Covariation between leaf hydraulics and biomechanics is driven by leaf density in Mediterranean shrubs

AbstractMulberry is economically important and can also play a pivotal role in mitigating greenhouse gases. Leaf and shoot traits were measured for Morus alba var. Kanmasi, M. alba var. Karyansuban, M. alba var. Latifolia, and M. alba var. PFI-1 to assess aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon sequestration. Variety-specific and multivariety allometric AGB models were developed using the equivalent diameter at breast height (EDBH) and plant height (H). The complete-harvest method was used to measure leaf and shoot traits and biomass, and the ash method was used to measure organic carbon content. The results showed significant (p < 0.01) varietal differences in leaf and shoot traits, AGB and carbon sequestration. PFI-1 variety had the greatest leaf density (mean ± SE: 1828.3 ± 0.3 leaves tree−1), Karyansuban had the largest mean leaf area (185.94 ± 8.95 cm2). A diminishing return was found between leaf area and leaf density. Latifolia had the highest shoot density per tree (46.6 ± 1.83 shoots tree−1), total shoot length (264.1 ± 2.32 m), dry biomass (16.69 ± 0.58 kg tree−1), carbon sequestration (9.99 ± 0.32 kg tree−1) and CO2 mitigation (36.67 ± 1.16 kg). The variety-specific AGB models b(EDBH) and b(EDBH)2 showed good fit and reasonable accuracy with a coefficient of determination (R2) = 0.98–0.99, standard error of estimates (SEE) = 0.1125–0.3130 and root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.1084–0.3017. The multivariety models bln(EDBH) and (EDBH)0.756 showed good-fitness and accuracy with R2 = 0.85–0.86, SEE = 1.6231–1.6445 and RMSE = 1.609–1.630. On the basis of these findings, variety Latifolia has good potential for biomass production, and allometric equations based on EDBH can be used to estimate AGB with a reasonable accuracy.

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Fish larvae settling in seagrass: Effects of leaf density and an epiphytic alga

Austral Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1442-9993.1991.tb01056.x ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 289-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

D. G. WORTHINGTON ◽

M. WESTOBY ◽

J. D. BELL

Keyword(s):

Fish Larvae ◽

Epiphytic Alga ◽

Leaf Density

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Combining remote sensing and hydrological information for improving hydrological characterization of dehesas in Mediterranean mountain areas: a study case in Cardeña-Montoro Natural Park (Spain)

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-10898 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rafael Pimentel ◽

Pedro Torralbo ◽

Javier Aparicio ◽

María José Pérez-Palazón ◽

Ana Andreu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Remote Sensing ◽

Heat Waves ◽

A Priori ◽

Regional Government ◽

Livestock Farming ◽

Spatiotemporal Resolution ◽

Mountain Areas ◽

Natural Park ◽

Mediterranean Shrubs

Mediterranean mountain areas are especially vulnerable to changes. Climatic trends observed in the last decades point out to an increasing number of extreme events (i.e., number of heat waves and droughts) and consequently, a direct alteration of the hydrological states of their associated ecosystems. The savanna type ecosystem called dehesa is one of them. This system is the result of a long-term co-evolution of indigenous ecosystems and human settlement in a sustainable balance, with high relevance from both the environmental (biodiversity) and socioeconomic (livestock farming, including Iberian pork food industry) point of view. Dehesa systems have a complex vegetation cover structure, where isolated trees, mainly holm oak, cork oak and oak, Mediterranean shrubs, and pastures coexist. Different problems have arisen in dehesa during last years, an example of them are seca episodes, a disease of oak trees that results in drying and final death. This condition is caused by a fungus, but very likely triggered by external hydrological related conditions like air temperature and soil water content.&#160; Remote sensing techniques have been widely used as the best alternative to monitor vegetation patterns over these areas. However, the presence of clouds and the fixed spatiotemporal resolution of these sensors constitute a limitation in more local studies.This work proposes the combined use of remote sensing by both terrestrial photography and satelital sensors, and hydrometeorological information as data sources for improving the hydrological characterization of vegetation in dehesa areas. The study was carried out in the Santa Clotilde experimental area, within the Carde&#241;a-Montoro Natural Park (southern Spain). Three years of local sub-daily terrestrial photography and hydrometeorological information allowed us to define different hydrometeorological/ecohydrological indicators that are representative of key vegetation states. This local information is linked with vegetation indexes derived from high spatial resolution satellite information (i.e., Landsat TM, ETM+ and OLI (30 m x 30 m) and Sentinel-2 (10 m x 10 m) and distributed meteorological variables to extend the results from the local to the watershed scale. The promising results will be used in a short future as the basis of an advanced monitoring service where meteorological seasonal forecast information could be used to derive key indicators and help in a priori diagnosis of the system facilitating decisions making.This work has been funded by project SIERRA Seguimiento hIdrol&#243;gico de la vEgetaci&#243;n en monta&#241;a mediteRr&#225;nea mediante fusi&#243;n de sensores Remotos en Andaluc&#237;a), with the economic collaboration of the European Funding for Rural Development (FEDER) and the Office for Economy, Knowledge, Enterprises and University of the Andalusian Regional Government.

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Effect of substrate treatments on survival and growth of Mediterranean shrubs in a revegetated quarry: An eight-year study

Ecological Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.11.015 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 255-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

G. Oliveira ◽

A. Nunes ◽

A. Clemente ◽

O. Correia

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Shrubs ◽

Survival And Growth

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Smarter Robotic Sprayer System for Precision Agriculture

Electronics ◽

10.3390/electronics10172061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (17) ◽

pp. 2061

Author(s):

André Rodrigues Baltazar ◽

Filipe Neves dos Santos ◽

António Paulo Moreira ◽

António Valente ◽

José Boaventura Cunha

Keyword(s):

Precision Agriculture ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Reference Value ◽

Support Vector ◽

Svm Classifier ◽

Accuracy Score ◽

Accuracy And Precision ◽

Perception System ◽

Water Rate ◽

Leaf Density

The automation of agricultural processes is expected to positively impact the environment by reducing waste and increasing food security, maximising resource use. Precision spraying is a method used to reduce the losses during pesticides application, reducing chemical residues in the soil. In this work, we developed a smart and novel electric sprayer that can be assembled on a robot. The sprayer has a crop perception system that calculates the leaf density based on a support vector machine (SVM) classifier using image histograms (local binary pattern (LBP), vegetation index, average, and hue). This density can then be used as a reference value to feed a controller that determines the air flow, the water rate, and the water density of the sprayer. This perception system was developed and tested with a created dataset available to the scientific community and represents a significant contribution. The results of the leaf density classifier show an accuracy score that varies between 80% and 85%. The conducted tests prove that the solution has the potential to increase the spraying accuracy and precision.

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Effect of Five Mediterranean Shrubs Extracts on Larval Exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus

Agricultural Science Digest - A Research Journal ◽

10.18805/ag.d-322 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

A. Aïssa ◽

F. Manolaraki ◽

H. Ben Salem ◽

H. Hoste ◽

K. Kraiem

Keyword(s):

Haemonchus Contortus ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Good Alternative ◽

Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽

Shrub Species ◽

Medicago Arborea ◽

Mediterranean Shrubs ◽

Third Stage

Background: Mediterranean shrub species cover more than 70% of the total area in Tunisia and in summer when the herbaceous species have wilted, they constitute feeding resource for livestock. The use of tanniniferous shrubs seems to be a good alternative to control gastrointestinal nematodes infections in small ruminants. This study evaluated the in vitro anthelmintic (AH) effect of Ceratonia siliqua (C. siliqua), Periploca angustifolia Labill. (P. angustifolia) and Medicago arborea (M. arborea) against Haemonchus contortus third stage larvae (L3). Methods: The larval exsheathment assay (LEA) was used to determine the proportions (%) of exsheathment of five acetonic extracts at different concentrations (1200, 600, 300, 150 μg/ml). To confirm the role of tannins in the AH effects of extracts, polyvinyl polypyrolidone (PVPP) was used as deactivating chemical tannins. Result: The highest % L3 exsheathed was recorded for M. arborea (55.01%) and the lowest value was founded for C. siliqua and P. angustifolia leaves (16.26%). Our results were concentration-dependent (P less than 0.001). The % of exsheathment increased as the time of incubation increased (P less than 0.001). P. angustifolia pods recorded the lowest EC50 value (P less than 0.05). After PVPP addition, all the acetonic extracts showed a restoration of L3 exsheathment values similar to control values (P less than 0.001).

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Effects of major vein blockage and aquaporin inhibition on leaf hydraulics and stomatal conductance

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2019.0799 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 286 (1904) ◽

pp. 20190799 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hisanori Harayama ◽

Mitsutoshi Kitao ◽

Evgenios Agathokleous ◽

Atsushi Ishida

Keyword(s):

Stomatal Conductance ◽

Leaf Gas Exchange ◽

Water Channel ◽

First Order ◽

Leaf Hydraulics ◽

Vein Density ◽

Stomatal Behaviour ◽

Major Vein ◽

Leaf Veins ◽

Apoplastic Pathway

The density and architecture of leaf veins determine the network and efficiency of water transport within laminae and resultant leaf gas exchange and vary widely among plant species. Leaf hydraulic conductance ( K leaf ) can be regulated by vein architecture in conjunction with the water channel protein aquaporin. However, our understanding of how leaf veins and aquaporins affect leaf hydraulics and stomatal conductance ( g s ) remains poor. By inducing blockage of the major veins and inhibition of aquaporin activity using HgCl 2 , we examined the effects of major veins and aquaporins on K leaf and g s in species with different venation types. A vine species, with thick first-order veins and low vein density, displayed a rapidly declined g s with high leaf water potential in response to vein blockage and a greatly reduced K leaf and g s in response to aquaporin inhibition, suggesting that leaf aquaporins are involved in isohydric/anisohydric stomatal behaviour. Across species, the decline in K leaf and g s due to aquaporin inhibition increased linearly with decreasing major vein density, possibly indicating that a trade-off function between vein architecture (apoplastic pathway) and aquaporin activity (cell-to-cell pathway) affects leaf hydraulics.

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Differentiation in Leaf Physiological Traits Related to Shade and Drought Tolerance Underlies Contrasting Adaptations of Two Cyclobalanopsis (Fagaceae) Species at the Seedling Stage

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11080844 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 844 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ai-Ying Wang ◽

Guang-You Hao ◽

Jing-Jing Guo ◽

Zhi-Hui Liu ◽

Jiao-Lin Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drought Tolerance ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

High Irradiance ◽

Tree Seedlings ◽

Physiological Mechanisms ◽

Full Sunlight ◽

Leaf Hydraulics ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Species Specific ◽

Distinct Distribution

Adaptation and acclimation of tree seedlings to different combinations of light and water conditions can determine the species-specific patterns of distribution along environmental gradients and the underlying physiological mechanisms are fundamental to the understanding of such patterns. Seedlings of two Cyclobalanopsis species naturally occurring in southwest China, with distinct distribution and regeneration characteristics, were grown under 100%, 50% and 4% sunlight conditions and traits related to shade and drought tolerance were studied. Particularly, we investigated whether leaf hydraulics, photosynthetic traits and their functional coordination play an important role in determining seedling environmental adaptation and acclimation of the two species. Seedlings of C. helferiana showed characteristics adapted to high irradiance while C. rex had traits adapted to partially shaded environments. Cyclobalanopsis helferiana had significantly higher maximum net photosynthetic rate (Amax), light compensation point and light saturation point than C. rex and the contrasts were particularly large when they were grown under full sunlight. Cyclobalanopsis helferiana showed the highest Amax when grown under 100% sunlight, while C. rex exhibited the highest Amax at 50% sunlight. Similarly, under full sunlight conditions C. helferiana showed significantly higher leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) than C. rex, i.e., 13.37 vs. 7.09 mmol m−2 s−1 MPa−1 (p < 0.01). The correlation between Kleaf and Amax followed a unified positive correlation across different light treatments of both species. Moreover, leaves of C. helferiana showed greater resistance to drought-induced hydraulic dysfunction and to desiccation than C. rex. The contrasts in functional traits between the two Cyclobalanopsis species are consistent with the hypothesis that there is a trade-off between shade tolerance and drought tolerance. Findings of the present study contribute to a deeper understanding of mechanisms of divergence between closely related (congeneric) species with respect to key ecophysiology associated with natural regeneration.

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Rice with SUB1 QTL possesses greater initial leaf gas film thickness leading to delayed perception of submergence stress

Annals of Botany ◽

10.1093/aob/mcaa171 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Koushik Chakraborty ◽

Akankhya Guru ◽

Priyanka Jena ◽

Soham Ray ◽

Arti Guhey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Background ◽

Stem Elongation ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Surface Hydrophobicity ◽

Submergence Tolerance ◽

In Planta ◽

Partial Loss ◽

Stress Perception ◽

Submergence Stress ◽

Leaf Density

Abstract Background and Aims Submergence tolerance in rice is primarily attributed to the action of the SUB1 gene, but other associated traits such as leaf gas film (LGF) thickness, leaf hydrophobicity, porosity and leaf density have been known to aid submergence tolerance in rice. However, association of these traits with SUB1 quantitative trait locus (QTL) has not been demonstrated. In this study, we aim to investigate (1) whether the presence of the SUB1 QTL in the genetic background has any influence on the thickness of the LGF and (ii) whether its removal has any impact on stress perception and submergence tolerance in Sub1 and non-Sub1 rice. Methods We examined 12 genotypes (including both Sub1 and non-Sub1 types) for different leaf traits such as initial LGF thickness, leaf hydrophobicity, tissue porosity and leaf density in order to work out the relatioship of these traits to the SUB1 QTL in rice. Furthermore, we investigated the changes in the gene expression profile and different metabolic processes in selected genotypes in the presence and absence of their LGF to study its impact on stress perception and adaptation. Key Results The initial thickness of the LGF and hydrophobicity seemed to have a highly positive correlation with the presence of the SUB1 QTL in the genetic background of rice; however, other leaf traits such as porosity and density seemed to be independent of it. Artificial removal of the LGF resulted in partial loss of tolerance, showing increased ethylene production and early induction of anoxia-related genes (SUB1A-1, ACS5, Ramy3D and ADH1) which manifested symptoms such as increased stem elongation, faster chlorophyll and starch breakdown, and partial loss of quiescence in SUB1-containing rice genotypes. Stripping of the LGF resulted in early and enhanced induction of SUB1A-1, indicating a quicker perception of stress. Conclusions The presence of SUB1 in the genetic background positively influences surface hydrophobicity and the concomitant LGF thickness of rice. Furthermore, LGF helps in terms of providing better ethylene dissipation and reduced in planta accumulation, owing to the slowing down of ethylene-induced leaf senescence under submergence stress.

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Feasibility of arsenic phytostabilisation using Mediterranean shrubs: impact of root mineralisation on As availability in soils

Journal of Environmental Monitoring ◽

10.1039/b822335a ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1375 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Eduardo Moreno-Jiménez ◽

Jesús M. Peñalosa ◽

Elvira Esteban ◽

M. Pilar Bernal

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Shrubs

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