Plant–water relationships and growth strategies of Jatropha curcas L. seedlings under different levels of drought stress

Although Jatropha curcas, an important tropical biofuel crop, is reputed for its drought resistance, its ability to perform under dry conditions has hardly been investigated. In a greenhouse experiment we investigated the plant–water relationships of Jatropha seedlings from different accessions under different levels of drought stress. There was little difference in plant–water relations between accessions. Drought significantly reduced leaf area, biomass and relative growth rate, but had no effect on specific leaf area, daily range in leaf water potential, leaf water content, transpiration efficiency or aboveground biomass water productivity, corrected for atmospheric conditions. Stem wood density was equally low (0.26 g cm^?3) for all treatments. Stem water content was lowest for dry treatment seedlings. Based on these results, Jatropha could be characterized as a stem-succulent tree. In contrast to other stem-succulent deciduous trees, leaves were not shed immediately after the seedlings were confronted with drought. Instead, at the onset of drought, leaves with a higher adaxial stomatal density were formed, after which leaves were only gradually shed. The role of the succulent stem in the water economy of Jatropha was confined to balancing the small water losses of the leaves during drought.     

Reproductive phenology of Isolatocereus dumortieri (Cactaceae) in semiarid scrub in central Mexico: Effect of rain during the dry season

The giant cactus Isolatocereus dumortieri is a dominant species of the semiarid scrub of central Mexico. Its reproductive period is during the dry season, and it produces essential resources (pollen, nectar and fruits) for a great variety of animal species. We related the production of reproductive structures with water variables in the soil–plant system. The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the consequences of a change in rainfall pattern on the phenology of I. dumortieri. We watered some plants in the dry season to simulate heavy rain events, and to test the hypothesis that water availability during the reproductive season has a negative effect on fruiting and a positive effect on vegetative growth. The seasonality of rain events caused variations in soil water potential and plant osmotic potential, and we found that both variables influenced fruit production. The regression models relating the number of fruits with soil water potential, rainfall and osmotic potential were significant for all three study periods. The highest production of reproductive structures occurred in the driest year (2009), during which there was an ENSO event. Watering did not have a significant effect on osmotic potential or growth in the cacti. However, the watering × time interaction had a negative effect on the number of immature fruits. That is, at the end of the experiment, the plants that received the most water showed a decrease in the number of fruits. Plant growth during the rainy period was significantly greater than during the dry period. The results support the hypothesis that a change in rainfall pattern during the dry season has an effect on fruit production. Vegetative growth, however, occurred only during the wet season.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in Solanum centrale (bush tomato), a perennial sub-shrub from the arid zone of Australia

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi convey well documented benefits to plant growth in domesticated species. We investigated AM in Solanum centrale, a desert shrub of central Australia and traditional food for Indigenous Australians. AM were observed in roots of S. centrale from wild and cultivated stands of different ages and management regimes. Greenhouse seedlings grown in sterilised sand were provided with no or minor additions of phosphorus, with or without AM fungi. Inoculated seedlings not fertilised with phosphorus exhibited moderate AM formation. Added phosphorus resulted in an absence of AM. Inoculation did not significantly affect dry weight, root length and plant height of seedlings fertilised with phosphorus but significantly increased the size of unfertilised seedlings. Inoculation significantly increased root phosphorus content, decreased root to shoot ratio and decreased root biomass at all phosphorus additions, despite the absence of observable AM. Thus it appears AM fungi in the root zone influenced certain plant characteristics, regardless of phosphorus nutrition. Overall, S. centrale benefited from the presence of AM through increased phosphorus uptake, but only when the seedlings were growing in soil with extremely low available phosphorus. The response was immediate in our experimental system and is likely to be important in the wild.     

Effects of soil nitrogen:phosphorus ratio on growth rate of Artemisia ordosica seedlings

To address how the ratios of nitrogen and phosphorus (N:P ratios) in soil affect plant growth, we performed a two-factor (soil available N:P ratios and plant density) randomized block pot experiment to examine the relationships between soil N:P ratios, and the N:P ratios and growth rate of Artemisia ordosica seedlings. Under moderate water stress and adequate nutrient status, both soil N:P and plant density influenced the N:P ratios and growth rates of A. ordosica. With the increase of soil N:P ratios, the growth rates of A. ordosica seedlings decreased significantly. With the increase of soil N:P ratios, N:P ratios in A. ordosica seedlings increased significantly. While the nitrogen concentrations in the plant increased slightly, the phosphorus concentrations significantly decreased. With the increase of plant density, the shoot N:P ratios and growth rates significantly decreased, which resulted from soil N:P ratios. Thus, soil N:P ratios influenced the N:P ratios in A. ordosica seedlings, and hence, influenced its growth. Our results suggest that, under adequate nutrient environment, soil N:P ratios can be a limiting factor for plant growth.     

Groundwater use by native plants in response to changes in precipitation in an intermountain basin

Many arid basins in western North America are likely to experience future changes in precipitation timing and amount. Where shallow water tables occur, plant acquisition of groundwater and soil water may be influenced by growing season precipitation. We conducted a rainfall manipulation experiment to investigate responses of four common native plant species to ambient, increased, and decreased summer monsoon rainfall. We measured plant xylem pressure potentials (Ψ) and stable oxygen isotope signatures (δ¹⁸O) to assess effects of altered precipitation on plant water relations and water acquisition patterns. Reduced rainfall decreased Ψ more in the grasses Sporobolus airoides and Distichlis spicata than the more deeply rooted shrubs Sarcobatus vermiculatus and Ericameria nauseosa. E. nauseosa had little response to natural or experimental differences in available soil water. Plant xylem water δ¹⁸O indicated that S. airoides and D. spicata are almost entirely dependent on rain-recharged soil water, while E. nauseosa is almost entirely groundwater-dependent. Sarcobatus vermiculatus used groundwater during dry periods, but utilized precipitation from soil layers after large rainfall events. Persistent changes in precipitation patterns could cause shifts in plant community composition that may alter basin-scale groundwater consumption by native plants, affecting water availability for human and ecosystem uses.     

Disentangling Fabiana imbricata (Solanaceae) regeneration: The importance of disturbance and rainfall

In Mediterranean ecosystems, fire influences plant population dynamics and changes plant community structure by affecting germination and establishment of seeder shrubs. Fabiana imbricata is a long-lived seeder shrub with a broad distribution in South America. In Northwestern Patagonia grasslands there are many records of F. imbricata recruitment after fires. We hypothesized that recruitment is promoted by: 1) soil erosion that exposes deeply buried seeds; 2) direct fire effects such as heat that could break seed dormancy; 3) indirect fire effects (i.e. increase of light availability and elimination of allelopathic substances) and 4) water availability in spring. In field conditions, we tested the effects of shading and soil disturbance on F. imbricata recruitment and seed availability and distribution in the soil profile. Under controlled conditions, we investigated the influence of leaf leachate, light, heat and water on seed germination and seedling emergence. Seed germination was inhibited by leachate, and seedling emergence was inhibited by seed heated to 80 °C and 120° for 5 min. F. imbricata seedlings only emerged in germination treatments that simulated wet and very wet spring conditions. Fire and postfire wind that favor seed exposure, combined with high precipitation early in the growing season, would be necessary for successful shrub recruitment. When F. imbricata shrubland colonizes the grassland, it strongly modifies local vegetation structure, reduces species richness and increases fuel loads. F. imbricata is a key species in the ecosystem specially related to fire regime. Information on the postfire regeneration of this species would provide valuable knowledge of the changes in biomass accumulation in a fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystem.     

Mechanical shaking and soil water affect the growth of Psammochloa villosa in the Mu Us Sandland

The Mu Us Sandland is basically characterized by water shortage and high wind. Thus, wind-induced mechanical perturbation (MP) and soil water availability are likely to interact to affect plant growth. Since high water availability and MP can induce responses that are in the opposite direction, we hypothesized that MP effects on perennial grasses might be mitigated by increased soil water availability in the Mu Us Sandland. We counducted an experiment in which seedlings of Psammochloa villosa were subjected to two levels of MP (non-MP vs. MP 1 min d⁻¹) and two levels of water availability (200 ml d⁻¹vs. 400 ml d⁻¹) and measured three plant traits. MP significantly decreased plant height, total biomass, and root/shoot ratio. There were significant interactions between MP and soil water availability on plant height and root/shoot ratio. These findings imply that MP alone is a stressful factor for P. villosa and MP effects on its growth can be partially mitigated by increased soil water availability, and also suggest that P. villosa may respond to MP in a way that allows plants to survive in the windy semiarid environments.     

Grazing as a driver for Populus euphratica woodland degradation in the semi-arid Aibi Hu region, northwestern China

The endangered river plain woodlands of semi-arid Central Asia provide numerous ecosystem services. Previous studies have focused mainly on changes in water supply and salinity as the underlying mechanisms of Populus euphratica woodland’s decline. We tested whether vegetative regeneration of P. euphratica serves as an alternative pathway to propagation from seeds for reproduction in a degraded tree steppe in northwestern China and whether this method also works on grazed sites. We measured the effects of different grazing pressures on tree growth, survival, and vegetative regeneration. When subjected to high or moderate grazing pressure, P. euphratica populations failed to regenerate vegetatively, indicating recruitment limitation. A 25% increase of grazing pressure decreased the ramet density to 50% and the ramet height to 25%, as well as reducing the average age of ramets to one year. As overgrazing seriously limits the potential of natural recovery of P. euphratica a balance between livestock grazing and the regeneration of the Tugai forests is needed to sustain positive effects of increasing water tables and floods on tree vitality and regeneration. To restore population structure, and to support early vegetative regeneration long-term livestock management interventions to exclude livestock from degraded and recovered land need to be developed.     

Changes in rainfall amount and frequency do not affect the outcome of the interaction between the shrub Retama sphaerocarpa and its neighbouring grasses in two semiarid communities

We evaluated the net outcome of the interaction between the shrub Retama sphaerocarpa, our target plant, and different herbaceous neighbours in response to changes in the magnitude and frequency of rainfall events during three years. The experiment was conducted in natural and anthropogenic grasslands dominated by a perennial stress-tolerator and ruderal annual species, respectively. In spite of the neutral or positive effects of neighbours on water availability, neighbouring plants reduced the performance of Retama juveniles, suggesting competition for resources other than water. The negative effects of grasses on the photochemical efficiency of Retama juveniles decreased with higher water availabilities or heavier irrigation pulses, depending on the grassland studied; however, these effects did not extent to the survival and growth of Retama juveniles. Our findings show the prevalence of competitive interactions among the studied plants, regardless of the water availability and its temporal pattern. These results suggest that positive interactions may not prevail under harsher conditions when shade-intolerant species are involved. This study could be used to further refine our predictions of how plant–plant interactions will respond to changes in rainfall, either natural or increased by the ongoing climatic change, in ecosystems where grass–shrubs interactions are prevalent.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘头状沙拐枣幼苗生长和生物量分配对不同灌溉量的响应

水是荒漠生态系统中首要限制因子。由于水分限制程度不同,植物幼苗在生长过程中表现出不同的适应策略。在塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘的沙漠-绿洲过渡带,设计了0 mm（处理A）、100 mm（处理B）、200 mm（处理C）3种不同的灌溉量,对头状沙拐枣幼苗生长和生物量分配展开实验性研究。结果表明:①处理A比处理B和处理C地下生物量均有所增加;不同灌溉条件下,头状沙拐枣幼苗的根冠比均小于1,随灌溉量的减少头状沙拐枣幼苗的根冠比从0.19增加到0.32;即头状沙拐枣通过改变根系生物量分配适应水分条件变化。②随灌溉量的减少, 头状沙拐枣幼苗主根垂直深度和水平根幅均呈增加趋势。处理A时,头状沙拐枣幼苗根系深度达180 cm以上,处理B和C的根系深度均低于160 cm,表明头状沙拐枣幼苗通过根系的伸长生长来适应水分减少。③在生长过程中,头状沙拐枣通过老同化枝枯落适应土壤水分减少。④株高和冠幅随着灌溉量增加呈先增加后减小趋势,基径随着灌溉量的增加而增加,地上生长指标在不同处理间均无显著差异。     

人为干扰对尼泊尔中部丘陵森林物种多样性、更新和碳密度的影响

全球近四分之三的森林正在遭受人为干扰,尼泊尔三分之二以上的森林受到不同类型的干扰。在社区森林中,当地社区在生计的各个方面都依赖于森林提供的生态系统服务,这些服务以各种方式干扰森林的自然条件和生态系统的功能。本研究在尼泊尔中部丘陵区的两个社区管理森林中,研究了对植物物种多样性、更新(幼苗和树苗)、生物量、土壤有机碳(SOC)和总碳密度的主要干扰因子。以树桩数、断苗、砍伐和放牧践踏作为主要人为干扰的衡量指标,从89个随机选取的250 m2的样地中收集了必要的数据,利用广义线性模型(GLM)对人为干扰的响应进行了分析。结果表明,森林砍伐对生物量和总碳密度平衡的影响最大。森林砍伐程度越高,森林碳储量越低。SOC对上述类型的人为干扰均无显著反应。木本物种丰富度和幼树数量随着树桩数量的增加而增加,说明中间干扰是有益的。然而,较高的砍伐强度降低了幼树密度。放牧/践踏是抑制幼苗生长的最显著干扰,在践踏强度较高的森林地区,幼苗和树苗数量较少。这些结果将为尼泊尔多目标森林管理以及如何降低其他地区类似社会经济环境中的人为干扰的影响提供指南。     

Monitoring deforestation with MODIS Active Fires in Neotropical dry forests: An analysis of local-scale assessments in Mexico,Brazil and Bolivia

The detection of vegetation fires using remote sensing has proven useful for highlighting areas undergoing rapid conversion in humid forests, but not in tropical dry forest (TDF). To further understand this relationship, we explored the correlation between MODIS Active Fires and forest cover change at local scales using 3 × 3 km sampling grids in three TDF landscapes in Bolivia; Mexico, and Brazil. Our analysis showed no single overall correlation among sites between the frequency of fires reported by the MODIS Active Fire Mapping product and forest cover change. Also, aggregated patterns of fire occurrence in Brazil and Bolivia did not correspond to areas with high percentage of forest loss, which indicates that the fire/deforestation relationship in TDF is not apparent in a simple fire frequency map. However, statistically significant correlations were found in sampling boxes with 50–60%, 50–70%, 50–95% forest cover at “initial state” of the time series in the Mexican site, Bolivian site and Brazilian site, respectively. Our findings suggest that complex interactions between anthropogenic fire-use, satellite-detected fires, and deforestation in highly fragmented TDF landscapes are difficult to describe at regional scales and might only be possible to analyze using finer resolution sampling grids.     

Winter establishment of the alien annual Schismus barbatus is not affected by insect herbivory in Northern-Central Monte Desert

We studied the effect of ant herbivory on the establishment and survival of the annual plant Schismus barbatus. We hypothesized that ants may control this species when biomass of native plants is generally low during their vegetative period. We predicted that ant herbivory will decrease plant survival and reproduction. We tested our prediction with an insect exclosure experiment in a sandy desert of Northern-Central Monte.We found more than 12 000 established seedlings per square meter on early May, after two consecutive rain pulses of ca. 20 mm each. Overall, we found that almost 75% of recruited plants survived by the end of the cool season (September), and that 22–24% of the initially established plants survived as mature reproductive plants by the end of the growing season (December). Contrary to our expectation, insect herbivory did not affect plant establishment, plant survival or the proportion of flowering and fruiting individuals of S. barbatus.The large number of seedlings reported, the ability to exploit a temporal window free of plant competitors and enemies, and the availability of microsites where this species can succeed, all suggest that S. barbatus may have the potential to become an important plant invader in the Monte Desert.     

Optimising seed broadcasting and greenstock planting for restoration in the Australian arid zone

Vegetation within some parts of Western Australia has been degraded by resource extraction, and ecological restoration is necessary to prevent erosion and reinstate plant biodiversity. Two restoration approaches, seed broadcasting and planting of seedlings, were tested with plant species (Acacia tetragonophylla F. Muell., Atriplex bunburyana F. Muell. and Solanum orbiculatum Poir.) known to have been dominant prior to mining activities in the World Heritage Area at Shark Bay. For broadcast seeding, soil raking and/or ripping increased seedling emergence, but only after sufficient rainfall. Survival of A. bunburyana seedlings (≤92%) was higher than A. tetragonophylla (≤13%) almost two years after planting and soil ripping partly alleviated soil impedance and resulted in increased seedling survival. Shoot pruning, fertiliser and moisture retaining gel had a reduced or detrimental effect on survival. Seedling survival differed between the three experimental sites, with electrical conductivity being the most noted soil difference between the sites. Restoration in the arid environs of the World Heritage Area at Shark Bay in Western Australia is challenging, but this study shows that seedling establishment is technically feasible and provides methodology useful to other arid restoration projects.     

Piospheres in the dry Chaco. Contrasting effects of livestock puestos on forest vegetation and bird communities

In arid and semiarid ecosystems, the congregation of livestock around water sources gives rise to a utilization gradient termed the “piosphere pattern”. We evaluated piospheres surrounding the puestos livestock management system in the Chaco dry forests of Argentina. We sampled vegetation and bird communities around eighteen puestos and we fitted curves to describe the responses of vegetation and bird community variables to the distance from the puestos. We used Partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis to evaluate the organization of bird guilds constrained by vegetation variables and the distance from the puestos. Vegetation structure increased with the distance from the puestos. In contrast, the abundance of most bird's guilds decreased with distance from the puestos, likely in response to the gradient in resources associated to the water source, food and changes in vegetation. Rare or low abundance bird species peaked at intermediate or long distances from the puestos. Our results concur with studies characterizing the puestos as a focus of vegetation degradation, but the analysis of the avian community shows that the nature of this piosphere is more complex, as is a favorable habitat for some ecological groups.     

Water relations,growth, and leaf gas exchange as affected by water stress in Jatropha curcas

Here we examined the response mechanisms and the strategies adopted to cope with drought stress in Jatropha curcas L. Response mechanisms to water stress were explored in three different accessions (from Brazil, Tanzania and Suriname) of J. curcas in terms of water and osmotic relations, gas exchange, PSII photochemistry, and growth performances. Plants were exposed to 18 days of water stress (irrigation was kept at 20% of water holding capacity) followed by 13 days of relief from stress. J. curcas withstands drought stress with a drought-avoidance mechanism through a water saving strategy. These responses include selective abscission of leaves, and marked decreases in net photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency. This allows plants to maintain an “above-lethal” water potential during stress, and to recover net assimilation rate promptly when water availability to the roots is resumed. The Suriname accession displayed greater reductions in net photosynthesis, maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry (F_v/F_m), total leaf area and plant dry weight, as compared with both Tanzania and, particularly, the Brazil accession, during drought stress. Impairment of PSII photochemistry was also observed in the Suriname accession at the end of the relief period. Water-stressed J. curcas, irrespective of seed source, was capable to recover net photosynthesis to the level of the well watered counterparts by the end of the relief period. Our data allow to conclude that J. curcas may survive to drought spells of moderate intensities but, at the same time pose serious concerns for its profitable cultivation in arid/semi-arid regions worldwide.     

Effects of land conversion on the regeneration of Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum and its consequences on the population dynamics in northwestern Mexico

Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum is a columnar cactus currently threatened by the conversion of natural vegetation to buffelgrass pasture (Pennisetum ciliare) in Sonora, Mexico. However, knowledge about its population dynamics is extremely poor, particularly in response to disturbance caused by pasture conversion. We set up experiments to evaluate seed removal, germination, seedling survival and compared demographic patterns on permanent plots from natural vegetation and pasture. Our experiments on regeneration show that seedlings were unable to establish in pasture because of high levels of mortality due to soil drying and cattle trampling. The population growth rate (λ) was 1.060 and 1.086 for the 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 periods, respectively, in the native thornscrub vegetation. The slight increase in λ in 2007–2008 was a result of increased fecundity and seedling survival. The highest elasticity values correspond to the survival of large/old individuals. Using the average of both matrices, we obtained a mean matrix to perform numerical analyses simulating demographic variation to project the population behavior under buffelgrass pasture conditions. The numerical simulations suggest a decreasing population only when adult survival probabilities were affected. Given these limitations for population growth, our data suggest that adult populations that persist on pastures will be driven into local extinction.     

Non-stochastic colonization by pioneer plants after deglaciation in a polar oasis of the Canadian High Arctic

Initial plant colonization is critical in determining subsequent ecosystem development. In a High-Arctic oasis showing atypical “directional primary succession”, we quantified the microhabitat characteristics associated with colonization by pioneer vascular plants of a bare moraine. The study moraine, formed during the Little Ice Age, is located within the proglacial area at the southern front of Arklio Glacier, Ellesmere Island, Canada. We established two line-transects on this moraine to quantify microhabitats for vascular species. Microsites favorable for plants were concave depressions, probably increasing the likelihood of colonization. At microsites distant from stable boulders, which probably protect seeds/seedlings from wind desiccation, plant colonization was less likely. Furthermore, favorable microhabitat properties differed depending on topographical location within the moraine, suggesting that, even within a single moraine, microhabitats favorable for plant colonization are heterogeneously-distributed. This moraine was characterized by two major pioneer species, Epilobium latifolium and Salix arctica. Their species-specific microhabitat requirements highlight the importance of biotic factors in colonization processes. Favorable sites for plants are generally distributed at random in harsh environments. However, we showed that initial plant colonization is a deterministic process rather than random, indicating the possibility of non-stochastic processes even during the early phase of ecosystem development in High-Arctic ecosystems.     

NaCl stimulates growth and alleviates water stress in the xerophyte Zygophyllum xanthoxylum

Zygophyllum xanthoxylum is a succulent xerophyte that is recognized as one of the most drought-resistant plants found to date. Our previous investigations have shown that the strong drought resistance of Z. xanthoxylum might be related to the accumulation the Na⁺ in the leaves. In this study, we further investigated the effects of NaCl on the growth and drought resistance of Z. xanthoxylum under water stress. We found that 50 mM NaCl resulted in optimal plant growth and alleviated the deleterious impacts on leaf growth of different osmotic stress levels induced by PEG 6000. The positive effects of NaCl on the drought resistance of Z. xanthoxylum were also further confirmed by soil culture experiments. Ion analysis showed that the Na⁺ absorption of Z. xanthoxylum was specifically induced by water stress in a non-saline medium and that the addition of 50 mM NaCl increased the leaf Na⁺ concentration under water stress. These findings suggest that the positive roles of NaCl in the drought resistance of Z. xanthoxylum might be due to the ability of the plant to accumulate high concentrations of Na⁺ in the leaves and use the Na⁺ as an osmoregulator to cope with water stress.     

More than biofuel? Jatropha curcas root system symmetry and potential for soil erosion control

One of the reasons why Jatropha curcas has recently been hailed as one of the world’s most sustainable biofuel crops, is its suitability to grow on arid land where it offers the additional benefit of erosion control. As arid lands are often very vulnerable to land use changes, it is nevertheless important to fully understand (belowground) plant functional and structural development before they are planted at large scale. Here we introduce possible measurement methods for the root system structure of J. curcas seedlings and adult plants, formulate a set of hypotheses on root system structure, and demonstrate these in the light of root structure stability. Initially developing one taproot and four perpendicularly oriented laterals, the root structure of Jatropha appears to be quite promising to control soil erosion by water and wind on arid land. The lateral roots could decrease soil erodibility through additional soil cohesion, while the taproot and sinkers may enable exploitation of subsurface soil moisture and thus enhance vegetative cover, even in very dry environments.