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Sharma MK, Hopak NE, Chawla A. Alpine plant species converge towards adopting elevation-specific resource-acquisition strategy in response to experimental early snow-melting. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167906. [PMID: 37858830 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Snow-melt is one of the important factors limiting growth and survival of alpine plants. Changes in snow-melt timing have profound effects on eco-physiological characteristics of alpine plant species through alterations in growing season length. Here, we conducted a field experiment and studied species response to experimentally induced early snow-melting (ES) (natural vs. early) at an alpine site (Rohtang) in the western Himalaya region. Eco-physiological response of eight snow-bed restricted alpine plant species from different elevations (lower: 3850 m and upper: 4150 m amsl) and belonging to contrasting resource acquisition strategies (conservative and acquisitive) were studied after 2-years (2019 & 2020) of initiating ES field experiment. We estimated the functional traits related to leaf economic spectrum and physiological performance and assessed their pattern of phenotypic plasticity. Analysis by linear mixed effect model showed that both the 'conservative' and 'acquisitive' species had responded to ES with significant effects on species specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, leaf thickness, leaf water content and sugar content. Our results also revealed that ES treatment induced significant increase in leaf C/N ratio (10.57 % to 13.65 %) and protein content (15.85 % to 20.76 %) at both the elevations, irrespective of species groups. The phenotypic plasticity was found to be low and was essentially species-specific. However, for leaf protein content, the upper elevation species exhibited a higher phenotypic plasticity (0.43 ± 0.18) than the lower elevation species (0.31 ± 0.21). Interestingly, we found that irrespective of species unique functional strategy, species adapt to perform more conservative at lower elevation and more acquisitive at upper elevation, in response to ES. We conclude that plants occurring at contrasting elevations respond differentially to ES. However, species showed capacity for short-term acclimation to future environmental conditions, but may be vulnerable, if their niche is occupied by new species with greater phenotypic plasticity and a superior competitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish K Sharma
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176 061, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India; Centre for High Altitude Biology (CeHAB), Research Centre of CSIR-IHBT, Ribling, P.O. Tandi, District Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 175132, India
| | - Nang Elennie Hopak
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176 061, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India; Centre for High Altitude Biology (CeHAB), Research Centre of CSIR-IHBT, Ribling, P.O. Tandi, District Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 175132, India
| | - Amit Chawla
- Environmental Technology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur, Himachal Pradesh 176 061, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201 002, India; Centre for High Altitude Biology (CeHAB), Research Centre of CSIR-IHBT, Ribling, P.O. Tandi, District Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh 175132, India.
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Pliūra A, Jankauskienė J, Bajerkevičienė G, Lygis V, Suchockas V, Labokas J, Verbylaitė R. Response of juveniles of seven forest tree species and their populations to different combinations of simulated climate change-related stressors: spring-frost, heat, drought, increased UV radiation and ozone concentration under elevated CO 2 level. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2019; 132:789-811. [PMID: 31628563 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-019-01146-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to assess response of juvenile progeny of seven forest tree species, Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, Quercus robur and Fraxinus excelsior, and their populations to different combinations of climate change-related multiple stressors, simulated in a phytotron under elevated CO2 concentration: (1) heat + elevated humidity (HW); (2) heat + frost + drought (HFD); (3) heat + elevated humidity + increased UV-B radiation doses + elevated ozone concentration (HWUO); and (4) heat + frost + drought + increased UV-B radiation doses + elevated ozone concentration (HFDUO). Effects of the complex treatments, species and species-by-treatment interaction were highly significant in most of the growth, physiological and biochemical traits studied, indicating general and species-specific responses to the applied treatments. For deciduous trees, height increment was much higher under HW treatment than in ambient conditions (control) indicating a positive effect of elevated temperature and better water and CO2 availability. HFD treatment caused reduction of height increment in comparison to HW treatment in most species except for Q. robur and F. excelsior which benefited from lower humidity. Treatments HWUO and HFDUO have caused substantial damages to leaves in fast growing deciduous P. tremula, A. glutinosa and B. pendula, and resulted in their lower height increment than in HW treatment, although it was the same or even higher than that in the control. Rates of photosynthesis in most of the tree species were greatest in HFD treatment. A lower photosynthetic rate (compared to control) was observed in B. pendula, P. tremula and F. excelsior in HW treatment, and in most species-in HWUO treatment. Compared to control, intrinsic water use efficiency in all treatments was significantly lower in P. tremula, A. glutinosa and F. excelsior and higher in conifers P. sylvestris and P. abies. Significant population-by-treatment interactions found for most traits showed variation in response of populations, implying that this reflects adaptive potential of each tree species. The observed responses may not always be considered as adaptive as deteriorating growth of some populations or species may lead to loss of their competitiveness thus compromising regeneration and natural successions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfas Pliūra
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų str. 1, Girionys, 53101, Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Jurga Jankauskienė
- Institute of Botany of Nature Research Centre, Akademijos str. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Gintarė Bajerkevičienė
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų str. 1, Girionys, 53101, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Vaidotas Lygis
- Institute of Botany of Nature Research Centre, Akademijos str. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Kaunas Forestry and Environmental Engineering University of Applied Sciences, Liepų str. 1, Girionys, 53101, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Suchockas
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų str. 1, Girionys, 53101, Kaunas, Lithuania
- Vytautas Magnus University, Academy of Agriculture, Studentų str. 11, Akademija, 53361, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Juozas Labokas
- Institute of Botany of Nature Research Centre, Akademijos str. 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Rita Verbylaitė
- Institute of Forestry, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Liepų str. 1, Girionys, 53101, Kaunas, Lithuania
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Ahrar M, Doneva D, Tattini M, Brunetti C, Gori A, Rodeghiero M, Wohlfahrt G, Biasioli F, Varotto C, Loreto F, Velikova V. Phenotypic differences determine drought stress responses in ecotypes of Arundo donax adapted to different environments. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:2439-2451. [PMID: 28449129 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Arundo donax has been identified as an important biomass and biofuel crop. Yet, there has been little research on photosynthetic and metabolic traits, which sustain the high productivity of A. donax under drought conditions. This study determined phenotypic differences between two A. donax ecotypes coming from stands with contrasting adaptation to dry climate. We hypothesized that the Bulgarian (BG) ecotype, adapted to drier conditions, exhibits greater drought tolerance than the Italian (IT) ecotype, adapted to a more mesic environment. Under well-watered conditions the BG ecotype was characterized by higher photosynthesis, mesophyll conductance, intrinsic water use efficiency, PSII efficiency, isoprene emission rate and carotenoids, whereas the IT ecotype showed higher levels of hydroxycinnamates. Photosynthesis of water-stressed plants was mainly limited by diffusional resistance to CO2 in BG, and by biochemistry in IT. Recovery of photosynthesis was more rapid and complete in BG than in IT, which may indicate better stability of the photosynthetic apparatus associated to enhanced induction of volatile and non-volatile isoprenoids and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. This study shows that a large phenotypic plasticity among A. donax ecotypes exists, and may be exploited to compensate for the low genetic variability of this species when selecting plant productivity in constrained environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mastaneh Ahrar
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
- Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dilyana Doneva
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Massimiliano Tattini
- The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Brunetti
- The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Trees and Timber Institute, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
- Department of Plant, Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Antonella Gori
- Department of Agri-Food Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Mirco Rodeghiero
- Department of Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems and Bioresources, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Georg Wohlfahrt
- Institute of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Franco Biasioli
- Department of Food Quality and Nutrition, Volatile Compound Facility, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Claudio Varotto
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
| | - Francesco Loreto
- The National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Department of Biology, Agriculture and Food Science, Rome, Italy
| | - Violeta Velikova
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, S. Michele all'Adige, Trento, Italy
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Medina S, Vicente R, Amador A, Araus JL. Interactive Effects of Elevated [CO 2] and Water Stress on Physiological Traits and Gene Expression during Vegetative Growth in Four Durum Wheat Genotypes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1738. [PMID: 27920787 PMCID: PMC5118623 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2016] [Accepted: 11/04/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of elevated [CO2] and water stress will have an effect on the adaptation of durum wheat to future climate scenarios. For the Mediterranean basin these scenarios include the rising occurrence of water stress during the first part of the crop cycle. In this study, we evaluated the interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and moderate to severe water stress during the first part of the growth cycle on physiological traits and gene expression in four modern durum wheat genotypes. Physiological data showed that elevated [CO2] promoted plant growth but reduced N content. This was related to a down-regulation of Rubisco and N assimilation genes and up-regulation of genes that take part in C-N remobilization, which might suggest a higher N efficiency. Water restriction limited the stimulation of plant biomass under elevated [CO2], especially at severe water stress, while stomatal conductance and carbon isotope signature revealed a water saving strategy. Transcript profiles under water stress suggested an inhibition of primary C fixation and N assimilation. Nevertheless, the interactive effects of elevated [CO2] and water stress depended on the genotype and the severity of the water stress, especially for the expression of drought stress-responsive genes such as dehydrins, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. The network analysis of physiological traits and transcript levels showed coordinated shifts between both categories of parameters and between C and N metabolism at the transcript level, indicating potential genes and traits that could be used as markers for early vigor in durum wheat under future climate change scenarios. Overall the results showed that greater plant growth was linked to an increase in N content and expression of N metabolism-related genes and down-regulation of genes related to the antioxidant system. The combination of elevated [CO2] and severe water stress was highly dependent on the genotypic variability, suggesting specific genotypic adaptation strategies to environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Medina
- Integrative Crop Ecophysiology Group, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
- Crop Physiology Laboratory, International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid TropicsPatancheru, India
| | - Rubén Vicente
- Integrative Crop Ecophysiology Group, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
| | - Amaya Amador
- Unitat de Genòmica, Centres Científics i Tecnològics, Universitat de BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
| | - José Luis Araus
- Integrative Crop Ecophysiology Group, Plant Physiology Section, Faculty of Biology, University of BarcelonaBarcelona, Spain
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Guo W, Yang J, Sun XD, Chen GJ, Yang YP, Duan YW. Divergence in Eco-Physiological Responses to Drought Mirrors the Distinct Distribution of Chamerion angustifolium Cytotypes in the Himalaya-Hengduan Mountains Region. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2016; 7:1329. [PMID: 27630654 PMCID: PMC5005327 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Polyploid species generally occupy harsher habitats (characterized by cold, drought and/or high altitude) than diploids, but the converse was observed for Chamerion angustifolium, in which diploid plants generally inhabit higher altitudes than their polyploid derivatives. Plants at high altitudes may experience cold-induced water stress, and we therefore examined the physiological responses of diploid and hexaploid C. angustifolium to water stress to better understand the ecological differentiation of plants with different ploidy levels. We conducted a common garden experiment by subjecting seedlings of different ploidy levels to low, moderate, and severe water stress. Fourteen indicators of physiological fitness were measured, and the anatomical characteristics of the leaves of each cytotype were determined. Both cytotypes were influenced by drought, and diploids exhibited higher fitness in terms of constant root:shoot ratio (R:S ratio) and maximum quantum yield of PS II (Fv/Fm ), less reduced maximal photosynthetic rate (A max), transpiration rate (E), intercellular CO2 concentration (C i) and stomatal conductance (g s), and higher long-term water use efficiency (WUEL) under severe water stress than did hexaploids. Analysis of leaf anatomy revealed morphological adjustments for tolerating water deficiency in diploids, in the form of closely packed mesophyll cells and small conduits in the midvein. Our results indicate that diploid C. angustifolium is more tolerant of drought than hexaploid plants, ensuring the successful survival of the diploid at high altitudes. This eco-physiological divergence may facilitate the species with different cytotypes to colonize new and large geographic ranges with heterogeneous environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Guo
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China
- Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research at Kunming, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
| | - Jie Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Normal UniversityKunming, China
| | - Xu-Dong Sun
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research at Kunming, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
| | - Guang-Jie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plateau Lake Ecology and Global Change, School of Tourism and Geography, Yunnan Normal UniversityKunming, China
| | - Yong-Ping Yang
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research at Kunming, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
| | - Yuan-Wen Duan
- Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- Plant Germplasm and Genomics Center, Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
- Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research at Kunming, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunming, China
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Ma F, Na X, Xu T. Drought responses of three closely related Caragana species: implication for their vicarious distribution. Ecol Evol 2016. [PMID: 27217939 DOI: 10.1002/ece32044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Drought is a major environmental constraint affecting growth and distribution of plants in the desert region of the Inner Mongolia plateau. Caragana microphylla, C. liouana, and C. korshinskii are phylogenetically close but distribute vicariously in Mongolia plateau. To gain a better understanding of the ecological differentiation between these three species, we examined the leaf gas exchange, growth, water use efficiency, biomass accumulation and allocation by subjecting their seedlings to low and high drought treatments in a glasshouse. Increasing drought stress had a significant effect on many aspects of seedling performance in all species, but the physiology and growth varied with species in response to drought. C. korshinskii exhibited lower sensitivity of photosynthetic rate and growth, lower specific leaf area, higher biomass allocation to roots, higher levels of water use efficiency to drought compared with the other two species. Only minor interspecific differences in growth performances were observed between C. liouana and C. microphylla. These results indicated that faster seedling growth rate and more efficient water use of C. korshinskii should confer increased drought tolerance and facilitate its establishment in more severe drought regions relative to C. liouana and C. microphylla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Ma
- New Technology Application, Research and Development Center Ningxia University Yinchuan 750021 China
| | - Xiaofan Na
- School of Life Science Ningxia University Yinchuan 750021 China
| | - Tingting Xu
- School of Life Science Ningxia University Yinchuan 750021 China
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Ma F, Na X, Xu T. Drought responses of three closely related Caragana species: implication for their vicarious distribution. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2763-73. [PMID: 27217939 PMCID: PMC4863003 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Drought is a major environmental constraint affecting growth and distribution of plants in the desert region of the Inner Mongolia plateau. Caragana microphylla, C. liouana, and C. korshinskii are phylogenetically close but distribute vicariously in Mongolia plateau. To gain a better understanding of the ecological differentiation between these three species, we examined the leaf gas exchange, growth, water use efficiency, biomass accumulation and allocation by subjecting their seedlings to low and high drought treatments in a glasshouse. Increasing drought stress had a significant effect on many aspects of seedling performance in all species, but the physiology and growth varied with species in response to drought. C. korshinskii exhibited lower sensitivity of photosynthetic rate and growth, lower specific leaf area, higher biomass allocation to roots, higher levels of water use efficiency to drought compared with the other two species. Only minor interspecific differences in growth performances were observed between C. liouana and C. microphylla. These results indicated that faster seedling growth rate and more efficient water use of C. korshinskii should confer increased drought tolerance and facilitate its establishment in more severe drought regions relative to C. liouana and C. microphylla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Ma
- New Technology Application, Research and Development CenterNingxia UniversityYinchuan750021China
| | - Xiaofan Na
- School of Life ScienceNingxia UniversityYinchuan750021China
| | - Tingting Xu
- School of Life ScienceNingxia UniversityYinchuan750021China
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