Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats
This study examined the effects of light intensity on the plasticity of the leaves of <i>Juglans regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i> seedlings in karst habitat and how they respond to changes in light intensity. The light intensity of 1-year-old seedlings of <i>J. regia<...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/81 |
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| author | Deng Wang XiaoLong Huang JingZhong Chen LiXia Li Jing Cheng Shu Wang JiMing Liu |
| author_facet | Deng Wang XiaoLong Huang JingZhong Chen LiXia Li Jing Cheng Shu Wang JiMing Liu |
| author_sort | Deng Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examined the effects of light intensity on the plasticity of the leaves of <i>Juglans regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i> seedlings in karst habitat and how they respond to changes in light intensity. The light intensity of 1-year-old seedlings of <i>J. regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i> in different niches in a karst area was set as 100% (bare land), 75% (forest margin), 50% (forest gap), and 25% (under forest) of natural light. The material harvested after four months was compared to analyze the differences in various morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological characteristics of the leaves of seedlings of <i>J. regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i>, and a comprehensive evaluation of the plasticity indexes was conducted. The results showed that under moderate (50%) full light intensity, the leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf biomass, and chlorophyll content increased, and improved photosynthesis and promoted the accumulation of free proline content and peroxidase (POD) activity. The accumulation of malondialdehyde was also the lowest in this treatment, indicating that the plants had the strongest adaptability under this light intensity. Moreover, under high (75%) full light intensity, the above functional characteristics of plants showed good performance. Under low (25%) full light intensity, plants also had higher specific leaf area, leaf biomass, and photosynthetic parameters. However, under full light, the cell membrane permeability decreased, the chlorophyll accumulation was the lowest, and the photosynthetic index was seriously inhibited. Our results showed that the plasticity of morphological characters was greater than that of biomass allocation and physiological characters; POD activity and stomatal conductance were the highest, followed by leaf area and chlorophyll b, whereas the plasticity of palisade tissue/sponge tissue thickness and lower-epidermis thickness were the lowest. In summary, there are evident differences in the sensitivity and regulation mechanisms of morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological indices of the seedling leaves of <i>J. regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i> in response to light intensity. During the stage of seedling establishment, only the plants in the bare ground under full light can be induced to show obvious inhibition of phenotypic traits. In contrast, the plants in the forest margins and gaps and under the forest habitats under light intensity can regulate their own characteristics to maintain their growth and development. The wide light range and strong plasticity of the species might be two of the important reasons for its existence in a highly heterogeneous karst habitat. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-5c18fcd88d56469580c9e198534e934c2023-12-03T13:02:59ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072021-01-011218110.3390/f12010081Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst HabitatsDeng Wang0XiaoLong Huang1JingZhong Chen2LiXia Li3Jing Cheng4Shu Wang5JiMing Liu6Forest Ecology Research Center, Forestry of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaForest Ecology Research Center, Forestry of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaForest Ecology Research Center, Forestry of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaForest Ecology Research Center, Forestry of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaForest Ecology Research Center, Forestry of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaForest Ecology Research Center, Forestry of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaForest Ecology Research Center, Forestry of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, ChinaThis study examined the effects of light intensity on the plasticity of the leaves of <i>Juglans regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i> seedlings in karst habitat and how they respond to changes in light intensity. The light intensity of 1-year-old seedlings of <i>J. regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i> in different niches in a karst area was set as 100% (bare land), 75% (forest margin), 50% (forest gap), and 25% (under forest) of natural light. The material harvested after four months was compared to analyze the differences in various morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological characteristics of the leaves of seedlings of <i>J. regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i>, and a comprehensive evaluation of the plasticity indexes was conducted. The results showed that under moderate (50%) full light intensity, the leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf biomass, and chlorophyll content increased, and improved photosynthesis and promoted the accumulation of free proline content and peroxidase (POD) activity. The accumulation of malondialdehyde was also the lowest in this treatment, indicating that the plants had the strongest adaptability under this light intensity. Moreover, under high (75%) full light intensity, the above functional characteristics of plants showed good performance. Under low (25%) full light intensity, plants also had higher specific leaf area, leaf biomass, and photosynthetic parameters. However, under full light, the cell membrane permeability decreased, the chlorophyll accumulation was the lowest, and the photosynthetic index was seriously inhibited. Our results showed that the plasticity of morphological characters was greater than that of biomass allocation and physiological characters; POD activity and stomatal conductance were the highest, followed by leaf area and chlorophyll b, whereas the plasticity of palisade tissue/sponge tissue thickness and lower-epidermis thickness were the lowest. In summary, there are evident differences in the sensitivity and regulation mechanisms of morphological characteristics, biomass allocation, and physiological indices of the seedling leaves of <i>J. regia</i> f. <i>luodianense</i> in response to light intensity. During the stage of seedling establishment, only the plants in the bare ground under full light can be induced to show obvious inhibition of phenotypic traits. In contrast, the plants in the forest margins and gaps and under the forest habitats under light intensity can regulate their own characteristics to maintain their growth and development. The wide light range and strong plasticity of the species might be two of the important reasons for its existence in a highly heterogeneous karst habitat.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/81anatomical structureillumination rangemorphological and biomassphysiological indicesunique species of the karst region |
| spellingShingle | Deng Wang XiaoLong Huang JingZhong Chen LiXia Li Jing Cheng Shu Wang JiMing Liu Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats Forests anatomical structure illumination range morphological and biomass physiological indices unique species of the karst region |
| title | Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats |
| title_full | Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats |
| title_fullStr | Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats |
| title_short | Plasticity of Leaf Traits of <i>Juglans regia</i> L. f. <i>luodianense</i> Liu et Xu Seedlings Under Different Light Conditions in Karst Habitats |
| title_sort | plasticity of leaf traits of i juglans regia i l f i luodianense i liu et xu seedlings under different light conditions in karst habitats |
| topic | anatomical structure illumination range morphological and biomass physiological indices unique species of the karst region |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/1/81 |
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