Clonal integration enhances performance of Cynodon dactylon subjected to submergence

doi:10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.09.008

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Despite extensive studies on effects of clonal integration in the past three decades, little is known about the effects of clonal integration on the performance of waterlogged clonal plants. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that clonal integration could improve performance of Cynodon dactylon, a stoloniferous clonal herb commonly found in riparian areas of reservoirs, under waterlogging stress.

Methods Relatively young apical ramets of C. dactylon clonal fragments were submerged in water at depths of 0 (control), 5 and 15 cm, and their connections to the relatively old basal ramets of the fragments under normal conditions were either severed (preventing clonal integration) or not (allowing integration). Performances of apical ramets, basal ramets and whole fragments were investigated after one month of treatment. Meanwhile, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F_v/F_m, maximum quantum yield of PSII; Yield, effective quantum yield of PSII) were measured.

Important findings Severing the stolon connection significantly decreased the growth of apical ramets under submergence in terms of biomass, total stolon length and number of ramets. Submergence also significantly decreased the growth of apical ramets, but had little effects on basal ramets. Performance of both basal ramets and clonal fragments was enhanced if the basal ramets were connected with the apical ramets subjected to 5 cm depth of submergence. However, stolon severing treatment had little effects on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of both apical ramets and basal ramets. Results indicate that clonal integration increased performance of waterlogged ramets and the growth of non-waterlogged connected ramets. Clonal integration could help C. dactylon resist submergence stress.

Key words: biomass, fluorescence parameters, ramet, stolon severing

ZHANG Xiang-Ying, FAN Da-Yong, XIE Zong-Qiang, XIONG Gao-Ming, LI Zhao-Jia. Clonal integration enhances performance of Cynodon dactylon subjected to submergence[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2010, 34(9): 1075-1083.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.3773/j.issn.1005-264x.2010.09.008

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2010/V34/I9/1075

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Two factorial experimental design with submergence and stolon severing in Cynodon dactylon. There was one clonal fragment of C. dactylon in each box, consisting of two basal ramets grown in the left side and two apical ramets grown in the right side. Stolon connection between basal and apical ramets was either connected (left) or disconnected (right). Apical ramets were submerged into water at a depth of 0 (control), 5 or 15 cm.

Table 1 Results (F value) of two-way ANOVA on the effects of stolon disconnection (D), submergence (S) and their interaction (D × S) on the biomass (BM), total stolon length (SL), erect stem length (EL), number of ramets (NR), number of erect stems (NE) and mean internode length (IL) of the apical, basal ramets and clonal fragments of Cynodon dactylon

变异来源 Source of variation	生物量 BM	匍匐枝长 SL	直立茎长 EL	分枝数 NR	直立茎数 NE	平均节间长 IL
先端分株 Apical ramets
D	15.199^**	16.781^***	1.984^ns	25.651^***	2.021^ns	3.060^ns
S	77.876^***	86.960^***	19.450^***	135.589^***	25.825^***	2.967^ns
D × S	0.143^ns	0.513^ns	0.913^ns	1.189^ns	2.399^ns	1.027^ns
基端分株 Basal ramets
D	2.277^ns	1.861^ns	0.122^ns	0.000^ns	1.327^ns	1.700^ns
S	0.304^ns	0.229^ns	2.171^ns	0.093^ns	2.907^ns	0.240^ns
D × S	0.279^ns	0.677^ns	0.242^ns	2.224^ns	0.650^ns	1.277^ns
克隆片段 Clonal fragment
D	12.509^**	7.917^*	1.195^ns	2.365^ns	3.009^ns	2.810^ns
S	28.595^***	10.493^***	13.444^***	13.930^***	17.862^***	1.220^ns
D × S	0.637^ns	0.920^ns	0.621^ns	2.722^ns	1.295^ns	0.294^ns

Fig. 2 Biomass of the apical ramets (A), basal ramets (B) and clonal fragments (C) of Cynodon dactylon, with the apical ramets submerged in water to a depth of 0, 5 and 15 cm connected to or disconnected from the basal ramets growing in soil (mean ± SE). Different small letters mean significant difference at 0.05 level.

Fig. 3 Total stolon length (A, B, C), erect stem length (D, E, F), number of ramets (G, H, I), number of erect stems (J, K, L) of Cynodon dactylon. The apical ramets submerged in water at a depth of 0, 5 and 15 cm were connected to or disconnected from the basal ramets growing in soil (mean ± SE). Different small letters mean significant difference at 0.05 level.

Fig. 4 Mean internode length of apical ramets (A) and basal ramets (B) of Cynodon dactylon. The apical ramets submerged in water at a depth of 0, 5 and 15 cm were connected to or disconnected from the basal ramets growing in soil (mean ± SE). Different small letters mean significant difference at 0.05 level.

Table 2 Results (F value) of two-way ANOVA on the effects of stolon disconnection (D), submergence (S) and their interaction (D × S) on maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) and effective quantum yield of PSII (Yield) of apical and basal ramets of Cynodon dactylon

变异来源 Source of variation	最大量子产率 F_v/F_m	实际量子产率 Yield
先端分株 Apical ramets
D	0.053^ns	1.426^ns
S	1.371^ns	2.768^ns
D × S	0.776^ns	0.647^ns
基端分株 Basal ramets
D	0.035^ns	0.413^ns
S	3.529^ns	0.620^ns
D × S	1.006^ns	1.473^ns

Fig. 5 Maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) (A, B) and effective quantum yield of PSII (Yield) (C, D) of the apical ramets and basal ramets of Cynodon dactylon. The apical ramets submerged in water at a depth of 0, 5 and 15 cm were connected to or disconnected from the basal ramets growing in soil (mean ± SE). Different small letters mean significant difference at 0.05 level.

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