Genetic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity in Plantago major ssp major. I. The effect of differences in level of irradiance on growth, photosynthesis, respiration and chlorophyll content

Abstract

Growth, root respiration, photosynthesis, dark respiration, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll alb ratio were followed in two genotypes of Plantago major L. ssp major L., originating from an exposed and a shaded habitat, respectively, at two levels of irradiance. In addition, responses of these processes to a transfer of plants from one light condition to the other were studied. Genetic differentiation between the two genotypes was reflected in growth rate, photosynthetic activity, dark respiration and chlorophyll content. Individuals of the genotype originating from a shaded habitat were less inhibited by low irradiance: growth was less depressed at low irradiance, while the genotype of the exposed habitat seemed to be more restricted to exposed conditions. The adaptive plastic response of growth and physiological parameters upon an alteration in irradiance was very small. The shoot to root ratio was a stable plant characteristic in these experiments. Plants of both genotypes were probably damaged after a transfer from the low to the high level of irradiance; the growth of these plants was not stimulated by high irradiance, and the photosynthetic activity was even decreased. Plants, which were transferred to the low level of irradiance, showed an immediate effect of the change and no adaptive response was observed. Obviously, the ability to perform adaptive plastic responses, which was demonstrated in the non‐transferred plants after pretreatment, had been lost during the experiment and was confined to the seedling stage of individuals of the two genotypes.

Influence of light intensity on the distribution of carbon and consequent effects on mineralization of soil nitrogen in a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)-soil system

“…These results are in accordance with earlier studies on several plant species (Corr6, 1983;Lambers and Posthumus, 1980). There were, however, no significant differences in shoot-to-root ratio between the high-and low-I treatments in this study, in agreement with the findings of Kuiper and Smid (1985). On the other hand, there are frequent reports of this ratio increasing in response to a decrease in light intensity (i.e.…”

Shade responses of five grasses native to southwestern U.S. <i>Pinus ponderosa</i> forests

“…This result is consistent with numerous studies documenting that species successful in shaded conditions experience a lower decrease in photosynthetic capacity per leaf area under shade than species that are most successful in sunny enviroments (Pons 1977;Bazzaz and Carlson 1982;Ward and Woolhouse 1986;Smith and Martin 1987;Sims and Pearcy 1989). This trend has also been shown for A area (Ashton and Berlyn 1992;Holmes and Cowling 1993;Walters et al 1993), and A mass (Kuiper and Smid 1985;Walters et al 1993) for shade species.…”

Variable effects on growth and defense traits for plant ecotypic differentiation and phenotypic plasticity along elevation gradients

“…P. major also produce notable amounts of secondary metabolites belonging to the class of cyclopentanoid monoterpenes, namely iridoid glycosides (IGs) and caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycosides (CPGs) (Pankoke, Buschmann, & Müller, ), which act as herbivore deterrents against generalist chewing insect (Fuchs & Bowers, ). IGs and CPGs display a relatively high degree of variation across plant tissues depending on plant population, plant phenology and environmental factors (Barton, ; Bowers & Stamp, ; Darrow & Bowers, ; Darrow & Deane Bowers, ; Miehe‐Steier, Roscher, Reichelt, Gershenzon, & Unsicker, ; Pellissier et al, ), and their production have been shown to display plasticity (Bowers & Stamp, ; Kuiper & Smid, ; Lotz & Blom, ).…”

“…P. major can cover a very wide elevation range: from the sea level to alpine ecosystems up to 3,000 meters above sea level (Ren, Wang, Chen, & Zhu, 1999). P. major also produce notable amounts of secondary metabolites belonging to the class of cyclopentanoid monoterpenes, namely iridoid glycosides (IGs) and caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycosides (CPGs) (Pankoke, Buschmann, & Müller, 2013), which act as herbivore deterrents against generalist chewing insect (Fuchs & Bowers, 2004 Pellissier et al, 2014), and their production have been shown to display plasticity (Bowers & Stamp, 1992;Kuiper & Smid, 1985;Lotz & Blom, 1986).…”