The role of biomass allocation in the growth response of plants to different levels of light, CO2, nutrients and water: a quantitative review

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik Poorter ◽  
Oscar Nagel
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Functional Equilibrium ◽  
Leaf Mass

The allocation of biomass to different plant organs depends on species, ontogeny and on the environment experienced by the plant. In this paper we first discuss some methodological tools to describe and analyse the allocation of biomass. Rather than the use of shoot:root ratios, we plead strongly for a subdivision of biomass into at least three compartments: leaves, stems and roots. Attention is drawn to some of the disadvantages of allometry as a tool to correct for size differences between plants. Second, we tested the extent to which biomass allocation of plants follows the model of a ‘functional equilibrium’. According to this model, plants respond to a decrease in above-ground resources with increased allocation to shoots (leaves), whereas they respond to a decrease in below-ground resources with increased allocation to roots. We carried out a meta-analysis of the literature, analysing the effect of various environmental variables on the fraction of total plant biomass allocated to leaves (leaf mass fraction), stem (stem mass fraction) and roots (root mass fraction). The responses to light, nutrients and water agreed with the (qualitative) prediction of the ‘functional equilibrium’ theory. The notable exception was atmospheric CO2, which did not affect allocation when the concentration was doubled. Third, we analysed the quantitative importance of the changes in allocation compared to changes in other growth parameters, such as unit leaf rate (the net difference between carbon gain and carbon losses per unit time and leaf area), and specific leaf area (leaf area: leaf biomass). The effects of light, CO2 and water on leaf mass fractions were small compared to their effects on relative growth rate. The effects of nutrients, however, were large, suggesting that only in the case of nutrients, biomass allocation is a major factor in the response of plants to limiting resource supply.

The role of biomass allocation in the growth response of plants to different levels of light, CO2, nutrients and water: a quantitative review

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 1191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik Poorter ◽  
Oscar Nagel
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Carbon Gain ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Functional Equilibrium ◽  
Leaf Mass

The allocation of biomass to different plant organs depends on species, ontogeny and on the environment experienced by the plant. In this paper we first discuss some methodological tools to describe and analyse the allocation of biomass. Rather than the use of shoot:root ratios, we plead strongly for a subdivision of biomass into at least three compartments: leaves, stems and roots. Attention is drawn to some of the disadvantages of allometry as a tool to correct for size differences between plants. Second, we tested the extent to which biomass allocation of plants follows the model of a ‘functional equilibrium’. According to this model, plants respond to a decrease in above-ground resources with increased allocation to shoots (leaves), whereas they respond to a decrease in below-ground resources with increased allocation to roots. We carried out a meta-analysis of the literature, analysing the effect of various environmental variables on the fraction of total plant biomass allocated to leaves (leaf mass fraction), stem (stem mass fraction) and roots (root mass fraction). The responses to light, nutrients and water agreed with the (qualitative) prediction of the ‘functional equilibrium’ theory. The notable exception was atmospheric CO2, which did not affect allocation when the concentration was doubled. Third, we analysed the quantitative importance of the changes in allocation compared to changes in other growth parameters, such as unit leaf rate (the net difference between carbon gain and carbon losses per unit time and leaf area), and specific leaf area (leaf area: leaf biomass). The effects of light, CO2 and water on leaf mass fractions were small compared to their effects on relative growth rate. The effects of nutrients, however, were large, suggesting that only in the case of nutrients, biomass allocation is a major factor in the response of plants to limiting resource supply.

Relative importance of overstory canopy openness and seedling density on crown morphology and growth of Acer nipponicum seedlings

Botany ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (11) ◽  
pp. 1152-1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waka Saito ◽  
Koji Kawamura ◽  
Hiroshi Takeda
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Seedling Density ◽  
Seedling Morphology ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Leaf Mass ◽  
Leaf Mass Fraction

We investigated the effects of overstory canopy openness and seedling density on seedling morphology and growth in the mid-successional species Acer nipponicum Hara in a cool-temperate forest. Studied seedlings were 46 seedlings of 30–160 cm height, and their overstory canopy openness ranged between 7.2% and 17.0%. Seedling density, measured as the number of conspecific neighboring seedlings within a 50 cm radius of the target seedling, ranged between 0 and 19. There were no significant correlations between seedling height, canopy openness, and seedling density. Multiple regression analysis showed that crown depth, leaf mass fraction, and leaf area index decreased with decreasing canopy openness and increasing seedling density, while the ratio of trunk-lateral branches mass increased. Overstory canopy openness did not affect crown area, leaf size, or petiole length, all of which decreased with increasing seedling density. Standardized regression coefficients indicated that seedling density affected morphology and growth more than canopy openness did. The morphological responses to canopy openness cannot be considered as adaptive plasticity, as total leaf area and leaf mass fraction decreased with decreasing light levels. In contrast, responses to seedling density indicate adaptive responses to neighborhood competition. The results highlight the importance of seedling density that influenced seedling growth and morphology independently of overstory canopy openness.

Whole-seedling biomass allocation, leaf area, and tissue chemistry for Douglas-fir exposed to elevated CO2 and temperature for 4 years

2003 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M Olszyk ◽  
Mark G Johnson ◽  
David T Tingey ◽  
Paul T Rygiewicz ◽  
Claudia Wise ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elevated Temperature ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Fine Root ◽  
Lateral Roots ◽  
Douglas Fir ◽  
Specific Leaf Mass ◽  
Leaf Mass ◽  
Seedling Biomass ◽  
Elevated Co2 And Temperature

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings were grown under ambient or elevated ( ambient + 180 µmol·mol–1) CO2 and ambient or elevated (ambient + 3.5°C) temperature in outdoor, sunlit chambers with a field soil. After 4 years, seedlings were harvested and measured for leaf area, leaf, fine root (<1 mm diameter), and structural (buds, branches, stems, main root, and lateral roots >1 mm in diameter) dry masses, and leaf and fine root C/N ratio, percent sugar, and percent cellulose. Elevated CO2 did not affect biomass production or allocation for any plant organ but increased specific leaf mass, leaf C/N ratio, and percent sugar and decreased the ratio of leaf area to structural weight and leaf percent cellulose. Elevated temperature tended to reduce biomass allocation to leaves and leaf sugar concentration. Fine root percent sugar tended to increase with elevated temperature but only at elevated CO2. Therefore, for Douglas-fir seedlings growing under naturally limiting soil moisture and nutrition conditions, elevated CO2 and temperature may have little impact on biomass or leaf area except for reduced specific leaf mass with elevated CO2 and reduced biomass allocation to leaves with elevated temperature. However, both elevated CO2 and temperature may alter leaf chemistry.

scholarly journals Plasticity of Leaf Traits of Juglans regia L. f. luodianense Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Deng Wang ◽  
XiaoLong Huang ◽  
JingZhong Chen ◽  
LiXia Li ◽  
Jing Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Specific Leaf Area ◽  
Juglans Regia ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Cell Membrane Permeability ◽  
Karst Area ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Phenotypic Traits

This study examined the effects of light intensity on the plasticity of the leaves of Juglans regia f. luodianense seedlings in karst habitat and how they respond to changes in light intensity. The light intensity of 1-year-old seedlings of J. regia f. luodianense in different niches in a karst area was set as 100% (bare land), 75% (forest margin), 50% (forest gap), and 25% (under forest) of natural light. The material harvested after four months was compared to analyze the differences in various morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological characteristics of the leaves of seedlings of J. regia f. luodianense, and a comprehensive evaluation of the plasticity indexes was conducted. The results showed that under moderate (50%) full light intensity, the leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf biomass, and chlorophyll content increased, and improved photosynthesis and promoted the accumulation of free proline content and peroxidase (POD) activity. The accumulation of malondialdehyde was also the lowest in this treatment, indicating that the plants had the strongest adaptability under this light intensity. Moreover, under high (75%) full light intensity, the above functional characteristics of plants showed good performance. Under low (25%) full light intensity, plants also had higher specific leaf area, leaf biomass, and photosynthetic parameters. However, under full light, the cell membrane permeability decreased, the chlorophyll accumulation was the lowest, and the photosynthetic index was seriously inhibited. Our results showed that the plasticity of morphological characters was greater than that of biomass allocation and physiological characters; POD activity and stomatal conductance were the highest, followed by leaf area and chlorophyll b, whereas the plasticity of palisade tissue/sponge tissue thickness and lower-epidermis thickness were the lowest. In summary, there are evident differences in the sensitivity and regulation mechanisms of morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological indices of the seedling leaves of J. regia f. luodianense in response to light intensity. During the stage of seedling establishment, only the plants in the bare ground under full light can be induced to show obvious inhibition of phenotypic traits. In contrast, the plants in the forest margins and gaps and under the forest habitats under light intensity can regulate their own characteristics to maintain their growth and development. The wide light range and strong plasticity of the species might be two of the important reasons for its existence in a highly heterogeneous karst habitat.

scholarly journals Effects of grazing on leaf traits and ecosystem functioning in Inner Mongolia grasslands: scaling from species to community

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 9945-9975 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. X. Zheng ◽  
H. Y. Ren ◽  
Z. C. Lan ◽  
W. H. Li ◽  
Y. F. Bai
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Ecosystem Functioning ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Semiarid Grassland ◽  
Leaf Trait ◽  
Leaf Mass

Abstract. More attention has focused on using some easily measured plant functional traits to predict grazing influence on plant growth and ecosystem functioning. However, there has been much controversy on leaf traits response to grazing, thus more research should be conducted at the species level. Here we investigated the leaf area, leaf mass and specific leaf area (SLA) of 263 species in eight grassland communities along a soil moisture gradient in the Xilin River Basin, a semiarid grassland of northern China, to explore the grazing effects on ecosystem functioning. Results demonstrated that grazing decreased the leaf area and leaf mass in more than 56% of species in the Xilin River Basin, however, responses of SLA to grazing varied widely between species. Grazing increased SLA in 38.4% of species, decreased SLA in 31.3% of species and had no effect on 30.3% of species. Annuals and biennials generally developed high SLA as grazing tolerance traits, while perennial graminoids developed low SLA as grazing avoidance traits. Considering the water ecotypes, the SLA-increased and SLA-unchanged species were dominated by hygrophytes and mesophytes, while the SLA-decreased species were dominated by xerophytes. At the community level, grazing decreased the mean leaf area index (LAI) of six communities by 16.9%, leaf biomass by 35.2% and standing aboveground biomass (SAB) by 35.0% in the Xilin River Basin, indicating that overgrazing greatly decreased the ecosystem functioning in the semi-arid grassland of northern China. Soil properties, especially fielding holding capacity and soil organic carbon and total nitrogen could mediate the negative grazing impacts. The results suggest SLA is a better leaf trait to reveal plant adaptability to grazing. Our findings have practical implications for range management and productivity maintenance in the semiarid grassland, and it is feasible to take some measures such as ameliorating soil water and nutrient availabilities to prevent grassland degradation.

scholarly journals Short Note: Root Restriction Hindered Early Allometric Differentiation Between Seedlings of Two Provenances of Canary Island Pine

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Climent ◽  
J. Alonso ◽  
L. Gil
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Mass Fraction ◽  
Short Note ◽  
Genetic Effect ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Optimal Partitioning Theory ◽  
Forest Reproductive Material ◽  
Root Restriction ◽  
Canary Islands Pine

AbstractBased on the optimal partitioning theory, the comparative assessment of seedling allometry is a common task in retrospective genetic tests and early testing of forest reproductive material. Our hypothesis was that root restriction imposed by the container might hinder or rule out genetic differences in biomass allocation. We grew seedlings of two contrasted provenances of Canary Islands pine in mini-rhizotrons, 60 and 90 cm deep, and alternatively in standard bottom-open 200 cc forest containers. In the mini-rhizotrons, plants from the drier provenance allocated more biomass to roots, especially to the tap root and invested less in needles, both in a biomass and leaf area basis, and this morphological divergence increased between two harvests, undertaken at 57 and 115 days after planting. By contrast, confirming our hypothesis, at the 115 days harvest, the plants grown in standard containers did not exhibited significant differences between provenances for Leaf Mass Fraction, Root Mass Fraction and Leaf Area Ratio. We conclude that the physical constraint for root development imposed by small containers increases the probability of dismissing the genetic effect in biomass allocation when assessing forest reproductive materials at the short term, even when the whole plant growth (total dry weight) might be unaffected.

Shading Effects on Growth and Partitioning of Plant Biomass in Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) from Shaded and Exposed Habitats

Weed Science ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 735-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Imperata Cylindrica ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Growth Responses ◽  
Net Assimilation ◽  
Total Dry Weight ◽  
Sun And Shade ◽  
Shading Effects

The growth responses of cogongrass [Imperata cylindrica(L.) Beauv.] were studied in a controlled-environment greenhouse with a day/night temperature of 29/23 C, under full available light and 56 and 11% of full light. The cogongrass plants were grown from stem and rhizome propagules originating from an interstate highway median, a pecan [Carya illinoensis(Wangenh.) K. Koch] plantation, and a pine (Pinusspp.) forest. After 89 days, the plants from all three populations produced, on average, three times as much total dry weight and leaf area in full available sunlight as in 56% full light and 20 times as much as in 11% full light. The distribution of plant biomass into rhizomes decreased with shading, whereas the distribution into leaves increased. The distribution of leaf biomass as leaf area also increased with shading, with the result that the plants grown in 11% full light had leaf area ratios about 2.5 times greater than those grown in full light. Reductions in dry matter production with shading were due to significant reductions in both net assimilation rate and leaf area duration or total amount of leaf area present. The plants from the shaded and exposed habitats generally did not differ significantly in their responses to shading. Thus, there is little evidence for the presence of sun and shade ecotypes in the populations of cogongrass studied.

A meta-analysis of the response of terrestrial plant biomass allocation to simulated N deposition

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
毛晋花 MAO Jinhua ◽  
邢亚娟 XING Yajuan ◽  
闫国永 YAN Guoyong ◽  
王庆贵 WANG Qinggui
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
N Deposition ◽  
Terrestrial Plant

scholarly journals Drought effect on plant biomass allocation: A meta-analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (24) ◽  
pp. 11002-11010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwar Eziz ◽  
Zhengbing Yan ◽  
Di Tian ◽  
Wenxuan Han ◽  
Zhiyao Tang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biomass Allocation ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Drought Effect

scholarly journals Effects of Potassium Fertilization, Cultivar Specifics and Seedling Temperature Regime on Growth Parameters and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Vasileva ◽  
N. Dinev ◽  
I. Mitova
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Temperature Regime ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Leaf Number ◽  
Leaf Biomass ◽  
Tomato Plants ◽  
Fresh Leaf ◽  
Potassium Fertilization ◽  
Leaf Weight ◽  
Tomato Cultivars

Background: Potassium fertilization shows beneficial effect on formation of tomato vegetative biomass and productivity. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which split potassium application and seedling temperature regime affects the growth parameters (leaf number, leaf area, fresh leaf weight and LAI) and yield of various tomato cultivars. Methods: A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of single dose and split potassium fertilization treatments, cultivar specifics and seedling temperature regime on growth parameters and yield of tomato. Ten high yielding classic round shape tomato cultivars with determinate growth habitat were planted on Fluvisol. Single and split potassium fertilization treatments were tested. Result: The seedlings growth temperature regime and splitting the potassium fertilization treatment did not have a significant effect on the development of leaf biomass in tomato plants. Results revealed that leaf number, leaf area, fresh leaf weight and LAI of tomato plants was significantly affected by the cultivar genetic factor. Tomato yield were significantly affected by cultivars and split potassium fertilization treatments. Cultivars that measured the highest leaf area, fresh leaf weight and LAI and were also the highest yielding ones. A positive correlation between LAI and tomato fruit yield was observed.

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