、丙二醛及相对电导率的影响相对较小。     

匍匐茎草本活血丹(Glechoma longituba)在不同养分条件下的克隆形态

通过人工施肥的方法 ,对活血丹无性系实验种群在不同养分供应情况下的形态特征进行了研究。研究结果表明 :施肥可以显著改变克隆植株的形态 ,无性系分株产生能力增强 ,个体生长旺盛 ;匍匐茎总长增长 ,生物量增大 ,节间短 ,匍匐茎较粗壮 ;相对叶面积小 ,叶片厚 ,叶柄较粗短。在未施肥条件下 ,克隆植株形态表现则正好相反。养分供应的差异对叶片的形态以及根重和根量的影响较其对隔离者和叶柄的特征的影响更大。     

A thirty percent increase in UV-B has no impact on photosynthesis in well-watered and droughted pea plants in the field

It has been suggested that field experiments which increase UV-B irradiation by a fixed amount irrespective of ambient light conditions (‘square-wave’), may overestimate the response of photosynthesis to UV-B irradiation. In this study, pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants were grown in the field and subjected to a modulated 30% increase in ambient UK summer UV-B radiation (weighted with an erythemal action spectrum) and a mild drought treatment. UV-A and ambient UV control treatments were also studied. There were no significant effects of the UV-B treatment on the in situ CO₂ assimilation rate throughout the day or on the light-saturated steady-state photosynthesis. This was confirmed by an absence of UV-B effects on the major components contributing to CO₂ assimilation; photosystem II electron transport, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate regeneration, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase carboxylation, and stomatal conductance. In addition to the absence of an effect on photosynthetic activities, UV-B had no significant impact on plant biomass, leaf area or partitioning. UV-B exposure increased leaf flavonoid content. The UV-A treatment had no observable effect on photosynthesis or productivity. Mild drought resulted in reduced biomass, a change in partitioning away from shoots to roots whilst maintaining leaf area, but had no observable effect on photosynthetic competence. No UV-B and drought treatment interactions were observed on photosynthesis or plant biomass. In conclusion, a 30% increase in UV-B had no effects on photosynthetic performance or productivity in well-watered or droughted pea plants in the field.     

Counteractive biomass allocation responses to drought and damage in the perennial herb Convolvulus demissus

Herbivory and water shortage are key ecological factors affecting plant performance. While plant compensatory responses to herbivory include reallocation of biomass from below‐ground to above‐ground structures, plant responses to reduced soil moisture involve increased biomass allocation to roots and a reduction in the number and size of leaves. In a greenhouse study we evaluated the effects of experimental drought and leaf damage on biomass allocation in Convolvulus demissus (Convolvulaceae), a perennial herb distributed in central Chile, where it experiences summer drought typical of Mediterranean ecosystems and defoliation by leaf beetles and livestock. The number of leaves and internode length were unaffected by the experimental treatments. The rest of plant traits showed interaction of effects. We detected that drought counteracted some plant responses to damage. Thus, only in the control watering environment was it observed that damaged plants produced more stems, even after correcting for main stem length (index of architecture). In the cases of shoot : root ratio, relative shoot biomass and relative root biomass we found that the damage treatment counteracted plant responses to drought. Thus, while undamaged plants under water shortage showed a significant increase in root relative biomass and a significant reduction in both shoot : root ratio and relative shoot biomass, none of these responses to drought was observed in damaged plants. Total plant biomass increased in response to simulated herbivory, apparently due to greater shoot size, and in response to drought, presumably due to greater root size. However, damaged plants under experimental drought had the same total biomass as control plants. Overall, our results showed counteractive biomass allocation responses to drought and damage in C. demissus. Further research must address the fitness consequences under field conditions of the patterns found. This would be of particular importance because both current and expected climatic trends for central Chile indicate increased aridity.     

Maize growth and developmental responses to temperature and ultraviolet-B radiation interaction

Plant response to the combination of two or more abiotic stresses is different than its response to the same stresses singly. The response of maize (Zea mays L.) photosynthesis, growth, and development processes were examined under sunlit plant growth chambers at three levels of each day/night temperatures (24/16°C, 30/22°C, and 36/28°C) and UV-B radiation levels (0, 5, and 10 kJ m^?2 d^?1) and their interaction from 4 d after emergence to 43 d. An increase in plant height, leaf area, node number, and dry mass was observed as temperature increased. However, UV-B radiation negatively affected these processes by reducing the rates of stem elongation, leaf area expansion, and biomass accumulation. UV-B radiation affected leaf photosynthesis mostly at early stage of growth and tended to be temperature-dependent. For instance, UV-B radiation caused 3–15% decrease of photosynthetic rate (P _N) on the uppermost, fully expanded leaves at 24/16°C and 36/28°C, but stimulated P _N about 5–18% at 30/22°C temperature. Moreover, the observed UV-B protection mechanisms, such as accumulation of phenolics and waxes, exhibited a significant interaction among the treatments where these compounds were relatively less responsive (phenolics) or more responsive (waxes) to UV-B radiation at higher temperature treatments or vice versa. Plants exposed to UV-B radiation produced more leaf waxes except at 24/16°C treatment. The detrimental effect of UV-B radiation was greater on plant growth compared to the photosynthetic processes. Results suggest that maize growth and development, especially stem elongation, is highly sensitive to current and projected UV-B radiation levels, and temperature plays an important role in the magnitude and direction of the UV-B mediated responses.     

Variation in tolerance to drought among Scandinavian populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis lyrata</Emphasis>

The ability to cope with water limitation influences plant distributions, and several plant traits have been interpreted as adaptations to drought stress. In Scandinavia, the perennial herb Arabidopsis lyrata occurs in open habitats that differ widely in climate and water availability in summer, suggesting differential selection on drought-related traits. We conducted two greenhouse experiments to examine differentiation in drought response traits among six Scandinavian populations, and to determine whether leaf trichomes confer protection against drought. We quantified tolerance to drought as fitness (survival and biomass of survivors) when exposed to drought relative to fitness under non-drought conditions. Two Swedish populations from shores along the Bothnian Bay had higher tolerance to drought than four riverbed populations from Norway. Under conditions of drought, the shore populations experienced less leaf damage compared to the riverbed populations, and their survival and biomass were less reduced relative to non-drought conditions. Across populations, tolerance to drought was positively related to leaf mass per area and negatively related to flowering propensity and proportion roots, but not related to plant size at the initiation of the drought treatment. In populations polymorphic for trichome production, trichome-producing plants were more tolerant to drought than glabrous plants. The results suggest that both leaf morphology and life-history traits contribute to differential drought response in natural populations of A. lyrata, and that this system offers excellent opportunities for examining the adaptive value and genetic basis of drought-related traits.     

大气CO2浓度升高对干旱条件下冬小麦叶片光合适应的影响

大气CO₂浓度升高是全球气候变化的主要特征,但大气CO₂浓度长期升高条件下冬小麦叶片发生光合适应的机制尚不十分清楚。本研究以盆栽冬小麦‘郑麦9023’为试验材料,在人工气候控制室内设置2个CO₂浓度(400和600 μmol·mol^-1)、2个水分条件(田间持水量的80%±5%和55%±5%),测定拔节期和抽穗期的光合特征曲线、叶绿素荧光动力学参数、叶氮含量和收获后的籽粒产量等指标,探讨干旱条件下库源关系改变对叶片光合适应的影响。结果表明: 在小麦拔节期,干旱条件下CO₂浓度升高处理的小麦PSⅡ实际光化学效率没有显著增加,但通过提升最大电子传递速率和电子向光化学方向的传递比例,增强了Rubisco的羧化速率,从而提高了最大净光合速率;在抽穗期,功能叶最大电子传递速率和电子向光化学方向的传递比例虽然较高,但PSⅡ实际光化学转换效率降低,Rubisco羧化速率和丙糖磷酸利用效率下降,以致最大净光合速率降低。干旱条件下,CO₂浓度升高增加了小麦单茎生物量、单穗粒数和穗粒重,降低了不孕小穗数,提高了籽粒产量。土壤干旱条件下,CO₂浓度升高对收获期小麦单茎籽粒产量的促进作用可能主要来自于生长前期的光合产物积累。生长后期光合适应发生的主要原因是功能叶PSⅡ实际光化学转换效率和丙糖磷酸利用效率的降低,而不是最大电子传递速率、光化学方向的电子传递比例和新叶库强的变化。     

干旱胁迫对欧李幼苗表型可塑性的影响

该研究以欧李为材料,探讨了干旱胁迫对欧李表型可塑性的影响。结果表明:(1)随着干旱胁迫的加剧,欧李根生物量、枝叶生物量、植株总生物量积累、根冠比和根冠比胁迫指数均呈现先升高后降低的趋势,在T1处理下达到最大值,并显著高于其他处理(α=0.05)。(2)随土壤含水量的降低,欧李根的生物量分配指数呈现先增加后降低的趋势,叶生物量与之相反,在T1处理下根的生物量分配指数最大,枝叶的最小(α=0.05)。(3)在水分供应为60%～80%时,欧李的株高、冠幅、基径、二级分枝数、主根长、主根直径及侧根数量均达到最大值(α=0.05),对一级分枝数的生长没有显著影响。(4)随着水分胁迫的加剧,叶片长从T2处理开始下降,叶片宽、单片叶面积及比叶面积均呈现先增加后减少的趋势(α=0.05)。综上可得,欧李通过调整形态特性和各器官生物量积累及其分配对不同干旱胁迫条件产生了较强的可塑性。     

Interactions between drought, ABA application and supplemental UV-B in Populus yunnanensis

To test whether drought and ABA application alter the effects of enhanced UV-B on the growth and biomass allocation of Populus yunnanensis Dode, cuttings were grown in pots at two ABA levels, two watering regimes and two UV-B levels for one growth season. Exposure to enhanced UV-B radiation significantly decreased plant growth and photosynthesis under well-watered conditions, but these effects were obscured by drought, which alone caused growth reduction. Drought may contribute to masking the effects of UV-B radiation. The accumulation of UV-B absorbing compounds and the increase of the ABA content induced by drought could reduce the effectiveness of UV-B radiation. ABA application did not have large direct effects on biomass accumulation and allocation. Evidence for interactions between UV-B and ABA was detected for only a few measured traits. Therefore, there was little evidence to support a pivotal role for ABA in regulating a centralized whole plant response to enhanced UV-B. Yet, we recorded an ABA-induced decrease in stomatal conductance (g(s)) and increase in UV-B absorbing compounds and carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C) in response to enhanced UV-B. The allometric analysis revealed that regression models between root and shoot biomass in response to enhanced UV-B are different for plants under well-watered and drought conditions. Enhanced UV-B led to a significant displacement of the allometric regression line under well-watered condition, while allometric trajectories for both UV-B regimes did not differ significantly under drought condition.     

两种践踏胁迫下克隆整合对入侵植物空心莲子草生长的影响

研究了两种践踏胁迫下克隆整合对入侵植物空心莲子草生长的影响.结果表明:(1)切断分株间的匍匐茎连接,会降低先端分株的生物量、分株数、总匍匐茎长度和总叶片数,但会显著增强基端分株的生物量.(2)对先端分株的践踏胁迫会显著降低先端分株叶片的叶绿素相对含量,对基端分株的践踏胁迫会显著降低基端分株的生物量和总匍匐茎长度.(3)对于基端分株的分株数、总匍匐茎长度和总叶片数来说,当进行基端分株践踏胁迫时,匍匐茎连接对其影响不大,而当进行先端分株践踏胁迫时,则明显对其不利.(4)对于整个克隆片段,践踏胁迫的差异和匍匐茎是否切断对其生长没有显著影响.     

Inhibitory effects of ambient levels of solar UV-A and UV-B radiation on growth of cucumber

The influence of solar UV-A and UV-B radiation at Beltsville, Maryland, on growth and flavonoid content in four cultivars of Cucumis sativus L. (Ashley, Poinsett, Marketmore, and Salad Bush cucumber) was examined during the summers of 1994 and 1995. Plants were grown from seed in UV exclusion chambers consisting of UV-transmitting Plexiglas, lined with Llumar to exclude UV-A and UV-B, polyester to exclude UV-B, or cellulose acetate to transmit UV-A and UV-B. Despite previously determined differences in sensitivity to supplemental UV-B radiation, all four cultivars responded similarly to UV-B exclusion treatment. After 19–21 days, the four cultivars grown in the absence of solar UV-B (polyester) had an average of 34, 55, and 40% greater biomass of leaves, stems, and roots, respectively, 27% greater stem height, and 35% greater leaf area than those grown under ambient UV-B (cellulose acetate). Plants protected from UV-A radiation as well (Llumar) showed an additional 14 and 22% average increase, respectively, in biomass of leaves and stems, and a 22 and 19% average increase, respectively, in stem elongation and leaf area over those grown under polyester. These findings demonstrate the extreme sensitivity of cucumber not only to present levels of UV-B but also to UV-A and suggest that even small changes in ozone depletion may have important biological consequences for certain plant species.     

Growth and photosynthetic responses of the federally endangered shrub, Lindera melissifolia (Lauraceae), to varied light environments

Photosynthetic, morphological, and growth responses to light environment can be useful measurements to determine favorable habitat conditions for the conservation of endangered species. For Lindera melissifolia (Walt.) Blume, we compared morphological and photosynthetic responses under natural and controlled light regimes, and growth under three light treatments: 100%, 42%, and 19% full sunlight. Typical sun-shade morphological responses to decreasing light levels included decreased stomatal density, increased specific leaf area, and increased leaf area ratio. Photosynthetic capacity (3-6 μmol CO(2) · m(-2) · s(-1)) was consistent with other shade-tolerant species. Light-saturated rates of photosynthesis of experimental plants increased with increasing light up to 42% sunlight, but declined at 100% sunlight. The 100% light treatment also resulted in lower plant biomass, primarily from a reduction in root biomass. Results indicate that canopy conditions at levels below 40% sunlight are optimal for plant growth and should be considered in management and reintroduction efforts for this species.     

匍匐茎草本活血丹(Glechomalongituba)在不同养分条件下的克隆形态

通过人工施肥的方法,对活血丹无性系实验种群在不同养分供应情况下的形态特征进行了研究。研究结果表明：施肥可以显著改变克隆植株的形态,无怀系分株产生能力增强,个体生长旺盛;匍匐茎总长增长,生物量增大,节间短,匍匐茎较粗壮;相对叶面积小,叶片厚,叶柄较粗短。在未施肥条件下,克隆植株形态表现则正好相反。养分供应的差异对叶片的形态以及根重和根量的影响较其对隔离者和叶柄的特征的影响更大。     

Changes in leaf expansion and epidermal screening effectiveness in Liquidambar styraciflua and Pinus taeda in response to UV-B radiation

Absorption or screening of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation by the epidermis may be an important protective method by which plants avoid damage upon exposure to potentially harmful UV-B radiation. In the present study we examined the relationships among epidermal screening effectiveness, concentration of UV-absorbing compounds, epidermal anatomy and growth responses in seedlings of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.). Seedlings of each species were grown in a greenhouse at the University of Maryland under either no UV-B radiation or daily supplemental UV-B radiation levels of 4, 8 or 11 kJ m^?2 of biologically effective UV-B (UV-B_BE) radiation. Loblolly pine seedlings were subsequently grown in the field under either ambient or supplemental levels of UV-B radiation. At the conclusion of the growing season, measurements of epidermal UV-B screening effectiveness were made with a fiber-optic microprobe. In loblolly pine, less than 0.5% of incident UV-B radiation was transmitted through the epidermis of fascicle needles and about 1% was transmitted in primary needles. In contrast, epidermal transmittance in sweetgum ranged from about 20% in leaves not preconditioned to UV-B exposure, to about 10% in leaves grown under UV-B radiation. The concentration of UV-absorbing compounds was unaffected by UV-B exposure, but generally increased with leaf age. Increases in epidermal thickness were observed in response to UV-B treatment in loblolly pine, and this accounted for over half of the variability in UV-B screening effectiveness. In spite of the low levels of UV-B penetration into the mesophyll, delays in leaf development (both species) and final needle size (loblolly pine) were observed. Seedling biomass was reduced by supplemental UV-B radiation in loblolly pine. We hypothesize that the UV-induced growth reductions were manifested by changes in either epidermal anatomy or epidermal secondary chemistry that might negatively impact cell elongation.     

Solar Ultraviolet-B Radiation Affects Seedling Emergence,DNA Integrity,Plant Morphology,Growth Rate,and Attractiveness to Herbivore Insects in Datura ferox

To study functional relationships between the effects of solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) on different aspects of the physiology of a wild plant, we carried out exclusion experiments in the field with the summer annual Datura ferox L. Solar UV-B incident over Buenos Aires reduced daytime seedling emergence, inhibited stem elongation and leaf expansion, and tended to reduce biomass accumulation during early growth. However, UV-B had no effect on calculated net assimilation rate. Using a monoclonal antibody specific to the cyclobutane-pyrimidine dimer (CPD), we found that plants receiving full sunlight had more CPDs per unit of DNA than plants shielded from solar UV-B, but the positive correlation between UV-B and CPD burden tended to level off at high (near solar) UV-B levels. At our field site, Datura plants were consumed by leaf beetles (Coleoptera), and the proportion of plants attacked by insects declined with the amount of UV-B received during growth. Field experiments showed that plant exposure to solar UV-B reduced the likelihood of leaf beetle attack by one-half. Our results highlight the complexities associated with scaling plant responses to solar UV-B, because they show: (a) a lack of correspondence between UV-B effects on net assimilation rate and whole-plant growth rate, (b) nonlinear UV-B dose-response curves, and (c) UV-B effects of plant attractiveness to natural herbivores.     

Effects of enhanced UV-B radiation and nitrogen deposition on the growth of invasive plant Triadica sebifera

Aims Exotic plant invasions are important components of global change, threatening both the stability and function of invaded ecosystems. Shifts in competitive ability of invasive plants versus their native congeners have been documented. Enhanced UV-B radiation and nitrogen (N) deposition might interact with soil biota communities impacting the invasion process of exotic plant species. To understand the potential effects by UV-B and N with soil biota on plant growth would enhance our understanding of the mechanisms in plant invasions in the context of global change.
Methods We conducted a full-factorial pot experiment in the native range (China) of Triadica sebifera invading US to investigate how UV-B radiation, N and soil biota together determined their seedling growth.
Important findings The results showed that UV-B radiation, N and soil sterilization together impacted the growth of T. sebifera seedlings. UV-B radiation induced changes in biomass allocation with larger leaf biomass observed in response to UV-B radiation. In addition, N increased aboveground biomass and decreased root biomass simultaneously. Soil biota imposed positive effects on growth of T. sebifera, and the addition of N amplified these positive effects. The negative effects by UV-B radiation on growth of T. sebifera showed no response to N addition. Plant height, leaf biomass and total biomass of the invasive T. sebifera populations out- performed those of the native ones. In addition, invasive T. sebifera populations weakened the dependence of root/shoot ratio and root biomass on local soil microorganisms than native populations, but enhanced that of leaf area ratio.