EFFECTS OF INCREASING WATER OR NUTRIENT SUPPLIES ON REPRODUCTION TRADE-OFFS IN THE NATURAL POPULATIONS OF CLONAL PLANT, HEDYSARUM LAEVE

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2007.0085

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Hedysarum laeve is a rhizomatous perennial semi-shrub, which reproduces both sexually and clonally in natural populations. Study of reproduction trade-off of this species could provide theoretical foundation for the management of natural grassland. The specific goal of this study was to determine if there is a trade-off between sexual and clonal reproduction in H. laeve natural population in response to water and nutrient supplies.
Methods During the growing season of June to September 2005, we conducted two field experiments in Mu-Us Sandland using 1 m×1 m plots. Different amounts of water were added to the plots to imitate 0, 16, 32 and 64 mm of precipitation. Nutrient additions were 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 g. The biomass of H. laeve ramets in each plot was measured in late September 2005.
Important findings Increasing water supply decreased both biomass and biomass allocation to flowers, fruit sets and rhizomes, whereas it increased biomass and biomass allocation to clonal ramet shoots. Within increasing water supply, biomass allocation to sexual reproduction decreased, whereas biomass allocation to clonal reproduction did not change. However, increasing water supply increased biomass allocation to ramet shoots but decreased that to ramet rhizomes. Therefore, increase in water supply inhibited sexual reproduction and thus changed the biomass allocation to clonal reproduction. Increasing nutrient supply increased fruit biomass and decreased biomass of shoots, leaves and rhizomes of clonal ramets, but did not affect biomass of other parts. With increasing nutrient supply, biomass allocation to fruits increased, whereas biomass allocation to leaves and shoots of clonal ramets decreased. Therefore, increase in nutrient supply enhanced sexual reproduction, but reduced clonal reproduction. We conclude that there is a trade-off between the sexual and clonal reproduction in H. laeve population in responses to water and nutrient supplies. The plastic responses of sexual and clonal reproduction of H. laeve populations to environmental factors may be an adaptation to heterogeneous environments.

Key words: Hedysarum laeve, sexual reproduction, clonal reproduction, nutrient, water, biomass allocation

ZHU Ya-Juan, ALATEN Bao, DONG Ming, HUANG Zhen-Yin. EFFECTS OF INCREASING WATER OR NUTRIENT SUPPLIES ON REPRODUCTION TRADE-OFFS IN THE NATURAL POPULATIONS OF CLONAL PLANT, HEDYSARUM LAEVE[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2007, 31(4): 658-664.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2007.0085

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2007/V31/I4/658

Figures/Tables 7

Table 1 The index of biomass measured in the experiments (g)

总生物量 Total biomass	繁殖 Reproduction	有性繁殖 Sexual reproduction	花 Flower 荚果 Fruit
	繁殖 Reproduction	克隆繁殖 Clonal reproduction	叶 Leaf 枝 Shoot 根茎 Rhizome
	生长 Growtd	叶 Leaf 枝 Shoot 根茎 Rhizome

Fig.1 Effects of increasing water supply on biomass (mean±SE) A: 繁殖、生长和总生物量Reproduction, growth and total biomass B: 有性繁殖Sexual reproduction (SR) C: 克隆繁殖Clonal reproduction (CR) D: 生长部分Growth traits of the Hedysarum laeve populations 根据Tukey's检验,各组之内由不同小写字母标记的值之间的差异是显著的(p<0.05)。在样方中,开花和结果的分株为有性繁殖分株,其枝、叶和根茎为生长部分的生物量,花和果实为有性繁殖部分的生物量;未开花的分株为克隆分株,其枝叶和根茎为克隆繁殖的生物量 In each group, bars sharing the same letters are not significantly different (p<0.05) according to Tukey's tests. The ramets with flower or fruit are considered as sexual ramets; their flower and fruit are the biomass of sexual reproduction, and their shoot, leaf and rhizome are the biomass of growth. The ramets without flower or fruit are considered as clonal ramets; their shoot, leaf and rhizome are the biomass of clonal reproduction在生物量的分配比例方面,和对照相比,增加水分对羊柴种群的繁殖,包括有性繁殖和克隆繁殖都产生了显著影响(p<0.05) (表2)。经过增加32和64 mm的水分处理之后,生物量对有性繁殖的分配比例显著减少 (p<0.05);对克隆繁殖的分配比例显著增加(p<0.05);对繁殖部分的总分配(包括有性和克隆繁殖)比例也显著增加 (p<0.05) (表2)。增加32和64 mm水分之后,生物量对花和荚果的分配比例显著减少(p<0.05) (图 2A)。增加水分之后,生物量对克隆分株的叶的分配比例没有显著差异;但是,与对照相比,增加32和64 mm的水分之后,生物量对克隆分株枝的分配显著增加(p<0.05);生物量对克隆分株根茎的分配显著减少(p<0.05) (图2B)。经过不同水平的水分处理之后,生物量对生长部分的叶、枝和根茎的分配比例没有显著差异 (图 2C)。

Table 2 Effects of increasing water supply on biomass allocation (%±SE) to reproduction of the Hedysarum laeve populations

水分Water (mm)	0	16	32	64
有性繁殖Sexual reproduction	3.40±0.52^b	2.50±0.66^b	1.00±0.32^a	1.20±0.20^a
克隆繁殖Clonal reproduction	32.8±1.44^a	33.5±3.66^ab	36.8±2.12^b	39±2.62^b
总繁殖Total reproduction	34.6±1.87^a	31.75±6.14^a	40±2.11^b	39.8±2.89^b

Fig.2 Effects of increasing water supply on biomass allocation (mean±SE) A: 有性繁殖Sexual reproduction B: 克隆繁殖Clonal reproduction C: 生长部分Growth traits of the Hedysarum laeve populations 图注同图1 Notes see Fig. 1

Fig.3 Effects of increasing nutrient supply on the biomass (mean±SE) A: 繁殖、生长和总生物量Reproduction, growth and total biomass B: 有性繁殖Sexual reproduction (SR) C: 克隆繁殖Clonal reproduction (CR) D: 生长部分的生物量Growth of the Hedysarum laeve populations 图注同图1 Notes see Fig. 1

Table 3 Effects of increasing nutrient supply on biomass allocation (%±SE) to reproduction of the Hedysarum laeve populations

养分Nutrient (g)	0	30	60	90	120
有性繁殖Sexual reproduction	3.4±1.0^a	3.6±0.8^a	3.6±0.8^a	3.2±0.8^a	5.0±1.1^b
克隆繁殖Clonal reproduction	32.8±2.9^b	28.8±2.6^b	27.4±3.2^b	26.6±2.6^b	21.2±1.5^a
总繁殖Total reproduction	36.2±1.9^b	34.2±2.5^b	30.8±2.9^b	31.6±2.6^b	26.2±2.0^a

Fig.4 Effects of increasing nutrient supply on biomass allocation (mean±SE) A: 有性繁殖Sexual reproduction B: 克隆繁殖Clonal reproduction C: 生长部分 Growth of the Hedysarum laeve populations 图注同图1 Notes see Fig. 1

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