Impact of habitat variability on growth dynamics of Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. along an altitudinal gradient in Kashmir Himalaya

Abstract

Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. is an important medicinal plant of the Himalayan region. Phenotypic attributes of a particular plant species varies along different altitudes in order to adapt and to overcome the changeable and stressful conditions. A number of environmental factors such as mean temperature, precipitation, soil characteristics, radiation intensity etc. changes with altitudinal gradient and thereby affect the morphological pattern of a plant species. The present study was undertaken to reveal the impact of the elevational gradient and habitat variability on the morphological features of the selected species. Under different environmental conditions the species exhibited enormous variability in its phenotypic traits. The plants were shorter at high altitude site, Gulmarg while the plants of low altitude site, Kashmir University Botanical Garden (KUBG) were taller and more vigorous. A significant decrease in the plant height, inflorescence length, leaf length, leaf breadth and petiole length occurred with increasing altitude. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the habitat of KUBG and Ferozpora (Tangmarg) proved relatively better for the growth of B. ciliata. The regression analysis revealed positive correlation between plant height and traits like inflorescence length, leaf length, leaf number and thus predicting a direct impact of plant height on other traits. Our findings present a comprehensive account on the variability of phenotypic characteristics, in relation to the environmental conditions of this valuable medicinal plant species.

Growth dynamics and Resource allocation of Bistorta amplexicaulis (D. Don) Greene: an alteration across different habitats and altitudes

“…Which ultimately results in an overall decrease in plant size. This reverse relationship between plant height and increasing altitude, as an adaptation has already been reported by various workers [21][22][23][24]. Apart from the severe conditions, plants growing at high altitudes have shorter growing seasons, which are less tall compared to plants at lower altitudes, where the growth period is relatively longer [25,26].…”

Phenotypic Variability and Resource Allocation in Kashmir Sage (Phlomis cashmeriana Royle ex Benth.) in relation to Different Habitats and Altitudes

“…During the current study, it is observed that there is a discrete as well as directional vogue towards morphology, structural design, and characters associated with fitness among different surveyed populations of P. cashmeriana thriving at various altitudinal ranges. Noteworthy variability in phenotypic characters was documented and a general trend [25] being one of the distinguished phenomena towards plant adaptation at increasing altitudes.…”

Impact of Habitat Variability on Phenotypic Traits and Seed Germination Performance of Euphorbia helioscopia L.; a Case Study from the Kashmir Himalaya, India

“…Elevational gradients thus provide an appropriate scenario to study these responses and important characteristics that are required for the proper functioning of plants in varying habitats [2]. The study of seed germination methods and seed dormancy are important in understanding survival, regeneration, plant community establishment, and adaptations of plants to changing climatic conditions [3][4][5][6][7]. The association between plant regeneration from seeds and climate has resulted in the evolution of distinct germination needs across species [8], and this, in turn, plays a critical role in establishing vegetation type and plant distribution [9].…”