Effects of environmental factors on the growth response of above- and below-ground parts of Mankyua chejuense , endangered endemic plant to Jeju province, in Korea

Abstract

Mankyua chejuense is a native endangered plant distributed only in Gotzawal, a forested wetland, in Jeju Province, Korea. In order to determine the optimal environmental conditions for the growth and development of M. chejuense , we investigated the above- and below-ground growth responses and survival rate to various soil texture (sand and clay), water regimes (flooding and non-flooding), and CO 2 +T (ambient and elevated) conditions. All of the treatments had significant effects on aboveground growth parameters, while only the water regime and CO 2 +T treatments influenced belowground growth. The survival rate of M. chejuense was about twice higher under the sand, non-flooding and elevated CO 2 +T conditions than clay, flooding and ambient CO 2 +T conditions. These results indicate that M. chejuense grows in well-drained sandy soil conditions and elevated CO 2 concentration and temperature situations. Thus, there is a need to maintain M. chejuense under constant non-flooding soil conditions by implementing appropriate soil drainage strategies.

Keywords

• fern
• flooding
• global warming
• rhizome
• soil texture
• sporophyll