Abstract: Aims The bamboo Fargesia denudata is one of the Giant Panda’s main food sources and also affects the structure and dynamics of Giant panda habitat in the subalpine coniferous forests of southwestern China. Bamboos are thought to influence forest regeneration by suppressing tree recruitment. Our objectives were to examine the clonal plastic response of F. denudata by studying (1) biomass allocation and clonal morphological plasticity under different canopy conditions and (2) environmental conditions most conducive for growth and survival.
Methods In September 2007 and July–August 2008, we measured population density, biomass of ramets and modules, and clonal morphological features of F. denudata in four canopy conditions, i.e., forest understory (Fu), small gap (Sg), middle gap (Mg), and large gap (Lg), in an Abies faxoniana forest in Wanglang National Nature Reserve in northwestern Sichuan, China. The data were analyzed statistically by One-Way ANOVA using SPSS13.0.
Important findings The biomass, height, and basal diameter of ramets and biomass of modules were highest in the Sg canopy condition. With the increase of canopy cover, there were increases in biomass allocation to leaves, specific leaf area and percentage of branching and decreases in biomass allocation to roots and number of roots. Specific stem length and specific rhizome length were significantly lowest in the Sg canopy condition. Branching intensity of rhizomes was significantly higher in Sg and Mg. These results indicated that biomass allocation and morphological features of F. denudata are significantly different under different canopy conditions, for efficient utilization of light. Sg is the most suitable canopy condition for growth of F. denudata.