Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation Understory
<i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) is an economic tree species and one of the four largest oil plants in the world. The leaf and twig responses and plasticity indices of <i>C. oleifera</i> were investigated under four light regimes in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> understo...
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/918 |
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| author | Yaqin Zhang Qiqiang Guo Siqiong Luo Jinwen Pan Shan Yao Chao Gao Youyan Guo Gang Wang |
| author_facet | Yaqin Zhang Qiqiang Guo Siqiong Luo Jinwen Pan Shan Yao Chao Gao Youyan Guo Gang Wang |
| author_sort | Yaqin Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) is an economic tree species and one of the four largest oil plants in the world. The leaf and twig responses and plasticity indices of <i>C. oleifera</i> were investigated under four light regimes in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> understory plantations, namely, 100% light intensity (CK), 75% of CK (HL), 50% of CK (ML), and 30% of CK (LL). The morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological characteristics of <i>C. oleifera</i> leaves and twigs under different light regimes, as well as their plasticity indexes, were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that leaf area, and specific leaf area, leaf total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chlorophyll contents, and photosynthesis increased, which indicates that plants have the strongest adaptability under HL. No fruit appeared in twigs under LL and ML. The plastic morphological traits were greater than the biomass allocation and physiological traits. The plasticity of palisade/sponge tissue thickness and lower epidermis thickness were the lowest. In conclusion, <i>C. oleifera</i> have differences in sensitivity and regulation mechanism according to their differences in leaf morphological characteristics, biomass allocation physiological indicators, and response to light regimes. <i>C. oleifera</i> plants showed obvious phenotypic inhibition under CK, while they can adjust their strategies for using light energy to maintain their own growth and development under HL. The wide range of light adaptation and strong plasticity of <i>C. oleifera</i> may be two important reasons for its existence in heterogeneous habitats, but it needs at least 75% light regimes to complete its normal growth development and fruit setting. The study provides insights into the optimum light regimes for the improvement of the quality and efficiency of <i>C. oleifera</i> in <i>P. massoniana</i> understory plantations. |
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| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-3af06afa9b064c0ab187f671d672fc9c2023-11-23T16:41:19ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-06-0113691810.3390/f13060918Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation UnderstoryYaqin Zhang0Qiqiang Guo1Siqiong Luo2Jinwen Pan3Shan Yao4Chao Gao5Youyan Guo6Gang Wang7Institute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaInstitute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaInstitute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaInstitute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaInstitute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaInstitute for Forest Resources and Environment of Guizhou, Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain of Guizhou Province, College of Forestry, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaRural Revitalization Research Institute, Hexi College, Zhangye 734000, ChinaGuizhou Academy of Forestry, Guiyang 550005, China<i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) is an economic tree species and one of the four largest oil plants in the world. The leaf and twig responses and plasticity indices of <i>C. oleifera</i> were investigated under four light regimes in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> understory plantations, namely, 100% light intensity (CK), 75% of CK (HL), 50% of CK (ML), and 30% of CK (LL). The morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological characteristics of <i>C. oleifera</i> leaves and twigs under different light regimes, as well as their plasticity indexes, were comprehensively evaluated. The results showed that leaf area, and specific leaf area, leaf total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chlorophyll contents, and photosynthesis increased, which indicates that plants have the strongest adaptability under HL. No fruit appeared in twigs under LL and ML. The plastic morphological traits were greater than the biomass allocation and physiological traits. The plasticity of palisade/sponge tissue thickness and lower epidermis thickness were the lowest. In conclusion, <i>C. oleifera</i> have differences in sensitivity and regulation mechanism according to their differences in leaf morphological characteristics, biomass allocation physiological indicators, and response to light regimes. <i>C. oleifera</i> plants showed obvious phenotypic inhibition under CK, while they can adjust their strategies for using light energy to maintain their own growth and development under HL. The wide range of light adaptation and strong plasticity of <i>C. oleifera</i> may be two important reasons for its existence in heterogeneous habitats, but it needs at least 75% light regimes to complete its normal growth development and fruit setting. The study provides insights into the optimum light regimes for the improvement of the quality and efficiency of <i>C. oleifera</i> in <i>P. massoniana</i> understory plantations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/918<i>Camellia oleifera</i>light regimesleaf and twigs traitsphenotypic plasticityecological adaptation strategy |
| spellingShingle | Yaqin Zhang Qiqiang Guo Siqiong Luo Jinwen Pan Shan Yao Chao Gao Youyan Guo Gang Wang Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation Understory Forests <i>Camellia oleifera</i> light regimes leaf and twigs traits phenotypic plasticity ecological adaptation strategy |
| title | Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation Understory |
| title_full | Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation Understory |
| title_fullStr | Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation Understory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation Understory |
| title_short | Light Regimes Regulate Leaf and Twigs Traits of <i>Camellia oleifera</i> (Abel) in <i>Pinus massoniana</i> Plantation Understory |
| title_sort | light regimes regulate leaf and twigs traits of i camellia oleifera i abel in i pinus massoniana i plantation understory |
| topic | <i>Camellia oleifera</i> light regimes leaf and twigs traits phenotypic plasticity ecological adaptation strategy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/6/918 |
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