AbstractSolar-induced fluorescence (SIF) is a promising tool to estimate photosynthesis across scales; however, there has been limited research done at the leaf level to investigate the relationship between SIF and photosynthesis. To help bridge this gap, a LI-COR LI-6800 gas exchange instrument was modified with a visible-near-infrared (VIS-NIR) spectrometer to measure active and passive fluorescence

AbstractHabitat fragmentation strongly affects the genetic diversity of plant populations, and this has always attracted much research interest. Although numerous studies have investigated the effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic diversity of plant populations, fewer studies have compared species with contrasting breeding systems while accounting for phylogenetic distance. Here, we compare

AbstractThe Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and adjacent areas are centres of diversity for several alpine groups. Although it is known that the QTP acted as a source area for diversification of the alpine genus Gentiana, the evolutionary processes underlying diversity in this genus, especially the formation of narrow endemics, are still poorly understood. Hybridization has been proposed as a driver

AbstractUnder conditions of high transpiration and low soil water availability, the demand for water can exceed supply causing a reduction in water potential and a loss of cell turgor (wilting). Regulation of stomatal aperture mediates the loss of water vapour (gs), which in turn is dependent in part on the anatomical characteristics of stomatal density (SD) and stomatal size (SS). Anisohydric sugar

Short-term responses of plant dark respiration to carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) in the range anticipated in the atmosphere with global change remain controversial, primarily because it is difficult to convincingly eliminate the many possible sources of experimental error in measurements of carbon dioxide or oxygen exchange rates. Plant dark respiration is a major component of the carbon balance

The supply of water to a plant canopy is dependent on the xylem pathway connecting roots to leaves. In some plants, sectored xylem pathways can restrict resource distribution, resulting in variable quality of organs in the shoots, yet little is known about the effects of sectoring in crop cultivars. In this study, we combined sap flow measurements and infusion of xylem-specific dyes to document functional

Reduced water availability can cause physiological stress in plants that affects floral development leading to changes in floral morphology and traits that mediate interactions with pollinators. As pollinators can detect small changes in trait expressions, drought-induced changes in floral traits could affect pollinator visitations. However, the linkage between changes in floral traits and pollinator

In response to gravistimulation under anisotropic light, tree stems showing an active cambium produce reaction wood that redirects the axis of the trees. Several studies have described transcriptomic or proteomic models of reaction wood relative to the opposite wood. However, the mechanisms leading to the formation of reaction wood are difficult to decipher because so many environmental factors can

AbstractFaba bean (Vicia faba) is an essential food and fodder legume crop worldwide due to its high content of proteins and fibres. Molecular markers tools represent an invaluable tool for faba bean breeders towards rapid crop improvement. Although there have historically been few V. faba genome resources available, several transcriptomes and mitochondrial genome sequence data have been released.

We test whether the invasive earthworm Lumbricus terrestris and leaf litter of the invasive herbaceous plant Alliaria petiolata interact to influence the native plant, Podophyllum peltatum using both observational field data and a multi-year experiment. We hypothesized invader interactive effects on the native plant might result from either changes in allelochemical distribution in the soil or nutrient

The Malaysian state of Sabah on the Island of Borneo has recently emerged as a global hotspot of nickel hyperaccumulator plants. This study focuses on the tissue-level distribution of nickel and other physiologically relevant elements in hyperaccumulator plants with distinct phylogenetical affinities. The roots, old stems, young stems and leaves of Flacourtia kinabaluensis (Salicaceae), Actephila alanbakeri

Inner staminodes are widespread in Magnoliales and present in Anaxagorea and Xylopia, but were lost in the other genera of Annonaceae and have no counterparts in derived angiosperms. The coexistence of normal stamens, modified stamens and inner staminodes in Anaxagorea javanica is essential to understand the homology and pollination function of the inner staminodes. Anaxagorea javanica was subjected

Accurate taxonomic identification of alien species is crucial to detect new incursions, prevent or reduce the arrival of new invaders and implement management options such as biological control. Globally, the taxonomy of non-native Prosopis species is problematic due to misidentification and extensive hybridization. We performed a genetic analysis on several Prosopis species, and their putative hybrids

Understanding connections between ecosystem nitrogen (N) cycling and invasive insect defoliation could facilitate the prediction of disturbance impacts across a range of spatial scales. In this study we investigated relationships between ecosystem N cycling and tree defoliation during a recent 2015–18 irruption of invasive gypsy moth caterpillars (Lymantria dispar), which can cause tree stress and

Many studies have been done on the relationship between variation in morphology, dispersal ability and degree of dormancy of heterocarpic species with dimorphic diaspores. However, there are far fewer such studies on species that produce trimorphic diaspores. Our aim was to compare dormancy and germination of achenes from peripheral, intermediate and central positions in the capitulum of the diaspore-trimorphic

Invasive plants and agricultural weeds are a ubiquitous and ever-expanding threat to biosecurity, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Many of these species are known to succeed through rapid adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress regimes, often in highly disturbed systems. Given the current state of evidence for selection of weedy genotypes via primary physiological stresses like drought, flooding

Enhancing the photosynthetic induction response to fluctuating light has been suggested as a key target for improvement in crop breeding programs, with the potential to substantially increase whole canopy carbon assimilation and contribute to crop yield potential. Rubisco activation may be the main physiological process that will allow us to achieve such a goal. In this study, we assessed the phenotype

Climate change is expected to affect alpine and Arctic tundra communities. Most previous long-term studies have focused on impacts on vascular plants, this study examined impacts of long-term warming on bryophyte communities.

Seed dormancy classes determine both population and species-level processes which can be crucial in the life cycle of many plants. However, there are no studies of a dormancy cline between levels of morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). We aimed to determine the class of seed dormancy of Narcissus yepesii exhibits in order to explore links between different dormancy levels, previously characterized in

There has been a recent explosion in development of image recognition technology and its application to automated plant identification, so it is timely to consider its potential for field botany. Nine free apps or websites for automated plant identification and suitable for use on mobile phones or tablet computers in the field were tested on a disparate set of 38 images of plants or parts of plants

AbstractClarifying the endogenous processes that construct gross aerial shapes such as branching architecture in plants is crucial to understanding how branching contributes to plant adaptation to environments. Architectural analysis is powerful in decomposing the branching process, by comparing observations of plant growth among closely related taxa. The genus Sasa (Gramineae: Bambusoideae) contains

AbstractEmergent aquatic plants mostly occur in shallow waters and root in bottom substrates, but their leaves emerge from the water surface and are thus exposed to air, similar to the leaves of terrestrial plants. Previous studies have found coordination between leaf water supply and demand in terrestrial plants; however, whether such a coordination exists in emergent aquatic plants remains unknown

In flowering plants, lateral organs including stamens develop according to the precise regulation of adaxial–abaxial polarity. However, the polarity establishment process is poorly understood in asymmetric stamens. Canna indica (Zingiberales: Cannaceae) is a common ornamental plant with an asymmetric stamen comprising a one-theca anther and a petaloid appendage. In this study, we depicted the mono

AbstractThe black locust Robinia pseudoacacia (Robinieae, Fabaceae) is a common invasive riparian tree in Japan. There are less effective management strategies to remove the tree from the riparian area because of its quickly established high population. We investigated the expansion patterns of R. pseudoacacia through sympatric (i.e. between high- and low-water channel (HWC/LWC) within a study site)

AbstractGrain yield, which is mainly contributed by tillering capacity as well as kernel number and weight, is the most important trait to plant breeders and agronomists. Label-free quantitative proteomics was used to analyse yield-contributing organs in wheat. These were leaf sample, tiller initiation, spike initiation, ovary and three successive kernel development stages at 5, 10 and 15 days after

Wind influences the development, architecture and morphology of plant roots and may modify subsequent interactions between plants and soil (plant–soil feedbacks—PSFs). However, information on wind effects on fine root morphology is scarce and the extent to which wind changes plant–soil interactions remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of two wind intensity levels by manipulating

Aluminium (Al) hyper-accumulation is a common trait expressed by tropical woody plants growing on acidic soils. Studies on Al accumulators have suggested that Al addition may enhance plant growth rates, but the functional significance of this trait and the mechanistic basis of the growth response are uncertain. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that differential growth responses to Al among populations

Seed heteromorphism is an adaptive strategy towards adversity in many halophytes. However, the underlying mechanisms and ecological significance of seed heteromorphism have not been deeply explored. Using Suaeda aralocaspica, a typical C4 annual halophyte without Kranz anatomy, we studied seed morphology, differentiation of morphs and fruit-setting patterns, and correlated these traits with germination

Despite the ubiquity of introduced species, their long-term impacts on native plant abundance and diversity remain poorly understood. Coexistence theory offers a tool for advancing this understanding by providing a framework to link short-term individual measurements with long-term population dynamics by directly quantifying the niche and average fitness differences between species. We observed that

Pollinators are important drivers of angiosperm diversification at both micro- and macroevolutionary scales. Both hummingbirds and bats pollinate the species-rich and morphologically diverse genus Vriesea across its distribution in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Here, we (i) determine if floral traits predict functional groups of pollinators as documented, confirming the pollination syndromes in Vriesea

The abundance of apomixis in tropical plant genera is poorly understood, and this affects the understanding of speciation and evolution. Hanguanaceae is a tropical monogeneric, dioecious plant family. All but two species are solitary herbs with no capability to spread vegetatively. Viable seeds are often produced when males have not been observed. Our aim was to investigate the presence of apomixis

Seed priming is widely used in commercial seeds and its main function is to accelerate and synchronize seed germination. Undesirably, primed seeds show reduced longevity and treatments like heat shock have been shown to improve longevity in primed seeds. Nonetheless, the effect of heat shock treatment on primed seeds at the mRNA level is not known. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate the

Plant species ranges are expected to shift in response to climate change, however, it is unclear how species interactions will affect range shifts. Because of the potential for enemy release of invasive nonnative plant species from species-specific soil pathogens, invasive plants may be able to shift ranges more readily than native plant species. Additionally, changing climatic conditions may alter

Suboptimal distribution of photosynthetic capacity in relation to light among leaves reduces potential whole-canopy photosynthesis. We quantified the degree of suboptimality in 160 genotypes of wheat by directly measuring photosynthetic capacity and daily irradiance in flag and penultimate leaves. Capacity per unit daily irradiance was systematically lower in flag than penultimate leaves in most genotypes

The potential increased frequency and severity of drought associated with environmental change represents a significant obstacle to efforts aimed at enhancing food security due to its impact on crop development, and ultimately, yield. Our understanding of the impact of drought on crop growth in terms of plant aerial tissues is much more advanced than knowledge of the below-ground impacts. We undertook

Wintergreen fern Polystichum acrostichoides has fronds that are photosynthetically active year-round, despite diurnal and seasonal changes in soil moisture, air temperature and light availability. This species can fix much of its annual carbon during periods when the deciduous canopy is open. Yet, remaining photosynthetically active year-round requires the maintenance of photosynthetic and hydraulic

Populations at the edges of their geographical range tend to have lower genetic diversity, smaller effective population sizes and limited connectivity relative to centre of range populations. Range edge populations are also likely to be better adapted to more extreme conditions for future survival and resilience in warming environments. However, they may also be most at risk of extinction from changing

Migration is a process with important implications for the genetic structure of populations. However, there is an aspect of migration seldom investigated in plants: migration between temporally isolated groups of individuals within the same geographic population. The genetic implications of temporal migration can be particularly relevant for semelparous organisms, which are those that reproduce only

This work investigated the effective doses of biochar (BC) amendment with simulated nitrogen deposition on the stimulation of pecan (Carya illinoinensis) growth. A total of nine conditions combining three levels of BC—BC0, 0 t ha−1 year−1; BC20, 20 t ha−1 year−1; and BC40, 40 t ha−1 year−1—and three levels of simulated nitrogen deposition—N0, 0 kg N ha−1 year−1; N50, 50 kg N ha−1 year−1; and N150,

This study examined the acclimation to temperature of two globally invasive species Iris pseudacorus and Lythrum salicaria, which share the same habitat type but differ in morphology. Iris pseudacorus has long vertical leaves, allowing light penetration through the canopy, while L. salicaria has stems with small horizontal leaves, creating significant self-shading. We aimed to build a physiological

The whole-plant economic spectrum concept predicts that leaf and root traits evolve in coordination to cope with environmental stresses. However, this hypothesis is difficult to test in many species because their leaves and roots are exposed to different environments, above- and below-ground. In epiphytes, both leaves and roots are exposed to the atmosphere. Thus, we suspect there are consistent water

Investigating plant structure is fundamental in botanical science and provides crucial knowledge for the theories of plant evolution, ecophysiology and for the biotechnological practices. Modern plant anatomy often targets the formation, localization and characterization of cellulosic, lignified or suberized cell walls. While classical methods developed in the 1960s are still popular, recent innovations

The intraspecific variations of leaf structure and anatomy in rice leaves and their impacts on gas diffusion are still unknown. Researches about the tradeoff between structural compositions and intracellular chemical components within rice leaves are still lacking. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the varietal differences in leaf structure and leaf chemical compositions, and

Researchers have long assumed that plant spatial location influences plant reproductive success and pollinator foraging behaviour. For example, many flowering plant populations have small, linear or irregular shapes that increase the proportion of plants on the edge, which may reduce mating opportunities through both male and female function. Additionally, plants that rely on pollinators may be particularly

Competitive interactions between plants can affect patterns of allocation to reproductive structures through modulation of resource availability. As floral traits involved in plant attractiveness to pollinators can be sensitive to these resources, competition with any neighbouring species may influence the attractiveness of insect-pollinated plants. While pollination research has primarily focused

Dioecy in angiosperms is often associated with sexual dimorphism in floral traits other than the sexual organs. Species of the neotropical orchid genus Catasetum produce unisexual flowers characterized by a remarkable morphological sexual dimorphism. Catasetum species emit strong floral perfumes that act as both signal and reward for male euglossine bee pollinators. Although the role of floral perfumes

Some large-seeded plants lack effective seed dispersal agents when they are introduced as ornamental plants to new areas, but can rapidly colonize a landscape if seed dispersal functions are restored. We examined whether Gopherus polyphemus (Gopher Tortoise) facilitated the spread of Chrysobalanus icaco (Cocoplum; Chrysobalanaceae) over a 14-year period in a suburban nature preserve (in Jupiter, FL

Dynamic variation of the stomatal pore in response to changes in leaf–air vapour pressure difference (VPD) constitutes a critical regulation of daytime gas exchange. The stomatal response to VPD has been associated with both foliage abscisic acid (ABA) and leaf water potential (Ψ l); however, causation remains a matter of debate. Here, we seek to separate hydraulic and hormonal control of stomatal

Past research has shown that plants possess the capacity to alter their instantaneous response of photosynthesis to temperature in response to a longer-term change in temperature (i.e. acclimate). This acclimation is typically the result of processes that influence net photosynthesis (Anet), including leaf biochemical processes such as the maximum rate of Rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax) and the maximum

Induced responses to above-ground and below-ground herbivores may interact via systemic signalling in plants. We investigated whether the impact of above-ground herbivory on root-knot nematode-induced responses depends on the nematode’s life cycle stages. Tomato plants were infected with the nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) for 5, 15 or 30 days before receiving Spodoptera exigua caterpillars above-ground

Co-flowering plant species may interact via pollinators leading to heterospecific pollen transfer with consequences for plant reproduction. What determines the severity of heterospecific pollen effect on conspecific pollen performance is unclear, but it may depend on the phylogenetic relatedness of the interactors (pollen donors and recipient). The heterospecific pollen effect might also depend on

Plant–microbe interactions in the rhizosphere influence rates of organic matter mineralization and nutrient cycling that are critical to sustainable agricultural productivity. Agricultural intensification, particularly the introduction of synthetic fertilizer in the USA, altered the abundance and dominant forms of nitrogen (N), a critical plant nutrient, potentially imposing selection pressure on plant

Phenotypic changes in plants during domestication may disrupt plant–herbivore interactions. Because wild and cultivated plants have different habitats and some anti-herbivore defences exhibit some plasticity, their defences may be also influenced by the environment. Our goal was to assess the effects of domestication and the environment on herbivory and some anti-herbivore defences in chaya (Cnidoscolus

Previous studies found that plant communities on infertile soils are relatively resistant to climatic variation due to stress tolerance adaptations. However, the species assemblies in gypsum soil habitats require further investigation. Thus, we considered the following questions. (1) Do harsher arid conditions determine the characteristics of the species that form plant assemblages? (2) Is the selection

A general relationship between the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content of all plant organs (e.g. leaf, stem, and root) is hypothesized to exist according to whole-plant economics spectrum (PES) theory, but the evidence supporting these expected patterns remains scarce. We measured the N and P content of the leaves, twigs and fine roots of 64 species in three different forest communities along an

The genus Potentilla (Rosaceae) has been subjected to several phylogenetic studies, but resolving its evolutionary history has proven challenging. Previous analyses recovered six, informally named, groups: the Argentea, Ivesioid, Fragarioides, Reptans, Alba and Anserina clades, but the relationships among some of these clades differ between data sets. The Reptans clade, which includes the type species

In a recent publication, we proposed that adjusting lifespan in order to synchronize senescence is important for timing of reproduction, and we quantified the synchrony of reproductive timing relative to germination timing. Here, in a second sequential seeding experiment (SSE), the germination timing of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions was manipulated and plants were then grown under two different temperature

Despite their near ubiquity across global ecosystems, the underlying mechanisms contributing to the success of invasive plants remain largely unknown. In particular, ecophysiological traits, which are fundamental to plants’ performance and response to their environment, are poorly understood with respect to geographic and climate space. We evaluated photosynthetic trait variation among populations

Dispersal and fecundity are two fundamental traits underlying the spread of populations. Using integral difference equation models, we examine how individual variation in these fundamental traits and the heritability of these traits influence rates of spatial spread of populations along a one-dimensional transect. Using a mixture of analytic and numerical methods, we show that individual variation

Given that the ecological niche of tree species is typically narrower for earlier life stages, intraspecific genetic variation at early fitness traits may greatly influence the adaptive response of tree populations to changing environmental conditions. In this study, we evaluated genetic variation in early fitness traits among 12 populations of Betula pendula from a wide latitudinal range in Europe