Frontiers in Plant Science (Apr 2021)
Plant Size Plays an Important Role in Plant Responses to Low Water Availability and Defoliation in Two Woody Leguminosae Species
- Ning Wang,
- Ning Wang,
- Ning Wang,
- Qiang Li,
- Qiang Li,
- Qiang Li,
- Xiao Liu,
- Xiao Liu,
- Xiao Liu,
- Shijie Yi,
- Shijie Yi,
- Shijie Yi,
- Mingming Zhao,
- Mingming Zhao,
- Mingming Zhao,
- Xinke Sun,
- Xinke Sun,
- Xinke Sun,
- Huijia Song,
- Huijia Song,
- Huijia Song,
- Xiqiang Peng,
- Xiqiang Peng,
- Xiqiang Peng,
- Peixian Fan,
- Qun Gao,
- Yongtao Wang,
- Linqian Yu,
- Hui Wang,
- Hui Wang,
- Hui Wang,
- Ning Du,
- Ning Du,
- Ning Du,
- Renqing Wang,
- Renqing Wang,
- Renqing Wang
Affiliations
- Ning Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Ning Wang
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Ning Wang
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Qiang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Qiang Li
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Qiang Li
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xiao Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xiao Liu
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xiao Liu
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Shijie Yi
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Shijie Yi
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Shijie Yi
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Mingming Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Mingming Zhao
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Mingming Zhao
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xinke Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xinke Sun
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xinke Sun
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Huijia Song
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Huijia Song
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Huijia Song
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xiqiang Peng
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xiqiang Peng
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Xiqiang Peng
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Peixian Fan
- Qingdao Forestry Station, Qingdao, China
- Qun Gao
- Qingdao Forestry Station, Qingdao, China
- Yongtao Wang
- Qingdao Forestry Station, Qingdao, China
- Linqian Yu
- Qingdao Forestry Station, Qingdao, China
- Hui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Hui Wang
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Hui Wang
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Ning Du
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Ning Du
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Ning Du
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Renqing Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Renqing Wang
- Shandong Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center for Vegetation Ecology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- Renqing Wang
- Qingdao Forest Ecology Research Station of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.643143
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 12
Abstract
Plant size influences plant responses to combined environmental factors under climate change. However, their roles in plant ecophysiological responses are not fully understood. Two rapidly growing Leguminosae species (Robinia pseudoacacia and Amorpha fruticosa) were used to examine plant responses to combined drought and defoliation treatments (two levels of both treatments). Both 1.5 month-old seedlings and 3 month-old seedlings were grown in a greenhouse, and seedling growth, leaf gas exchanges, stem hydraulics, and concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates were determined after 60 days of treatment. Our results indicated defoliation had no significant effect on plant height, basal diameter, and total biomass whatever plant sizes and species. Under the low water availability treatment, the defoliated seedlings significantly increased by 24% in stem water potential compared with non-defoliated seedlings in large R. pseudoacacia. Compared with the high water availability in large non-defoliated R. pseudoacacia seedlings, the low water availability significantly reduced by 26% in stem starch concentration to maintain the stem soluble sugar concentration stable, but not in small R. pseudoacacia seedlings. We also found a negative correlation between leaf and root soluble sugar concentration under low water availability in A. fruticosa. The results demonstrate defoliation could relieve the effect of low water availability in large seedlings. Large seedlings had more compensatory mechanisms in response to defoliation and drought treatments than small seedlings, thus species with large carbon reserves are more recommended for vegetation restoration under combined drought and defoliation conditions. Future studies with more species are crucial for obtaining more rigorous conclusions.
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