Interspecific competition and tolerance to defoliation in four grassland species

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 871-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ek del-Val ◽  
Michael J Crawley
Keyword(s):  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Grassland Species ◽  
Rumex Acetosella ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
Trifolium Repens L ◽  
Biomass Compensation

Herbivory and competition are known to influence plant performance. Recent investigations showed that tolerance is an important strategy for plant survival under herbivory, but few have examined its interaction with plant competition. We evaluated in a greenhouse experiment if plant tolerance to defoliation is related to species presence in a grazed habitat and how plant tolerance to herbivory changes in a competitive environment. Regrowth capacity of four grassland species, Trifolium repens L., Rumex acetosella L., Vicia sativa L. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh., and Senecio jacobaea L., was evaluated as the capacity to compensate for 75% of aboveground biomass removed. Target plants were also grown in competition with Festuca rubra L. subsp. rubra, and different clipping treatments were applied. Plant biomass (above- and below-ground) was measured after 5 months. Rumex acetosella, T. repens, and S. jacobaea were able to compensate fully when grown alone. In competition, only R. acetosella was still able to regrow. In no case did clipping the competitor improve target plant performance (i.e., no beneficial effect from competitor release). These results highlight the importance of considering plant competition when studying plant responses to herbivory.Key words: herbivory, regrowth, competitor release, biomass compensation.

scholarly journals Barley shoot biomass responds strongly to N:P stoichiometry and intraspecific competition, whereas roots only alter their foraging

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Kumar ◽  
Richard van Duijnen ◽  
Benjamin M. Delory ◽  
Rüdiger Reichel ◽  
Nicolas Brüggemann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Root System ◽  
Plant Competition ◽  
Specific Root Length ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
P Availability ◽  
N:P Stoichiometry ◽  
Limiting Nutrient ◽  
Plant Plant

AbstractBackground and AimsPlants respond to various environmental stimuli, and root systems are highly responsive to the availability and distribution of nutrients in the soil. Root system responses to the limitation of either nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) are well documented, but how the early root system responds to (co-) limitation of one (N or P) or both (N and P) in a stoichiometric framework is not well known despite its relevance in agriculture. In addition, how plant-plant competition (here intra-specific) alters plant responses to N:P stoichiometry is understudied. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects of N:P stoichiometry and competition on root system responses and overall plant performance.MethodsPlants (Hordeum vulgare L.) were grown in rhizoboxes for 24 days in the presence or absence of competition (three vs. one plant per rhizobox), and fertilized with different combinations of N:P (low N+low P, low N+high P, high N+low P, and high N+high P).Key ResultsShoot biomass was highest when both N and P were provided in high amounts. In competition, shoot biomass decreased on average by 22%. Interestingly, N:P stoichiometry and competition had no clear effect on root biomass. However, we found distinct root responses in relation to biomass allocation across depths. Specific root length depended on the identity of limiting nutrient (N or P) and presence/absence of competition. Plants rooted deeper when N was the most limiting compared to shallower rooting when P was the most limiting nutrient.ConclusionsOverall, our study sheds light on the early plant responses to plant-plant competition and stoichiometric availability of two macronutrients most limiting plant performance. With low N and P availability during early growth, higher investments in root system development can significantly trade off with aboveground productivity, and strong intra-specific competition can further strengthen such effects.

scholarly journals Ethylene Is Not Essential for R-Gene Mediated Resistance but Negatively Regulates Moderate Resistance to Some Aphids in Medicago truncatula

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4657
Author(s):  
Lijun Zhang ◽  
Lars G. Kamphuis ◽  
Yanqiong Guo ◽  
Silke Jacques ◽  
Karam B. Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Truncatula ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Genetic Resistance ◽  
Aphid Species ◽  
Aphid Resistance ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Ethylene Signaling ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Aphid Infestation ◽  
Moderate Resistance

Ethylene is important for plant responses to environmental factors. However, little is known about its role in aphid resistance. Several types of genetic resistance against multiple aphid species, including both moderate and strong resistance mediated by R genes, have been identified in Medicago truncatula. To investigate the potential role of ethylene, a M. truncatula ethylene- insensitive mutant, sickle, was analysed. The sickle mutant occurs in the accession A17 that has moderate resistance to Acyrthosiphon kondoi, A. pisum and Therioaphis trifolii. The sickle mutant resulted in increased antibiosis-mediated resistance against A. kondoi and T. trifolii but had no effect on A. pisum. When sickle was introduced into a genetic background carrying resistance genes, AKR (A. kondoi resistance), APR (A. pisum resistance) and TTR (T. trifolii resistance), it had no effect on the strong aphid resistance mediated by these genes, suggesting that ethylene signaling is not essential for their function. Interestingly, for the moderate aphid resistant accession, the sickle mutant delayed leaf senescence following aphid infestation and reduced the plant biomass losses caused by both A. kondoi and T. trifolii. These results suggest manipulation of the ethylene signaling pathway could provide aphid resistance and enhance plant tolerance against aphid feeding.

Variations in above- and below-ground vascular plant biomass and water table on a temperate ombrotrophic peatland

Botany ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 87 (9) ◽  
pp. 845-853 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. T. Murphy ◽  
A. McKinley ◽  
T. R. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Water Table ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Belowground Biomass ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Wetland Ecosystems ◽  
Coarse Root ◽  
Ground Biomass ◽  
Water Tables ◽  
Below Ground

In wetland ecosystems, little is known about the relationships between above- and below-ground plant biomass and water table, a primary driver of their distribution in these systems. These relationships can provide a means for estimating belowground stocks over large areas with variable biomass and predicting vascular plant responses to changing water tables resulting from climate change. We measured above- and below-ground vascular plant biomass across species and microtopography (i.e., hummocks and lawns) in a bog in eastern Ontario. We examined the relationships between above- and below-ground vascular plant biomass their variation with water table and species richness. We took 56 cores during a growing season, separating above- and below-ground biomass by species and plant part (small and coarse root, leaf, stem). Hummocks had greater above- and below-ground biomass, and significantly greater aboveground:belowground ratios than lawns. Lawns had a more even distribution of biomass across species than hummocks aboveground, indicating that only a few species (e.g., Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx. and Chamaedaphne calyculata Moench) are able to thrive in the driest bog conditions. Additionally, fewer species contributed to root biomass at depth, suggesting possible resource partitioning among species. Lower water tables lead to greater belowground biomass. Total above- to below-ground plant biomass relationships were strongest when separated by plant species.

scholarly journals Interannual Variation in Root Production in Grasslands Affected by Artificially Modified Amount of Rainfall

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karel Fiala ◽  
Ivan Tůma ◽  
Petr Holub
Keyword(s):  
Interannual Variation ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Lower Amount ◽  
Root Production ◽  
Climate Scenarios ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
Grassland Ecosystems ◽  
Below Ground

The effect of different amounts of rainfall on the below-ground plant biomass was studied in three grassland ecosystems. Responses of the lowland (dryFestucagrassland), highland (wetCirsiumgrassland), and mountain (Nardusgrassland) grasslands were studied during five years (2006–2010). A field experiment based on rainout shelters and gravity irrigation simulated three climate scenarios: rainfall reduced by 50% (dry), rainfall increased by 50% (wet), and the natural rainfall of the current growing season (ambient). The interannual variation in root increment and total below-ground biomass reflected the experimentally manipulated amount of precipitation and also the amount of current rainfall of individual years. The effect of year on these below-ground parameters was found significant in all studied grasslands. In comparison with dryFestucagrassland, better adapted to drought, submontane wetCirsiumgrassland was more sensitive to the different water inputs forming rather lower amount of below-ground plant matter at reduced precipitation.

The impact of biomass harvesting on phosphorus uptake by wetland plants

2001 ◽  
Vol 44 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
S-Y. Kim ◽  
P.M. Geary
Keyword(s):  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
P Uptake ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Biomass Harvesting ◽  
Below Ground ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Total P ◽  
Better Than ◽  
P Removal

Two species of macrophytes, Baumea articulata and Schoenoplectus mucronatus, were examined for their capacity to remove phosphorus under nutrient-rich conditions. Forty large bucket systems with the two different species growing in two types of substrate received artificial wastewaters for nine months, simulating a constructed wetland (CW) under high loading conditions. Half of the plants growing in the topsoil and gravel substrates were periodically harvested whereas the other half remained intact. Plant tissue and substrate samples were regularly analysed to determine their phosphorus concentrations. With respect to phosphorus uptake and removal, the Schoenoplectus in the topsoil medium performed better than the Baumea. Biomass harvesting enhanced P uptake in the Schoenoplectus, however the effect was not significant enough to make an improvement on the overall P removal, due to the slow recovery of plants and regrowth of biomass after harvesting. From P partitioning, it was found that the topsoil medium was the major P pool, storing most of total P present in the system. Plant parts contributed only minor storage with approximately half of that P stored below ground in the plant roots. The overall net effect of harvesting plant biomass was to only remove less than 5% of total phosphorus present in the system.

scholarly journals Cultivar-Dependent Responses in Plant Growth, Leaf Physiology, Phosphorus Use Efficiency, and Tuber Quality of Potatoes Under Limited Phosphorus Availability Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leangsrun Chea ◽  
Ana Meijide ◽  
Catharina Meinen ◽  
Elke Pawelzik ◽  
Marcel Naumann
Keyword(s):  
Tuber Yield ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
P Uptake ◽  
Tuber Quality ◽  
P Availability ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Leaf Physiology ◽  
Use Efficiency

The limited availability of phosphorus (P) in soils causes a major constraint in the productivity of potatoes, which requires increased knowledge of plant adaptation responses in this condition. In this study, six potato cultivars, namely, Agria, Lady Claire, Milva, Lilly, Sieglinde, and Verdi, were assessed for their responses on plant growth, leaf physiology, P use efficiency (PUE), and tuber quality with three P levels (Plow, Pmed, and Phigh). The results reveal a significant variation in the cultivars in response to different P availabilities. P-efficient cultivars, Agria, Milva, and Lilly, possessed substantial plant biomass, tuber yield, and high P uptake efficiency (PUpE) under low P supply conditions. The P-inefficient cultivars, Lady Claire, Sieglinde, and Verdi, could not produce tubers under P deprivation conditions, as well as the ability to efficiently uptake P under low-level conditions, but they were efficient in P uptake under high soil P conditions. Improved PUpE is important for plant tolerance with limited P availability, which results in the efficient use of the applied P. At the leaf level, increased accumulations of nitrate, sulfate, sucrose, and proline are necessary for a plant to acclimate to P deficiency-induced stress and to mobilize leaf inorganic phosphate to increase internal PUE and photosynthesis. The reduction in plant biomass and tuber yield under P-deficient conditions could be caused by reduced CO2 assimilation. Furthermore, P deficiency significantly reduced tuber yield, dry matter, and starch concentration in Agria, Milva, and Lilly. However, contents of tuber protein, sugars, and minerals, as well as antioxidant capacity, were enhanced under these conditions in these cultivars. These results highlight the important traits contributing to potato plant tolerance under P-deficient conditions and indicate an opportunity to improve the P efficiency and tuber quality of potatoes under deficient conditions using more efficient cultivars. Future research to evaluate molecular mechanisms related to P and sucrose translocation, and minimize tuber yield reduction under limited P availability conditions is necessary.

scholarly journals Down-Regulation of Cytokinin Receptor Gene SlHK2 Improves Plant Tolerance to Drought, Heat, and Combined Stresses in Tomato

Plants ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 154
Author(s):  
Naveed Mushtaq ◽  
Yong Wang ◽  
Junmiao Fan ◽  
Yi Li ◽  
Jing Ding
Keyword(s):  
Abiotic Stress Tolerance ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Combined Stress ◽  
Cytokinin Signaling ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Cytokinin Receptor ◽  
Combined Stresses

Environmental stresses negatively affect the growth and development of plants. Several previous studies have elucidated the response mechanisms of plants to drought and heat applied separately; however, these two abiotic stresses often coincide in environmental conditions. The global climate change pattern has projected that combined drought and heat stresses will tend to increase in the near future. In this study, we down-regulated the expression of a cytokinin receptor gene SlHK2 using RNAi and investigated the role of this gene in regulating plant responses to individual drought, heat, and combined stresses (drought + heat) in tomato. Compared to the wild-type (WT), SlHK2 RNAi plants exhibited fewer stress symptoms in response to individual and combined stress treatments. The enhanced abiotic stress tolerance of SlHK2 RNAi plants can be associated with increased membrane stability, osmoprotectant accumulation, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Furthermore, photosynthesis machinery was also protected in SlHK2 RNAi plants. Collectively, our results show that down-regulation of the cytokinin receptor gene SlHK2, and consequently cytokinin signaling, can improve plant tolerance to drought, heat, and combined stress.

scholarly journals Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Diversity In Medicinal Plants Of Sirumalai Hills, Eastern Ghats And Their Role In Melia Dubia Cav

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santhoshkumar S ◽  
Nagarajan N
Keyword(s):  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽  
Eastern Ghats ◽  
Nutrient Cycle ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Plant Interactions ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Agricultural Ecosystem ◽  
Microbial World ◽  
Melia Dubia ◽  
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal

The microbial World is the largest unexplored reservoir of biodiversity on earth. Interest in the exploration of microbial diversity has been promoted by the fact that a microbe performs numerous functions essential for the biosphere that include nutrient cycle and environmental detoxification. Notably, under natural circumstances, plants frequently interact with microbes,which directly arbitrate plant responses to environmental adversities. Some microbe-plant interactions lead to a mitigation of stress-related damages and improvement of plant tolerance to stressful conditions. As a crucial element of soils, microbes are an integral part of the agricultural ecosystem.

scholarly journals Application of Nano-Silicon Dioxide Improves Salt Stress Tolerance in Strawberry Plants

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saber Avestan ◽  
Mahmood Ghasemnezhad ◽  
Masoud Esfahani ◽  
Caitlin S. Byrt
Keyword(s):  
Salt Stress ◽  
Silicon Dioxide ◽  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Epicuticular Wax ◽  
Carotenoid Content ◽  
Plant Tolerance ◽  
Sem Images ◽  
Nano Silicon ◽  
Epicuticular Wax Layer

Silicon application can improve productivity outcomes for salt stressed plants. Here, we describe how strawberry plants respond to treatments including various combinations of salt stress and nano-silicon dioxide, and assess whether nano-silicon dioxide improves strawberry plant tolerance to salt stress. Strawberry plants were treated with salt (0, 25 or 50 mM NaCl), and the nano-silicon dioxide treatments were applied to the strawberry plants before (0, 50 and 100 mg L−1) or after (0 and 50 mg L−1) flowering. The salt stress treatments reduced plant biomass, chlorophyll content, and leaf relative water content (RWC) as expected. Relative to control (no NaCl) plants the salt treated plants had 10% lower membrane stability index (MSI), 81% greater proline content, and 54% greater cuticular transpiration; as well as increased canopy temperature and changes in the structure of the epicuticular wax layer. The plants treated with nano-silicon dioxide were better able to maintain epicuticular wax structure, chlorophyll content, and carotenoid content and accumulated less proline relative to plants treated only with salt and no nano-silicon dioxide. Analysis of scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images revealed that the salt treatments resulted in changes in epicuticular wax type and thickness, and that the application of nano-silicon dioxide suppressed the adverse effects of salinity on the epicuticular wax layer. Nano-silicon dioxide treated salt stressed plants had increased irregular (smoother) crystal wax deposits in their epicuticular layer. Together these observations indicate that application of nano-silicon dioxide can limit the adverse anatomical and biochemical changes related to salt stress impacts on strawberry plants and that this is, in part, associated with epicuticular wax deposition.

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