Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery
Recent climatic changes have resulted in an increased frequency and prolonged periods of drought and strained water resources affecting plant production. We explored the possibility of reducing irrigation in a container nursery and studied the growth responses of seedlings of four economically impor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/9/1011 |
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| author | Piotr Robakowski Tomasz P. Wyka Wojciech Kowalkowski Władysław Barzdajn Emilia Pers-Kamczyc Artur Jankowski Barbara Politycka |
| author_facet | Piotr Robakowski Tomasz P. Wyka Wojciech Kowalkowski Władysław Barzdajn Emilia Pers-Kamczyc Artur Jankowski Barbara Politycka |
| author_sort | Piotr Robakowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Recent climatic changes have resulted in an increased frequency and prolonged periods of drought and strained water resources affecting plant production. We explored the possibility of reducing irrigation in a container nursery and studied the growth responses of seedlings of four economically important forest trees: broadleaf deciduous angiosperms <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> L., <i>Quercus petraea</i> (Matt.) Liebl., and evergreen conifers <i>Abies alba</i> Mill. and <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L. We also studied markers of water stress including modifications of biomass allocation, leaf anatomy, proline accumulation, and expression of selected genes. Growth of the broadleaved deciduous species was more sensitive to the reduced water supply than that of conifers. Remarkably, growth of the shade tolerant <i>Abies</i> was not affected. Adjustment of biomass allocations was strongest in <i>P. sylvestris</i>, with a remarkable increase in allocation to roots. In response to water deficit both deciduous species accumulated proline in leaves and produced leaves with shorter palisade cells, reduced vascular tissues, and smaller conduit diameters. These responses did not occur in conifers. Relative transcript abundance of a gene encoding the Zn-finger protein in <i>Q</i>. <i>petraea</i> and a gene encoding the pore calcium channel protein 1 in <i>A</i>. <i>alba</i> increased as water deficit increased. Our study shows major differences between functional groups in response to irrigation, with seedlings of evergreen conifers having higher tolerance than the deciduous species. This suggests that major water savings could be achieved by adjusting irrigation regime to functional group or species requirements. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:11:39Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:11:39Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-75bdd24335b2411e8bc3078d22eac16d2023-11-20T14:26:17ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072020-09-01119101110.3390/f11091011Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container NurseryPiotr Robakowski0Tomasz P. Wyka1Wojciech Kowalkowski2Władysław Barzdajn3Emilia Pers-Kamczyc4Artur Jankowski5Barbara Politycka6Faculty of Forestry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71E, 60-625 Poznań, PolandGeneral Botany Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, PolandFaculty of Forestry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71E, 60-625 Poznań, PolandFaculty of Forestry, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71E, 60-625 Poznań, PolandInstitute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, PolandGeneral Botany Laboratory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614 Poznań, PolandDepartment of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 35, 60-625 Poznań, PolandRecent climatic changes have resulted in an increased frequency and prolonged periods of drought and strained water resources affecting plant production. We explored the possibility of reducing irrigation in a container nursery and studied the growth responses of seedlings of four economically important forest trees: broadleaf deciduous angiosperms <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> L., <i>Quercus petraea</i> (Matt.) Liebl., and evergreen conifers <i>Abies alba</i> Mill. and <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> L. We also studied markers of water stress including modifications of biomass allocation, leaf anatomy, proline accumulation, and expression of selected genes. Growth of the broadleaved deciduous species was more sensitive to the reduced water supply than that of conifers. Remarkably, growth of the shade tolerant <i>Abies</i> was not affected. Adjustment of biomass allocations was strongest in <i>P. sylvestris</i>, with a remarkable increase in allocation to roots. In response to water deficit both deciduous species accumulated proline in leaves and produced leaves with shorter palisade cells, reduced vascular tissues, and smaller conduit diameters. These responses did not occur in conifers. Relative transcript abundance of a gene encoding the Zn-finger protein in <i>Q</i>. <i>petraea</i> and a gene encoding the pore calcium channel protein 1 in <i>A</i>. <i>alba</i> increased as water deficit increased. Our study shows major differences between functional groups in response to irrigation, with seedlings of evergreen conifers having higher tolerance than the deciduous species. This suggests that major water savings could be achieved by adjusting irrigation regime to functional group or species requirements.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/9/1011biomass allocationdroughtirrigationleaf anatomymRNA levelproline |
| spellingShingle | Piotr Robakowski Tomasz P. Wyka Wojciech Kowalkowski Władysław Barzdajn Emilia Pers-Kamczyc Artur Jankowski Barbara Politycka Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery Forests biomass allocation drought irrigation leaf anatomy mRNA level proline |
| title | Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery |
| title_full | Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery |
| title_fullStr | Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery |
| title_short | Practical Implications of Different Phenotypic and Molecular Responses of Evergreen Conifer and Broadleaf Deciduous Forest Tree Species to Regulated Water Deficit in a Container Nursery |
| title_sort | practical implications of different phenotypic and molecular responses of evergreen conifer and broadleaf deciduous forest tree species to regulated water deficit in a container nursery |
| topic | biomass allocation drought irrigation leaf anatomy mRNA level proline |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/11/9/1011 |
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