Predicting Leaf Trait Variability as a Functional Descriptor of the Effect of Climate Change in Three Perennial Grasses

Abstract

Aims of the study: The most important trends of the current climate variability is the scarcity of rains that affects arid ecosystems. The aim of this study was to explore the variability of leaf functional traits by which grassland species survive and resist drought and to investigate the potential link between resource use efficiency and water scarcity resistance strategies of species. Methods: Three grasses (Cenchrus ciliaris (C4), Stipa parviflora and Stipa lagascae (C3)) were established in a randomized block consisting of eleven replications. The seedlings were kept under increasing levels of water stress. In addition to their functional leaf traits, the rate of water loss and dimensional shrinkage were also measured. Key Results: Thicker and denser leaves, with higher dry matter contents, low specific leaf area and great capacity of water retention are considered among the grasses’ strategies of dehydration avoidance. Significant differences between the means of the functional traits were obtained. Furthermore, strong correlations among leaf traits were also detected (Spearman’s r exceeding 0.8). Conclusions: The results provide evidence that the studied grasses respond differently to drought by exhibiting a range of interspecific functional strategies that may ameliorate the resilience of grassland species communities under extreme drought events.

Leaf traits divergence and correlations of woody plants among the three plant functional types on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

“…The thickness of leaves can help plants avoid damage from strong light and low temperature, and it provided a protective substrate for plants to survive in hostile environment ( Körner et al., 1986 ; Qi et al., 2014 ). Meanwhile, the leaf with higher LDMC had smaller intercellular space and the more gas diffusion resistance from mesophyll cells, these led to lower photosynthetic carbon assimilation capacity ( Hamdani et al., 2019 ; Maccagni and Willi, 2022 ). Furthermore, according to the leaf economic theory, higher LMA indicated that NE plants adopted more conservative survival strategy, while BD plants adopted acquired survival strategy ( Maracahipes et al., 2018 ; Fyllas et al., 2020 ; Rawat et al., 2021 ; Liu et al., 2022a ).…”

Effects of water stress on growth phenology photosynthesis and leaf water potential in Stipagrostis ciliata (Desf.) De Winter in North Africa

“…Perennial grass phenological responses to water deficit have been extensively studied, with a special attention on the growth and biomass accumulation of plants (Anjum et al, 2011;Hamdani et al, 2019;Mnif Fakhfakh et al, 2020). The choice of highly tolerant grass species plays a crucial role in the restoration of degraded ecosystems.…”

Sorghum bicolor prioritizes the recovery of its photosynthetic activity when re‐watered after severe drought stress, while manages to preserve it under elevated CO2 and drought

“…The reason for these rather contradictory results, although unclear, might be found in the different factors that influence drought recovery, including plant species, nutrient availability and drought intensity (Gallé et al 2007). C 4 plants have been reported to have a better response to the soil water stress than C 3 plants, although the majority of the researches including drought recovery in C 4 plants have been focused on grasslands (Hoover et al 2014; Hamdani et al 2019), paying little or no attention to food crops such as sorghum. Likewise, few researchers have addressed the question of knowledge regarding the resilience of C 4 crops to drought in a high CO 2 environment, which will be a determining factor for cultivars during the following years.…”