Variations in growth and architecture in the range limit of Salix humboldtiana, the native willow from South America

The conditions faced by edge populations of a tree species may affect the architecture of individual trees. The latitudinally broad range of Salix humboldtiana encompasses tropical to cold-temperate climatic regions, with its southernmost population in central Patagonia. We expected S. humboldtiana trees from the southern-edge population to develop smaller shoots and a lower level of axis differentiation than trees of this species from a more northerly population, and expected edge trees to outperform non-edge trees when growing in common-garden at an intermediate latitude. For juvenile individuals of S. humboldtiana from edge and non-edge natural populations, trunk diameter, height, branching angle, and the length, number of nodes, diameter, leaf area and specific leaf area of main branch and trunk annual shoots were measured. The size and extension rates of shoots developed by trees of both origins in a common-garden were also evaluated. In natural populations, shoot leaf area and specific leaf area were higher for the edge population than for non-edge population. In common garden, shoot extension period and length were higher for non-edge plants than for edge plants. Growth-period differences between populations in the common garden may support the hypothesis of stress adaptation in the southernmost S. humboldtiana trees.

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Species differences in carbon isotope ratios, specific leaf area and nitrogen concentrations in leaves of Eucalyptus growing in a common garden compared with along an aridity gradient

Physiologia Plantarum ◽

10.1111/j.1399-3054.2006.00682.x ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 127 (3) ◽

pp. 434-444 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Ernst-Detlef Schulze ◽

Neil C. Turner ◽

Dean Nicolle ◽

Jens Schumacher

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Carbon Isotope ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Species Differences ◽

Common Garden ◽

Isotope Ratios ◽

Carbon Isotope Ratios ◽

Aridity Gradient ◽

Nitrogen Concentrations

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Specific leaf area development of autumn-sown sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) on different sowing dates in northern Germany

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859614001087 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 153 (7) ◽

pp. 1292-1301 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H. STEPHAN ◽

U. BÖTTCHER ◽

H. KAGE

Keyword(s):

Sugar Beet ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Leaf Growth ◽

Multiple Linear Regression Model ◽

Growth Period ◽

Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽

Growth Stages ◽

Northern Germany ◽

Area Index

SUMMARYIn most regions, sugar beet is normally sown as a spring crop. If sown in autumn the crop remains on the field over winter and may achieve fast re-growth in spring from assimilates stored within the beet, allowing earlier leaf growth and light interception in spring. The specific leaf area (SLA) (ratio between leaf surface and leaf mass) is mainly affected by leaf area expansion and consequently affects productivity in early growth stages. The aim of the present study was (i) to examine the SLA dynamics of autumn-sown sugar beet before and after winter and (ii) to develop an empiric approach describing SLA changes during the growth period. A field trial in northern Germany with three different sowing times (mid-April, mid-June and mid-August) and varying plant densities (148 000, 246 000 and 370 000 plants/ha) was carried out in 2009/10 to 2011/12. The average SLA of the canopy was the highest (>25 m2/kg) directly after emergence, then decreased until autumn (<13 m2/kg) and increased again up to 20 m2/kg during re-growth of winter sugar beet in spring. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed mean photosynthetically active radiation over 10 days before measurement (PARmean), leaf area index (LAI), mean temperature over 10 days before measurement (Tmean) and temperature sum since sowing (Tsum) as the main influences on SLA dynamics. The strongest correlation to SLA was shown by Tmean (r = 0·69) and the weakest by Tsum (r = −0·28). A multiple linear regression model was fitted to the dataset with Tmean, PARmean and log (Tsum) achieving an adjusted R2 of 0·64. This empirical equation is suitable for use in a crop growth model for winter sugar beet.

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Effects of leaf and plant age on specific leaf area in deciduous tree species Quercus cerris L. var. Cerris

Bangladesh Journal of Botany ◽

10.3329/bjb.v42i2.18034 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 301-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Neslihan Karavin

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Leaf Age ◽

Age Groups ◽

Growth Period ◽

Dry Mass ◽

Plant Age ◽

Deciduous Tree ◽

Leaf Dry Mass ◽

Quercus Cerris

In Quercus cerris L. var. cerris, four diameters at breast height (BDH) groups were selected as a surrogate for approximate plant age groups to study the effects of plant and leaf age on leaf dry mass, leaf area and specific leaf area. The forms of fluctuations in specific leaf area (SLA) of all DBH groups were similar during the growth period. The minimum SLA was calculated at the leaves mature phase. Leaf area did not differ significantly according to leaf age. Significant differences caused by leaf age were determined in mean leaf dry mass and SLA. No significant differences in mean SLA caused by plant age were found. Leaf area and leaf dry mass significantly varied among DBH groups. Leaf area was positively correlated with leaf dry mass, and SLA was negatively correlated with leaf dry mass, while there was no significant relationship with leaf area. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i2.18034 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42(2): 301-306, 2013 (December)

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Phenotypic and phenological behaviours of clones of three natural populations of Atriplex halimus L. grown in a common garden

Ecologia mediterranea ◽

10.3406/ecmed.2003.1551 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 179-188

Author(s):

Abdelaziz Abbad ◽

Abdelbasset El Hadrami ◽

Abderrazzak Benchaabane

Keyword(s):

Natural Populations ◽

Common Garden ◽

Atriplex Halimus

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Specific leaf area and hydraulic traits explain niche segregation along an aridity gradient in Mediterranean woody species.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.726969026.793525380 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

David Merritt

Keyword(s):

Leaf Area ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Woody Species ◽

Niche Segregation ◽

Aridity Gradient

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Sex ratio and life history traits at reaching sexual maturity in the dioecious shrub Fuchsia parviflora: field and common garden experiments

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467421000043 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Jessica S. Ambriz ◽

Clementina González ◽

Eduardo Cuevas

Keyword(s):

Natural Population ◽

Sexual Maturity ◽

Sex Ratios ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Common Garden ◽

Common Garden Experiment ◽

Trade Offs ◽

Reproductive Biomass ◽

Common Garden Experiments ◽

Growth And Reproduction

Abstract Fuchsia parviflora is a dioecious shrub that depends on biotic pollination for reproduction. Previous studies suggest that the male plants produce more flowers, and male-biased sex ratios have been found in some natural populations. To assess whether the biased sex ratios found between genders in natural populations are present at the point at which plants reach sexual maturity, and to identify possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction, we performed a common garden experiment. Finally, to complement the information of the common garden experiment, we estimated the reproductive biomass allocation between genders in one natural population. Sex ratios at reaching sexual maturity in F. parviflora did not differ from 0.5, except in one population, which was the smallest seedling population. We found no differences between genders in terms of the probability of germination or flowering. When flowering began, female plants were taller than males and the tallest plants of both genders required more time to reach sexual maturity. Males produced significantly more flowers than females, and the number of flowers increased with plant height in both genders. Finally, in the natural population studied, the investment in reproductive biomass was seven-fold greater in female plants than in male plants. Our results showed no evidence of possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction. Despite the fact that female plants invest more in reproductive biomass, they were taller than the males after flowering, possibly at the expense of herbivory defence.

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El Niño-Southern Oscillation affects the water relations of tree species in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89835-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jorge Palomo-Kumul ◽

Mirna Valdez-Hernández ◽

Gerald A. Islebe ◽

Manuel J. Cach-Pérez ◽

José Luis Andrade

Keyword(s):

Water Potential ◽

Leaf Area ◽

Tropical Forests ◽

Specific Leaf Area ◽

Tree Species ◽

Deciduous Species ◽

Mature Trees ◽

Seasonally Dry ◽

Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests ◽

Dry Tropical Forests

AbstractWe evaluated the effect of ENSO 2015/16 on the water relations of eight tree species in seasonally dry tropical forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The functional traits: wood density, relative water content in wood, xylem water potential and specific leaf area were recorded during the rainy season and compared in three consecutive years: 2015 (pre-ENSO conditions), 2016 (ENSO conditions) and 2017 (post-ENSO conditions). We analyzed tree size on the capacity to respond to water deficit, considering young and mature trees, and if this response is distinctive in species with different leaf patterns in seasonally dry tropical forests distributed along a precipitation gradient (700–1200 mm year−1). These traits showed a strong decrease in all species in response to water stress in 2016, mainly in the driest site. Deciduous species had lower wood density, higher predawn water potential and higher specific leaf area than evergreen species. In all cases, mature trees were more tolerant to drought. In the driest site, there was a significant reduction in water status, regardless of their leaf phenology, indicating that seasonally dry tropical forests are highly vulnerable to ENSO. Vulnerability of deciduous species is intensified in the driest areas and in the youngest trees.

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