Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate Change
Six perennial herbs (<i>Plantago asiatica</i>, <i>Polygonum viviparum</i>, <i>Anaphalis lactea</i>, <i>Kobresia humilis</i>, <i>Leontopodium nanum</i> and <i>Potentilla chinensis</i>) widely distributed in alpine meadows were re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/1/120 |
| _version_ | 1827667875055271936 |
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| author | Luhua Yao Dengke Wang Dangjun Wang Shixiong Li Youjun Chen Yanjun Guo |
| author_facet | Luhua Yao Dengke Wang Dangjun Wang Shixiong Li Youjun Chen Yanjun Guo |
| author_sort | Luhua Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Six perennial herbs (<i>Plantago asiatica</i>, <i>Polygonum viviparum</i>, <i>Anaphalis lactea</i>, <i>Kobresia humilis</i>, <i>Leontopodium nanum</i> and <i>Potentilla chinensis</i>) widely distributed in alpine meadows were reciprocally transplanted at two sites in eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Hongyuan (3434 m, 2.97 °C, 911 mm) and Qilian (3701 m, 2.52 °C, 472 mm), aiming to evaluate the responses of alpine plants to changing environments. When plants were transplanted from Hongyuan to Qilian, most plant species showed a decrease of total wax coverage in first year and reverse trend was observed for some plant species in second year. However, when plants were transplanted from Qilian to Hongyuan, the response of total wax coverage differed greatly between plant species. When compared with those in first year, plasticity index of average chain length of alkane decreased whereas carbon preference index of alkane increased at both Hongyuan and Qilian in second year. The total wax coverage differed between local and transplanted plants, suggesting both environmental and genetic factors controlled the wax depositions. Structural equation modeling indicated that co-variations existed between leaf cuticular waxes and leaf functional traits. These results suggest that alpine herbs adjust both wax depositions and chain length distributions to adapt to changing environment, showing climate adaptations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:26:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bae002ce62b14f258af3336305698565 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:26:22Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-bae002ce62b14f258af33363056985652023-11-23T12:07:59ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472021-12-0111112010.3390/plants11010120Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate ChangeLuhua Yao0Dengke Wang1Dangjun Wang2Shixiong Li3Youjun Chen4Yanjun Guo5College of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaCollege of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, ChinaCollege of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400716, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Xining 810016, ChinaInstitute of Qinghai Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCollege of Grassland Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaSix perennial herbs (<i>Plantago asiatica</i>, <i>Polygonum viviparum</i>, <i>Anaphalis lactea</i>, <i>Kobresia humilis</i>, <i>Leontopodium nanum</i> and <i>Potentilla chinensis</i>) widely distributed in alpine meadows were reciprocally transplanted at two sites in eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Hongyuan (3434 m, 2.97 °C, 911 mm) and Qilian (3701 m, 2.52 °C, 472 mm), aiming to evaluate the responses of alpine plants to changing environments. When plants were transplanted from Hongyuan to Qilian, most plant species showed a decrease of total wax coverage in first year and reverse trend was observed for some plant species in second year. However, when plants were transplanted from Qilian to Hongyuan, the response of total wax coverage differed greatly between plant species. When compared with those in first year, plasticity index of average chain length of alkane decreased whereas carbon preference index of alkane increased at both Hongyuan and Qilian in second year. The total wax coverage differed between local and transplanted plants, suggesting both environmental and genetic factors controlled the wax depositions. Structural equation modeling indicated that co-variations existed between leaf cuticular waxes and leaf functional traits. These results suggest that alpine herbs adjust both wax depositions and chain length distributions to adapt to changing environment, showing climate adaptations.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/1/120adaptationalpine meadow plantsclimate changecuticular waxesphenotypic plasticity |
| spellingShingle | Luhua Yao Dengke Wang Dangjun Wang Shixiong Li Youjun Chen Yanjun Guo Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate Change Plants adaptation alpine meadow plants climate change cuticular waxes phenotypic plasticity |
| title | Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate Change |
| title_full | Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate Change |
| title_fullStr | Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate Change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate Change |
| title_short | Phenotypic Plasticity and Local Adaptation of Leaf Cuticular Waxes Favor Perennial Alpine Herbs under Climate Change |
| title_sort | phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation of leaf cuticular waxes favor perennial alpine herbs under climate change |
| topic | adaptation alpine meadow plants climate change cuticular waxes phenotypic plasticity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/1/120 |
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