Fixed allocation patterns, rather than plasticity, benefit recruitment and recovery from drought in seedlings of a desert shrub

Abstract

Plant morphological traits respond to drought in a rather flexible way; however, there is recent evidence of exceptions. In our study, the morphological traits of seedlings of a desert shrub were examined under drought, and we found that this species has an ‘intrinsic habit’ of investing preferentially in the roots, irrespective of drought. What is more, this inflexibility promotes its physiological recovery after drought and makes it survive in the severe desert environment. That is to say, persistence will pay off.

Data_Sheet_1.docx

“…The results showed that both H. ammodendron and H. persicum preferred to adopt allometric patterns under various terrain conditions, as the allometric indices between H and R, and H and D were all greater than 1 (Tables 2, 3), which suggested that the relative growth rate of the canopy radius and basal diameter both surpassed that of plant height. Previous drought treatment study has shown that between above-and belowground, H. ammdendron preferentially allocated biomass to the below-ground part (namely roots) along a fixed allometric trajectory, which could benefit the survival and the post-drought recovery of the plants (Zhang et al, 2016). The current study further revealed that H. ammodendron also adopted a special allometric strategy for above-ground parts: to allocate more resources to horizontal expansion rather than vertical growth.…”

Differences in Allometric Relationship of Two Dominant Woody Species Among Various Terrains in a Desert Region of Central Asia

“…The results showed that both H. ammodendron and H. persicum preferred to adopt allometric patterns under various terrain conditions, as the allometric indices between H and R, and H and D were all greater than 1 ( Tables 2 , 3 ), which suggested that the relative growth rate of the canopy radius and basal diameter both surpassed that of plant height. Previous drought treatment study has shown that between above- and below-ground, H. ammdendron preferentially allocated biomass to the below-ground part (namely roots) along a fixed allometric trajectory, which could benefit the survival and the post-drought recovery of the plants ( Zhang et al, 2016 ). The current study further revealed that H. ammodendron also adopted a special allometric strategy for above-ground parts: to allocate more resources to horizontal expansion rather than vertical growth.…”

Growth and survival of Grindelia covasii A. Bartoli & Tortosa seedlings under water stress

“…Además, las plántulas de G. covasii mostraron la capacidad de generar nuevas hojas cuando la disponibilidad de agua se reestablece al final del período de estrés, como ha sido observado también por Zollinger et al (2006) en Gai llardia aristata. La capacidad de recupe rarse rápidamente cuando el agua está disponible nueva mente es una estrate gia importante de las especies perennes para sobrevivir a la sequía (Zhang et al, 2016). Ambos meca nismos reflejan la adaptación de G. co vassi a las condicio nes ambientales que se darían a nivel del microhábitat durante la primaveraverano, con períodos de es trés hídrico severo como consecuencia de la alta evapotrans piración que alternan con momentos de mayor humedad edá fica después de las precipitaciones.…”