Shoot population dynamics of persisting clones of Miscanthus sinensis in the warm-temperate region of Japan

Abstract

The population dynamics of annual shoots in four clonal patches of Miscanthus sinensis was surveyed in terms of clone persistence. Over a study period of 3 years, a stable net shoot number was attained through a balanced replacement of old shoots by tillering 2-3 times a year. The birth rate was significantly correlated with the average monthly temperature. This suggests that a warm climate advances the date of tillerings, and shoots become taller as they emerge earlier. Five cohorts were identified, corresponding to shoots that were born in spring, early summer, summer, autumn and early winter. The autumn cohorts were more numerous and had a greater longevity than the other cohorts; they were thus were best suited for overwintering and, consequently, maintaining the population from one generation to the next. The shoots of earlier cohorts grew too tall to survive the cold of winter, which might cause freezing injury, while later cohorts' shoots excelled in overwintering because of their shortness. However, if the delayed shoots are very short, they will also have difficulty in surviving the early season of growth. Therefore, M. sinensis shoots have an optimum size for survival.

Acidophilic Green Alga Pseudochlorella sp. YKT1 Accumulates High Amount of Lipid Droplets under a Nitrogen-Depleted Condition at a Low-pH

“…Fallen leaves with attached algae were collected from acid mine drainage (pH 2.13, 14.5°C) in Nagano Prefecture, Japan; the detailed place is shown in [18]. Sampling field is located in national forest and park of Japan, and we collected samples with administrators in HOKUSHIN forest office that is responsible for management of the forest.…”

Miscanthus Sinensis is as Efficient as Miscanthus × Giganteus for Nitrogen Recycling in Spite of Smaller N Fluxes

“…Moreover, these stay-green shoots exhibit re-growth at the time of the emergence of new buds, and may provide photo-assimilates at an early stage. The emission of the shoots of the different cohorts is known to be dependent on climatic conditions and particularly temperature [26]. Indeed, spring was warmer in 2017 than in 2016 (the mean temperature over May-June was 17.0°C in 2017 and 15.4°C in 2016) but late summer was cooler (the mean temperature in August-September was 16.5 and 18.5°C respectively).…”

“…Finally, sowing non-invasive triploids Msin seeds in comparison with planting rhizomes or plantlets of the sterile M×g [20] can reduce crop establishment costs. Furthermore, M×g and Msin show differences in their growth dynamic: while M×g provides a unique cohort of functional shoots at the beginning of the growing season, Msin multiplies periods of shoot emission throughout the growing season [26][27] and a part of the latest shoots emitted stays green during winter whereas all M×g shoots are senesced.…”