scholarly journals A direct comparison of ecological theories for predicting the relationship between plant traits and growth

Author(s):  
Ellie Goud ◽  
Anurag Agrawal ◽  
Jed Sparks

Abstract Despite long-standing theory for classifying plant ecological strategies, limited data directly links organismal traits to whole-plant growth. We compared trait-growth relationships based on three prominent theories: growth analysis, Grime’s CSR triangle, and the leaf economics spectrum (LES). Under these schemes, growth is hypothesized to be predicted by traits related to biomass investments, leaf structure or gas exchange, respectively. In phylogenetic analyses of 30 diverse milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and 21 morphological and ecophysiological traits, growth rate varied 50-fold and was best predicted by growth analysis and CSR traits, as well as total leaf area and plant height. Despite two LES traits correlating with growth, they contradicted predictions and leaf traits did not scale with root and stem characteristics. Thus, although combining leaf traits and whole-plant allocation best predicts growth, when destructive measures are not feasible, we suggest total leaf area and plant height, or easy-to-measure traits associated with the CSR classification.

Genetika ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Hladni ◽  
Dragan Skoric ◽  
Marija Kraljevic-Balalic

The main goals of sunflower breeding in Yugoslavia and abroad are increased seed yield and oil content per unit area and increased resistance to diseases, insects and stress conditions via an optimization of plant architecture. In order to determine the mode of inheritance, gene effects and correlations of total leaf number per plant, total leaf area and plant height, six genetically divergent inbred lines of sunflower were subjected to half diallel crosses. Significant differences in mean values of all the traits were found in the F1 and F2 generations. Additive gene effects were more important in the inheritance of total leaf number per plant and plant height, while in the case of total leaf area per plant the nonadditive ones were more important looking at all the combinations in the F1 and F2 generations. The average degree of dominance (Hi/D)1/2 was lower than one for total leaf number per plant and plant height, so the mode of inheritance was partial dominance, while with total leaf area the value was higher than one, indicating super dominance as the mode of inheritance. Significant positive correlation was found: between total leaf area per plant and total leaf number per plant (0.285*) and plant height (0.278*). The results of the study are of importance for further sunflower breeding work.


1970 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Karlina Br Sembiring ◽  
Rosita Sipayung ◽  
Irsal

Massive breeding is often the case with the availability of the amount of water that can be stored on the media. The aim of this research is to know the influence of media and the frequency of watering on the growth of robusta coffee seedlings and to find the best media and optimum watering frequency. This experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sumatera Utara, Medan from June to September 2017. The experimental method used was Factorial Randomized Block Design with 2 treatment factors, ie 1: planting medium ie, topsoil ; topsoil: sand (2: 1); topsoil: rice husk (2: 1), topsoil: charcoal husk (2: 1) and factor 2: watering frequency ie, watered once a day; watered every 4 days; watered 7 days and watered once every 10 days. The variable was plant height, stem diameter, total leaf number, total leaf area, fresh crown weight, canopy dry weight, fresh root weight, root dry weight, longest root, and canopy and root ratio. The results showed that planting media treatment had a significant effect on plant height variables, stem diameter increase, leaf number, total leaf area, fresh crown weight, canopy dry weight, fresh root weight, root dry weight, and root canopy ratio. The best treatment of planting medium was found in topsoil treatment: rice husk (2: 1). The treatment of watering frequency had a significant effect on the stem diameter 2 - 12 of the week after planting move observation variable, total leaf area, fresh crown weight, dry crown weight, fresh root weight, and dry weight of roots. The best treatment frequency of watering hose is watering every 4 days. The interaction between the two treatments had a significant effect on the diameter of the stem diameter variable, the total leaf area and the fresh weight of the canopy.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Legay Nicolas ◽  
Grassein Fabrice ◽  
Arnoldi Cindy ◽  
Segura Raphaël ◽  
Laîné Philippe ◽  
...  

AbstractThe leaf economics spectrum (LES) is based on a suite of leaf traits related to plant functioning and ranges from resource-conservative to resource-acquisitive strategies. However, the relationships with root traits, and the associated belowground plant functioning such as N uptake, including nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH4+), is still poorly known. Additionally, environmental variations occurring both in time and in space could uncouple LES from root traits. We explored, in subalpine grasslands, the relationships between leaf and root morphological traits for 3 dominant perennial grass species, and to what extent they contribute to the whole-plant economics spectrum. We also investigated the link between this spectrum and NO3- and NH4+ uptake rates, as well as the variations of uptake across four grasslands differing by the land-use history at peak biomass and in autumn. Although poorly correlated with leaf traits, root traits contributed to an economic spectrum at the whole plant level. Higher NH4+ and NO3- uptake abilities were associated with the resource-acquisitive strategy.Nonetheless, NH4+ and NO3- uptake within species varied between land-uses and with sampling time, suggesting that LES and plant traits are good, but still incomplete, descriptors of plant functioning. Although the NH4+: NO3- uptake ratio was different between plant species in our study, they all showed a preference for NH4+, and particularly the most conservative species. Soil environmental variations between grasslands and sampling times may also drive to some extent the NH4+ and NO3- uptake ability of species. Our results support the current efforts to build a more general framework including above- and below-ground processes when studying plant community functioning.


HortScience ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 913-915 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Pertuit ◽  
Jerry B. Dudley ◽  
Joe E. Toler

New Mexico-mined raw leonardite was characterized by comparing it with the International Humic Substances Society's Standard Leonardite. In the first experiment, adding as little as 1/64 leonardite (v/v) to a sand medium increased tomato [Lycopersicon esculentum (L.) Mill. `Mountain Pride'] root and shoot growth compared with plants produced with fertilizer alone. Growth increased linearly with increasing leonardite levels, from 0% to 25%; however, 50% leonardite inhibited growth. In a second experiment, leonardite alone had no effect on plant height, shoot or root fresh and dry weight, or total leaf area, but stimulated growth when combined with a complete fertilizer. Adding 1/3 leonardite (v/v) (the highest level) and a complete fertilizer increased plant height 40%, total leaf area 160%, shoot fresh weight 134%, root fresh weight 82%, shoot dry weight 133%, and root dry weight 400%.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 309-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
MI Kabir ◽  
MG Mortuza ◽  
MO Islam

The experiment was conducted to see the effect of nutrient spray on morphophysiological feature and growth of three orchid varieties namely Dendrobium Red Bull, D. Kasim Gold and D White 5 N. Results revealed that the morphophysiological and growth attributes significantly varied among the cultivars. D Red Bull showed the highest plant height, leaf length, leaf area and stem diameter among the varieties. D. White 5 N was superior in leaf number and total leaf area and D. Kasim Gold was superior in leaf area index and leaf width to the other varieties. On the other hand, the trend of increasing in leaf length, leaf width, leaf area index, leaf number, leaf area and total leaf area was the highest for N:P:K as 10:25:30. Plant height and stem diameter was maximum for N:P:K as 15:20:20. In conclusion, low level of nitrogen and high level of phosphorus and potassium was suitable for leaf length, leaf width, leaf area index, leaf number, leaf area and total leaf area while high level of nitrogen and low level of potassium was suitable for plant height and stem diameter. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v5i1.11598 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 5(1): 309-318, 2012


2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hodossi ◽  
A. Kovács ◽  
E. Besenyei

Direct sowing in 16 cm deep trench covered with perforated plastic sheet (for 3 weeks), transplant using, and uncovered direct sowing (control) was tried on 2 locations, with 2 varieties (very early Kecskeméti korai extra, and middle early Kecskeméti SC-370) in Szarvas on loamy soil, and in Kecskemét on sandy soil in 1996 — after a preliminary trial concerning perforated plastic covered trench sowing in Szarvas, in 1995. The plant height (weekly), the average leaf number/plant, the total leaf area (once), the total yield, the quality of cobs, and the earliness was measured. The results are: Kecskeméti korai extra during the first 6 week period the transplanted plants were the highest, but from the 7th week the plants which were sown in trench and than were covered with perforated plastic sheet (for 3 weeks) were the highest. SC-370: The transplanted plants were the highest-until the end of plant height development. The plant height development stopped at the 9th week of the measurement by early, - and stopped at the 10th week by middle early variety. The average leaf number/plant varied between 9,25-10,50 and was not influenced either by variety or by the treatment. The total leaf area was (on 5th of June) the largest by transplanted plants, which was followed by plants that were sown in trench and then were covered with perforated plastic film (for 3 weeks). The highest yield was observed by plants, which Were sown in trench, and then were covered with perforated plastic film (for 3 weeks). Transplanted plants followed it. Quite the total yield (98,3%) of transplanted Kecskeméti korai extra variety plants were harvested on 4th July. 89% of the total yield was picked up of trench sown and then with perforated plastic covered plants. The harvest of uncovered control started on 15th July. The harvest of transplanted SC-370 plants started 19th July, when more than half of the total yield (57%) was picked. The uncovered control was harvested 29th July. The weight and the measure of cobs generally were not influenced by the treatments, but the average weight of the cobs of the transplanted Kecskeméti korai extra plants (0,21-0,18 kg) are less than the, requirement.  


PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12088
Author(s):  
Roberto Rafael Ruiz-Santiago ◽  
Horacio Salómon Ballina-Gómez ◽  
Esau Ruiz-Sánchez ◽  
Jaime Martínez-Castillo ◽  
René Garruña-Hernández ◽  
...  

Plant-insect interactions are a determining factor for sustainable crop production. Although plants can resist or tolerate herbivorous insects to varying degrees, even with the use of pesticides, insects can reduce plant net productivity by as much as 20%, so sustainable strategies for pest control with less dependence on chemicals are needed. Selecting plants with optimal resistance and photosynthetic traits can help minimize damage and maintain productivity. Here, 27 landrace accessions of lima beans, Phaseolus lunatus L., from the Yucatan Peninsula were evaluated in the field for morphological resistance traits, photosynthetic characteristics, insect damage and seed yield. Variation was found in physical leaf traits (number, area, and dry mass of leaves; trichome density, specific leaf thickness and hardness) and in physiological traits (photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular carbon, water-use efficiency, and transpiration). Five accessions (JMC1325, JMC1288, JMC1339, JMC1208 and JMC1264) had the lowest index for cumulative damage with the highest seed yield, although RDA analysis uncovered two accessions (JMC1339, JMC1288) with strong positive association of seed yield and the cumulative damage index with leaf production, specific leaf area (SLA) and total leaf area. Leaf traits, including SLA and total leaf area are important drivers for optimizing seed yield. This study identified 12 important morphological and physiological leaf traits for selecting landrace accessions of P. lunatus for high yields (regardless of damage level) to achieve sustainable, environmentally safe crop production.


Author(s):  
Alberto Echeverría ◽  
Tommaso Anfodillo ◽  
Diana Soriano ◽  
Julieta A Rosell ◽  
Mark E Olson

Abstract As trees grow taller, hydraulic resistance can be expected to increase, causing photosynthetic productivity to decline. Yet leaves maintain productivity over vast height increases; this maintenance of productivity suggests that leaf-specific conductance remains constant as trees grow taller. Here we test the assumption of constant leaf-specific conductance with height growth and document the stem xylem anatomical adjustments involved. We measured the scaling of total leaf area, mean vessel diameter at terminal twigs and at the stem base, and total vessel number in 139 individuals of Moringa oleifera of different heights, and estimated a whole-plant conductance index from these measurements. Whole-plant conductance and total leaf area scaled at the same rate with height. Congruently, whole-plant conductance and total leaf area scaled isometrically. Constant conductance is made possible by intricate adjustments in anatomy, with conduit diameters in terminal twigs becoming wider, lowering per-vessel resistance, with a concomitant decrease in vessel number per unit leaf area with height growth. Selection maintaining constant conductance per unit leaf area with height growth (or at least minimizing drops in conductance) is likely a potent selective pressure shaping plant hydraulics, and crucially involved in the maintenance of photosynthetic productivity per leaf area across the terrestrial landscape.


Plant Ecology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 215 (11) ◽  
pp. 1351-1359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Pierce ◽  
Arianna Bottinelli ◽  
Ilaria Bassani ◽  
Roberta M. Ceriani ◽  
Bruno E. L. Cerabolini

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benyamin Lakitan ◽  
Kartika Kartika ◽  
Laily Ilman Widuri ◽  
Erna Siaga ◽  
Lya Nailatul Fadilah

Abstract. Lakitan B, Kartika K, Widuri LI, Siaga E, Fadilah LN. 2021. Lesser-known ethnic leafy vegetables Talinum paniculatum grown at tropical ecosystem: Morphological traits and non-destructive estimation of total leaf area per branch. Biodiversitas 22: 4487-4495. Talinum paniculatum known as Java ginseng is an ethnic vegetable in Indonesia that has also been utilized as a medical plant. Young leaves are the primary economic part of T. paniculatum, which can be eaten fresh or cooked. This study was focused on characterizing morphological traits of T. panicultaum and developing a non-destructive yet accurate and reliable model for predicting total area per leaf cluster on each elongated branch per flush growth cycle. The non-destructive approach allows frequent and timely measurements. In addition, the developed model can be used as guidance for deciding the time to harvest for optimum yield. Results indicated that T. paniculatum flourished rapidly under wet tropical conditions, especially if they were propagated using stem cuttings. The plants produced more than 50 branches and more than 800 leaves, or on average produced more than 15 leaves per branch at the age of nine weeks after planting (WAP). The zero-intercept linear model using a combination of two traits of length x width (LW) as a predictor was accurate and reliable for predicting a single leaf area (R2 = 0.997). Meanwhile, the estimation of total area per leaf cluster was more accurate if three traits, i.e., number of leaves, the longest leaf, and the widest leaf in each cluster were used as predictors with the zero-intercept linear regression model (R2 = 0.984). However, the use of a single trait of length (L) and width (W) of the largest leaf within each cluster as a predictor in the power regression model exhibited moderately accurate prediction at the R2 = 0.883 and 0.724, respectively.


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