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Nepal S, Trunschke J, Ren ZX, Burgess KS, Wang H. Flowering phenology differs among wet and dry sub-alpine meadows in southwestern China. AOB PLANTS 2024; 16:plae002. [PMID: 38298756 PMCID: PMC10829081 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/plae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
The effect of floral traits, floral rewards and plant water availability on plant-pollinator interactions are well-documented; however, empirical evidence of their impact on flowering phenology in high-elevation meadows remains scarce. In this study, we assessed three levels of flowering phenology, i.e. population-, individual- and flower-level (floral longevity), in two nearby but contrasting (wet versus dry) sub-alpine meadows on Yulong Snow Mountain, southwestern China. We also measured a series of floral traits (pollen number, ovule number, and the ratio of pollen to ovule number per flower, i.e. pollen:ovule ratio [P/O]) and floral rewards (nectar availability and pollen presentation) as plausible additional sources of variation for each phenological level. Floral longevity in the wet meadow was significantly longer than that for the dry meadow, whereas population- and individual-flowering duration were significantly shorter. Our results showed a significant positive relationship between flowering phenology with pollen number and P/O per flower; there was no relationship with ovule number per flower. Further, we found a significant effect of flowering phenology on nectar availability and pollen presentation. Our findings suggest that shorter floral longevity in dry habitats compared to wet might be due to water-dependent maintenance costs of flowers, where the population- and individual-level flowering phenology may be less affected by habitats. Our study shows how different levels of flowering phenology underscore the plausible effects of contrasting habitats on reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shristhi Nepal
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.1 Yanqihu East Rd, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Judith Trunschke
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China
- Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str., 479106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Zong-Xin Ren
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Kevin S Burgess
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Columbus, GA 31901, USA
| | - Hong Wang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 132 Lanhei Road, Kunming 650201, China
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2
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Menalled UD, Smith RG, Cordeau S, DiTommaso A, Pethybridge SJ, Ryan MR. Phylogenetic relatedness can influence cover crop-based weed suppression. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17323. [PMID: 37833350 PMCID: PMC10576068 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43987-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cover crops are plants grown to provide regulating, supporting, and cultural ecosystem services in managed environments. In agricultural systems, weed suppression services from cover crops can be an important tool to promote sustainability as reliance on herbicides and tillage for weed management has caused pollution, biodiversity loss, and human health issues. However, to effectively use weed suppression services from cover crops, farmers must carefully select species that fit within their rotations and suppress their problematic weeds. Understanding how the relatedness between cover crops and weeds affects their interactions will help farmers select cover crops for targeted weed management. The phylogenetic distance between species reflects their relatedness and was studied through a series of field experiments that compared weed suppression in winter and summer cover crops with tilled controls. This study demonstrates that cover crops can reduce up to 99% of weed biomass and alter weed community structure by suppressing phylogenetically related weed species. Results also suggest that cover crop planting season can influence weed community structure since only overwintering treatments affected the phylogenetic distance of weed communities. In an applied context, these results help develop cover crop-based weed management systems, demonstrating that problematic weeds can be managed by selecting phylogenetically related cover crop species. More broadly, this study provides a framework for evaluating weed communities through a phylogenetic perspective, which provides new insight into plant interactions in agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uriel D Menalled
- Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | - Richard G Smith
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Stephane Cordeau
- Agroécologie, INRAE, Institut Agro, University Bourgogne, University Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Antonio DiTommaso
- Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Sarah J Pethybridge
- Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Geneva, NY, 14456, USA
| | - Matthew R Ryan
- Soil and Crop Sciences Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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3
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Wang J, Wang XY, Pan W, Li JY, Xue L, Li S. Seed germination traits and dormancy classification of 27 species from a degraded karst mountain in central Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau: seed mass and moisture content correlate with germination capacity. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2022; 24:1043-1056. [PMID: 35793164 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In degraded karst ecosystem, vegetation restoration efforts almost exclusively rely on planted seedlings, but this is not effective to maintain community diversity and resilience. As seed functional traits, seed dormancy and germination are key to community assembly. Unfortunately, these elements are commonly overlooked in restoring degraded ecosystems. This work classifies seed dormancy of 27 species with different life forms that are common on a degraded karst mountain. We examined the effects of temperature regime and light conditions on percentage germination and assessed the relationships between seed traits and germination index using a partial least squares regression (PLSR). Approximately 48% of the investigated species had physiological dormancy, 37% were non-dormant, 7% had morphophysiological dormancy, 4% had morphological dormancy and 4% had physical dormancy. We found that 94% (15 out of 16) species had maximum germination in warm temperature regimes (20/13 and 25/18 °C), while the remaining species required cool temperatures (10/4 °C). PLSR analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between seed mass and T50m (time to 50% final germination), and a negative correlation between seed moisture content and percentage germination. Our findings indicate that seed traits are important factors in seed-based restoration practice. F. esculentum, O. opipara, P. fortuneana and S. salicifolia are recommended for direct seeding during the early rainy season to restore seriously degraded lands in subtropical karst regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Wang
- Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, China
- Observation and Research Station for Rock Desert Ecosystem, Puding, China
| | - X Y Wang
- Chun'an County Forestry Administration, Hangzhou, China
| | - W Pan
- Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, China
| | - J Y Li
- Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, China
| | - L Xue
- Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, China
- Observation and Research Station for Rock Desert Ecosystem, Puding, China
| | - S Li
- Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Fuyang, China
- Observation and Research Station for Rock Desert Ecosystem, Puding, China
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Barak RS, Lichtenberger TM, Wellman‐Houde A, Kramer AT, Larkin DJ. Cracking the case: Seed traits and phylogeny predict time to germination in prairie restoration species. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5551-5562. [PMID: 29938073 PMCID: PMC6010845 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits are important for understanding how plant communities assemble and function, providing a common currency for studying ecological processes across species, locations, and habitat types. However, the majority of studies relating species traits to community assembly rely upon vegetative traits of mature plants. Seed traits, which are understudied relative to whole-plant traits, are key to understanding assembly of plant communities. This is particularly true for restored communities, which are typically started de novo from seed, making seed germination a critical first step in community assembly and an early filter for plant establishment. We experimentally tested the effects of seed traits (mass, shape, and embryo to seed size ratio) and phylogeny on germination response in 32 species commonly used in prairie grassland restoration in the Midwestern USA, analyzing data using time-to-event (survival) analysis. As germination is also influenced by seed dormancy, and dormancy break treatments are commonly employed in restoration, we also tested the effects of two pretreatments (cold stratification and gibberellic acid application) on time to germination. Seed traits, phylogeny, and seed pretreatments all affected time to germination. Of all traits tested, variables related to seed shape (height and shape variance) best predicted germination response, with high-variance (i.e., pointier and narrower) seeds germinating faster. Phylogenetic position (the location of species on the phylogenetic tree relative to other tested species) was also an important predictor of germination response, that is, closely related species showed similar patterns in time to germination. This was true despite the fact that all measured seed traits showed phylogenetic signal, therefore phylogeny provided residual information that was not already captured by measured seed traits. Seed traits, phylogenetic position, and germination pretreatments were important predictors of germination response for a suite of species commonly used in grassland restoration. Shape traits were especially important, while mass, often the only seed trait used in studies of community assembly, was not a strong predictor of germination timing. These findings illustrate the ecological importance of seed traits that are rarely incorporated into functional studies of plant communities. This information can also be used to advance restoration practice by guiding restoration planning and seed mix design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Barak
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
- Program in Plant Biology and ConservationNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Taran M. Lichtenberger
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
- Program in Plant Biology and ConservationNorthwestern UniversityEvanstonIllinois
| | - Alyssa Wellman‐Houde
- Program in Environmental ScienceUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore CountyBaltimoreMaryland
- Department of Environmental Science and TechnologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
| | - Andrea T. Kramer
- Plant Science and ConservationChicago Botanic GardenGlencoeIllinois
| | - Daniel J. Larkin
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSt. PaulMinnesota
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Yuan W, Flowers JM, Sahraie DJ, Ehrenreich IM, Purugganan MD. Extreme QTL mapping of germination speed in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:4177-96. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2015] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yuan
- Department of Biology; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology; New York University; 12 Waverly Place New York NY 10003 USA
| | - Jonathan M. Flowers
- Department of Biology; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology; New York University; 12 Waverly Place New York NY 10003 USA
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology; NYU Abu Dhabi Research Institute; New York University Abu Dhabi; Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates
| | - Dustin J. Sahraie
- Department of Biology; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology; New York University; 12 Waverly Place New York NY 10003 USA
| | - Ian M. Ehrenreich
- Molecular and Computational Biology Section; University of Southern California; Ray R. Irani Hall 201 Los Angeles CA 90089-2910 USA
| | - Michael D. Purugganan
- Department of Biology; Center for Genomics and Systems Biology; New York University; 12 Waverly Place New York NY 10003 USA
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Ribeiro EMS, Santos BA, Arroyo-Rodríguez V, Tabarelli M, Souza G, Leal IR. Phylogenetic impoverishment of plant communities following chronic human disturbances in the Brazilian Caatinga. Ecology 2016; 97:1583-92. [DOI: 10.1890/15-1122.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Elâine M. S. Ribeiro
- Departamento de Botânica; Universidade Federal de Pernambuco; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Botânica; Cidade Universitária Av. Professor Moraes Rego, s/n CEP: 50670-901 Recife PE Brasil
| | - Bráulio A. Santos
- Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia; Universidade Federal da Paraíba; Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza; Cidade Universitária CEP: 58051-900 João Pessoa PB Brasil
| | - Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico; Morelia C.P. 58190 Michoacán Mexico
| | - Marcelo Tabarelli
- Departamento de Botânica; Universidade, Federal de Pernambuco; Cidade, Universitária Av. Professor Moraes Rego, s/n CEP: 50670-901 Recife PE Brasil
| | - Gustavo Souza
- Departamento de Botânica; Universidade, Federal de Pernambuco; Cidade, Universitária Av. Professor Moraes Rego, s/n CEP: 50670-901 Recife PE Brasil
| | - Inara R. Leal
- Departamento de Botânica; Universidade, Federal de Pernambuco; Cidade, Universitária Av. Professor Moraes Rego, s/n CEP: 50670-901 Recife PE Brasil
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Molina-Venegas R, Aparicio A, Lavergne S, Arroyo J. The building of a biodiversity hotspot across a land-bridge in the Mediterranean. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20151116. [PMID: 26246551 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Many of the macroevolutionary processes that have shaped present-day phylogenetic patterns were caused by geological events such as plate tectonics and temporary land-bridges. The study of spatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity can provide insights into these past events. Here we focus on a western Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot located in the southern Iberian Peninsula and northwest Africa, two regions that are separated by the Strait of Gibraltar. We explore the spatial structure of the phylogenetic relationships within and across large-scale plant assemblages. Significant turnover in terminal lineages tends to occur between landmasses, whereas turnover in deep lineages tends to occur within landmasses. Plant assemblages in the western ecoregions of this hotspot tend to be phylogenetically overdispersed but are phylogenetically clustered on its eastern margins. We discuss our results in the light of potential scenarios of niche evolution (or conservatism) and lineage diversification. The significant turnover between landmasses suggests a common scenario of allopatric speciation that could have been facilitated by the intermittent joining of the two continents. This may have constituted an important stimulus for diversification and the emergence of this western Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Molina-Venegas
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, Sevilla 41080, Spain
| | - Abelardo Aparicio
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, Sevilla 41080, Spain
| | - Sébastien Lavergne
- Laboratoire d'Écologie Alpine, CNRS - Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Juan Arroyo
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal y Ecología, Universidad de Sevilla, Apartado 1095, Sevilla 41080, Spain
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Mattana E, Stuppy WH, Fraser R, Waller J, Pritchard HW. Dependency of seed dormancy types on embryo traits and environmental conditions in Ribes species. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2014; 16:740-7. [PMID: 24138146 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The hypothesis that seed dormancy may be dependent on environmental conditions and seed morphological traits was tested for six Ribes species, across an altitudinal gradient of 1300 m and a longitudinal separation of 120°. Embryo measurements and seed germination experiments were conducted for R. alpinum L., R. hudsonianum Richardson var. petiolare (Douglas) Jancz., R. nevadaense Kellogg, R. roezlii Regel var. cruentum (Greene) Rehder and R. speciosum Pursh, and data taken from the literature for R. multiflorum Kit. ex Schult. ssp. sandalioticum Arrigoni. Germination was compared with seed viability to reveal proportional seed dormancy, which was then correlated to seed/embryo morphological traits and these traits related to the seed provenance environment. The embryos of all the investigated species are linear underdeveloped and all had a morphological component of seed dormancy (MD). Seeds of R. roezlii, R. hudsonianum and R. nevadaense required a temperature and/or hormone pre-treatment in order to germinate, highlighting morphophysiological seed dormancy (MPD). Seed dormancy was found to be strongly negatively correlated with embryo length, but not with embryo to seed (E:S) ratio or seed mass. Initial embryo length was positively related to mean annual temperature. Seed dormancy in the investigated Ribes species could be quantified and predicted by the interaction of embryo traits and environmental conditions. This approach may be helpful in assessing and predicting seed dormancy in the Ribes genus and in other genera and families with underdeveloped embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mattana
- Centro Conservazione Biodiversità (CCB), Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy; Seed Conservation Department, Wellcome Trust Millennium Building, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Ardingly, West Sussex, UK
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