Growth and Partitioning

Abstract

Innate growth potential and innate patterns of allocation to different plant parts are both subject to physiological limitations. Yet the ways in which these attributes not only vary between species but also exhibit plasticity in response to environmental change are important determinants of ecological behaviour and contribute strands to Plant Strategy Theory. In this paper, we review the evidence for innate variation in growth potential and partitioning and consider the implications of this variation for the development of high-level ecological syntheses.

Effects of light acclimation on the photosynthesis, growth, and biomass allocation in American chestnut (Castanea dentata) seedlings

“…One-way analysis of variance followed by Bonferroni's multiple comparison was also used to test the difference in physiological variables (A net , transpiration, g s , WUE, and percent leaf light absorption) and biomass measurements (TB, RW, LW, SW, SLA, RSR, LAR, LARr, LWR and LWRr). Previous studies have raised caution about comparing allometric relationships of plants of different size (e.g., Hunt and Lloyd, 1987;Rice and Bazzaz, 1989), but introducing seedling size (biomass) as a covariate in comparing RSR, LAR, LARr, LWR, and LWRr did not alter our results. All statistical analyses and graphics were conducted using SYSTAT (SYSTAT Software Inc., Richmond, CA).…”

Temporal differentiation in maximum biomass and nutrient accumulation rates in two coexisting annual plant species

“…These differences do not arise directly from inherent differences in nutrient uptake; it is rather the response of plants to environmental factors (soil moisture, nutrient Table 2 F values from three-way ANOVA for the timing of the maximum rates in the four characteristics (productivity and rates of N, P, and K accumulation in above-ground biomass) of the two species in the two years. Error d. availability, rainfall, temperature, light intention), which permit them to partition these resources (Hunt and Lloyd, 1987). Plant requirements for nutrients increased with increasing light and temperature during the spring, but decreased at the end of spring as a result of a drought stress in Mediterranean areas.…”

Partitioning the Components of Relative Growth Rate: How Important Is Plant Size Variation?

“…The size dependency of these variables means that comparisons among species must again be carried out with care (Evans 1972;Hunt 1982;Hunt and Lloyd 1987;Coleman et al 1994). Coleman et al (1994) clearly demonstrate the need to control for plant size (ontogenetic drift) when comparing experimental treatments that influence growth.…”