Comparative phenology and growth in different species of the Mediterranean maquis of central Italy

Lillis, M. De; Fontanella, A.

doi:10.1007/978-94-017-2836-2_8

Cited by 42 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…3.0 MPa difference in ψ pd between species during summer drought. However, in contrast with previous studies (Gucci et al 1999, De Lillis andFontanella 1992), both species showed similar Δψ  throughout the seasons. Moreover, although P. latifolia has been reported to maintain large Δψ even in summer (Gucci et al 1999), under our experimental conditions a strong reduction in Δψ  was observed.…”

Section: Plant and Tissue Water Relationscontrasting

confidence: 99%

Contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance in two Mediterranean tree species

Serrano¹,

Peñuelas²

2005

Biologia plant.

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Plant water potential (ψ), its components, and gas exchange data of two Mediterranean co-occurring woody species (Quercus ilex L. and Phillyrea latifolia L.) were measured in response to seasonal changes in water availability over two consecutive years. The relative contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance was assessed through Principal Component Analyses. There were large adjustments in stomatal conductance (~36 % of accounted variance). Net photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency were closely tuned to water availability and accounted for ~17 % of variance. The slope of the water potential vs. relative water content (dψ/dRWC 0 ) below zero pressure potential increased as a result of seasonal and ontogenic increases in apoplastic water fraction and accounted for ~20 % variance. This tolerance mechanism was accompanied by an increased range of positive pressure potential, suggesting a functional role of sclerophylly in these Mediterranean evergreens. Similarly, changes in the slope of dψ/dRWC in the range of positive pressure potential (~13 % of accounted variance) were associated to variations in cell wall elasticity and resulted in lower RWC at zero pressure potential. When considering the species studied separately, the results indicated the primary role of stomatal regulation in the drought resistance of Q. ilex, while increased apoplastic water fraction had a major contribution in the drought resistance of P. latifolia.Additional key words: drought stress, Phillyrea latifolia, net photosynthetic rate, plant and tissue-water relations, Quercus ilex, stomatal conductance, water potential.

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Section: Plant and Tissue Water Relationscontrasting

confidence: 99%

Contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance in two Mediterranean tree species

Serrano¹,

Peñuelas²

2005

Biologia plant.

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“…It can therefore be considered as a drought-tolerant Mediterranean species that continues its growth, albeit reduced, during the dry season (Specht, 1981;de Lillis and Fontanella, 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A dendrochronological analysis of Pinus pinea L. on the Italian mid-Tyrrhenian coast

et al. 2012

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Abstract:In order to assess the response of the radial growth of Pinus pinea L. to climatic variability in Central Italy, dendrochronological and dendroclimatological analyses were carried out on five different populations scattered along the Tyrrhenian coasts of the peninsula. The aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the ecological demands of this species, particularly in the study area. For each site total ring, early-, and late-wood width chronologies were developed. Multidimensional analyses were performed for the three tree-ring datasets in order to analyze the relations between sites chronologies. Both Principal Component Analyses and hierarchical classifications highlighted an important difference of one site in respect to the other, probably due to site characteristics. Correlation functions were performed to infer the main climatic factors controlling the radial growth of the species. For a comparative study, we limited our attention to the common interval 1926-2003 (78 years) in which the response of the tree-ring chronologies to climate at both local and regional scale was investigated. Positive moisture balance in the late spring-summer period of the year of growth is the climatic driver of P. pinea radial growth in the study area. Moreover, this study shows how low summer temperatures strongly favor the radial growth of the species.

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“…The ability of Ruscus species to survive very strong combinations of shade and drought in the field and in experiments (Sack et al 2003b;Sack 2004) makes it a model for such dual adaptation. However, the species have received little detailed study, and previous work has emphasised its adaptation via phenology (de Lillis and Fontanella 1992;Martínez-Pallé and Aronne 1999), high biomass allocation to roots, and its apparent conservative resource use (Sack et al 2003b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making the best of the worst of times: traits underlying combined shade and drought tolerance of Ruscus aculeatus and Ruscus microglossum (Asparagaceae)

Pivovaroff

Sharifi²,

Scoffoni³

et al. 2014

Functional Plant Biol.

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Abstract. The genus Ruscus (Asparagaceae) consists of evergreen, woody monocot shrubs with modified photosynthetic stems (phylloclades) that occur in dry, shaded woodland areas of the Mediterranean Basin and southern Europe. The combined drought and shade tolerance of Ruscus species challenges the 'trade-off model', which suggests that plants can be either drought or shade adapted, but not both. To clarify the potential mechanisms that enable Ruscus species to survive in shaded environments prone to pronounced soil drought, we studied form-function relations based on a detailed trait survey for Ruscus aculeatus L. and Ruscus microglossum Bertol., focusing on gas exchange, hydraulics, morphology, anatomy, and nutrient and isotope composition. We then compared these trait values with published data for other species. R. aculeatus and R. microglossum exhibited numerous traits conferring drought and shade tolerance via reduced demand for resources in general and an ability to survive on stored water. Specific traits include thick phylloclades with low rates of maximum photosynthetic CO 2 assimilation, low stomatal conductance to water vapour (g s ), low respiration rate, low light compensation point, low shoot hydraulic conductance, low cuticular conductance, and substantial water storage tissue. Ruscus carbon isotope composition values of -33 ‰ were typical of an understory plant, but given the low g s could be associated with internal CO 2 recycling. Ruscus appears to be a model for extreme dual adaptation, both physiologically and morphologically, enabling its occupation of shaded sites within drought prone regions across a wide geographical range, including extremely low resource understory sites.

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Comparative phenology and growth in different species of the Mediterranean maquis of central Italy

Cited by 42 publications

References 17 publications

Contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance in two Mediterranean tree species

Contribution of physiological and morphological adjustments to drought resistance in two Mediterranean tree species

A dendrochronological analysis of Pinus pinea L. on the Italian mid-Tyrrhenian coast

Making the best of the worst of times: traits underlying combined shade and drought tolerance of Ruscus aculeatus and Ruscus microglossum (Asparagaceae)

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