Seasonal dynamics of radial growth of Betula platyphylla and its response to environmental factors in Changbai Mountains

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2023.0144

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Betula platyphylla, as a typical pioneer tree species in temperate secondary forests, has important significance in forest growth research.

Methods In this study, microcoring method was used to continuously monitor the seasonal dynamics of radial growth of B. platyphylla in Changbai Mountains during two growing seasons (2020-2021), and the relationship between radial growth and environmental factors was analyzed.

Important findings The results indicated that the cambium of B. platyphylla became active in mid to late May, with June and July being the periods of rapid growth, and the lignification ended in late September. The increase of temperature in early spring in 2021 led to an early onset of cambial activity, but there was no significant difference in the time of radial growth cessation between the two years. During the rapid growth period, the radial growth rate of B. platyphylla showed a significant positive correlation with mean air temperature, minimum air temperature, relative air humidity and soil temperature, while it exhibited a significant negative correlation with the saturation vapor pressure deficit. During the slow growth period, the radial growth rate showed a significant positive correlation only with the minimum air temperature and soil temperature. In the drier year, the decrease of soil water content significantly inhibited radial growth of B. platyphylla. Temperature was the main factor affecting intra-annual radial growth. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for the sustainable management of B. platyphylla forests.

Key words: Betula platyphylla, microcoring, temperature, cambium, xylem

QIAN Ni-Peng, GAO Hao-Xin, SONG Chao-Jie, DONG Chun-Chao, LIU Qi-Jing. Seasonal dynamics of radial growth of Betula platyphylla and its response to environmental factors in Changbai Mountains[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2024, 48(8): 1001-1010.

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URL: https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/10.17521/cjpe.2023.0144

https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2024/V48/I8/1001

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 Seasonal climate variation characteristics of natural secondary Betula platyphylla forest on the north slope of Changbai Mountains. PAR, photosynthetically active radiation; Pre, precipitation; RH, relative air humidity; SWC, soil water content; Tmax, maximum air temperature; Tmean, mean air temperature; Tmin, minimum air temperature; Ts, soil temperature; VPD, vapor pressure deficit.

Fig. 2 Changes of cambium cell in different differentiation stages during xylem formation of Betula platyphylla. The points represent the average cell width of 4 sampled trees on the corresponding date, and the shaded areas represent the standard deviation.

Table 1 Seasonal characteristics of radial growth of Betula platyphylla in 2020 and 2021(mean ± SD)

年份 Year	增大阶段 Enlargement		细胞分裂持续时间(天) Duration of cell division (d)	壁增厚阶段 Wall-thickening		成熟阶段 Lignification		生长季持续时间(天) Duration of growing season (d)
年份 Year	开始 Onset (DOY)	结束 End (DOY)	细胞分裂持续时间(天) Duration of cell division (d)	开始 Onset (DOY)	结束 End (DOY)	开始 Onset (DOY)	结束 End (DOY)	生长季持续时间(天) Duration of growing season (d)
2020	143 ± 3	255 ± 3	113 ± 4	150 ± 2	260 ± 3	171 ± 4	265 ± 3	123 ± 4
2021	138 ± 2	254 ± 3	117 ± 4	140 ± 4	259 ± 4	163 ± 3	264 ± 4	128 ± 3

Fig. 3 Seasonal patterns of xylem growth in Betula platyphylla. The points represent the total length of radial growth of the sampled tree of Betula platyphylla (including enlarging, wall-thickening and mature cells). Curves in A and B represent the Gompertz fitting curve of the sampled trees; and curves in C and D represent the corresponding daily growth rate.

Table 2 Parameter characteristics of Gompertz function fitting for each sampled tree of Betula platyphylla

年份 Year	样树 Sampled tree	A	β	k	R²	R_max(μm·d^-1)	R_mean(μm·d^-1)	t_p (d)
2020	1	876.29	4.87	0.025	0.95	8.23	5.02	191
	2	1 314.61	8.09	0.043	0.90	20.97	12.79	186
	3	308.11	9.65	0.056	0.85	6.41	3.91	170
	4	1 814.03	7.03	0.039	0.91	25.80	15.73	182
2021	1	1 400.39	10.39	0.061	0.84	31.33	19.11	171
	2	2 095.70	6.76	0.038	0.92	29.12	17.75	178
	3	1 156.22	12.53	0.076	0.96	32.38	19.74	164
	4	2 303.34	5.24	0.029	0.96	24.22	14.77	184

Fig. 4 Pearson correlation between radial growth rate of Betula platyphylla and climatic factors. PAR, photosynthetically active radiation; Pre, precipitation; RH, relative air humidity; SWC, soil water content; Tmax, maximum air temperature; Tmean, mean air temperature; Tmin, minimum air temperature; Ts, soil temperature; VPD, vapor pressure deficit. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01.

Fig. 5 Principal component (PC) analysis of radial growth rate of Betula platyphylla and climatic factors during rapid (A) and slow (B) growth periods. PAR, photosynthetically active radiation; Pre, precipitation; RH, relative air humidity; RGR, radial growth rate; SWC, soil water content; Tmax, maximum air temperature; Tmean, mean air temperature; Tmin, minimum air temperature; Ts, soil temperature; VPD, vapor pressure deficit.

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