Changes of phenological sequence of Potentilla saundersiana and its frost resistance under the scenarios of warming and increasing precipitation

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2023.0178

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Qingzang Plateau is experiencing rapid climate change, including warming, wetting and frequent extreme weather events, however, we know less about the effects of these climate changes on alpine plants.

Methods We observed six phenological sequences of Potentilla saundersiana under simulating multi-level warming and precipitation changes, in 2016 through 2018. Then, by simulating seven different extreme cooling extents, we determined the frost resistance of P. saundersiana, and calculated its safety margin in the growing seasons during the experiment period.

Important findings Warming (1 °C and 2 °C) and precipitation increase (50%) had limited effects on the phenological sequences of P. saundersiana. But when temperature increased by 4 °C, first leafing day was significantly delayed, while first flowering day was significantly advanced. The frost resistance (LT₅₀) of P. saundersiana was (-4.76 ± 4.28) °C, and the safety margin against frost damage was negative in 34% of months of the growing season during 2011-2022, and most of them occurred in May and September, indicating high risk of extreme frost in the early and late growing season. These results revealed the effects of multi-level warming and increased precipitation on the phenological sequences of P. saundersiana, clarified the resistance of P. saundersiana to extreme cooling events, and provide insight into predicting the response of alpine plants to climate change in the future on the Qingzang Plateau.

Key words: multi-amplitude warming, phenological sequence, extreme cooling event, frost resistance, safety margin

SUONAN Ji, LI Bo-Wen, LÜ Wang-Wang, WANG Wen-Ying, LA Ben, LU Xu-Wei, SONGZHA Cuo, CHEN Cheng-Hao, MIAO Qi, SUN Fang-Hui, WANG Shi-Ping. Changes of phenological sequence of Potentilla saundersiana and its frost resistance under the scenarios of warming and increasing precipitation[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2024, 48(2): 158-170.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2023.0178

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2024/V48/I2/158

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Effects of simulated warming and precipitation gradient on soil temperature (A) and soil water content (B) (mean ± SE). AP, ambient precipitation; IP, increased precipitation by 50%. W0, W1, W2 and W4 represent ambient temperature, warming by 1, 2 and 4 °C, respectively. Different uppercase letters indicate significant differences between the two levels of ambient precipitation and increased precipitation 50% under the same warming treatment (p < 0.05), and different lowercase letters indicate significant differences between different warming gradients under the same precipitation treatment (p < 0.05).

Fig. 2 Effects of simulated warming and precipitation on the phenological sequences of Potentilla saundersiana (mean ± SE). AP, ambient precipitation; IP, increased precipitation 50%. W0, W1, W2 and W4 represent ambient temperature, warming by 1, 2 and 4 °C, respectively. A positive value indicates later phenology than the control; a negative value indicates earlier phenology than the control. Different uppercase letters indicate significant differences between the two levels of ambient precipitation and increased precipitation 50% under the same warming treatment (p < 0.05), and different lowercase letters indicate significant differences between different warming gradients under the same precipitation treatment (p < 0.05). CLC, complete leaf coloring day; EFL, first leafing day; FBS, first budding setting day; FF, first flowering day; FFS, first fruit setting day; PFV, post-fruit vegetative day.

Fig. 3 Effects of simulated warming and precipitation gradient on the phenological durations of Potentilla saundersiana (mean ± SE). AP, ambient precipitation; IP, increased precipitation by 50%. W0, W1, W2 and W4 represent ambient temperature, warming by 1, 2 and 4 °C, respectively. In A-C, a positive value indicates longer duration than the control; a negative value indicates shorter duration than the control. Different uppercase letters indicate significant differences between the two levels of ambient precipitation and increased precipitation 50% under the same warming treatment (p < 0.05), and different lowercase letters indicate significant differences between different warming gradients under the same precipitation treatment (p < 0.05). DRP, duration of reproductive phase; DVP, duration of vegetative phase; TAD, total active duration.

Table 1 Effects of warming, precipitation changes and their interaction on the phenological sequences and durations of Potentilla saundersiana

物候期 Phenology	增温 Warming (W)	增水 Increasing precipitation (IP)	增温×增水 W × IP
返青期 EFL	3.52^*	2.93	0.30
现蕾期 FBS	1.04	0.18	0.80
初花期 FF	5.43^**	0.41	0.35
初果期 FFS	0.96	4.43^*	0.24
果后营养期 PFV	0.36	0.04	0.90
完全枯黄期 CLC	2.11	0.98	0.60
营养持续期 DVP	0.57	0.00	1.43
繁殖持续期 DRP	0.64	0.17	0.99
生长持续期 TAD	1.48	3.45	0.30
繁殖期占比 Ratio	2.00	0.71	1.69

Fig. 4 Correlation between the phenological sequences of Potentilla saundersiana. CLC, complete leaf coloring day; DRP, duration of reproductive phase; DVP, duration of vegetative phase; EFL, first leafing day; FBS, first budding setting day; FF, first flowering day; FFS, first fruit setting day; PFV, post-fruit vegetative day; Ratio, ratio of DRP and TAD; TAD, total active duration. The correlation coefficients are shown, with blue indicating positive correlation, red indicating negative correlation; darker colors indicating greater correlation, and lighter colors indicate weaker correlation. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.001.

Table 2 Frost resistance of Potentilla saundersiana and logistic equation fitted with relative conductivity

重复 Replicate	半致死温度LT₅₀	Logistic方程 Logistic equation	R²
1	-7.772	y = 100/(1 + 1.726e^-0.070^t)	0.984
2	-8.844	y = 100/(1 + 3.134e^-0.128^t)	0.990
3	-2.243	y = 100/(1 + 1.1324e^-0.055^t)	0.824
4	-0.611	y = 100/(1 + 1.072e^-0.114^t)	0.695

Fig. 5 Safety margin of Potentilla saundersiana during 2011-2022. A positive safety margin indicates safety and a negative value shows potential frost damage. Data of May to August of 2011 was missing.

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