Phenotypic Plasticity in Turkish Commelina communis L.(Commelinaceae) Populations (original) (raw)

Vegetative morphology and trait correlations in 54 species of Commelinaceae

The morphospace of 54 species of Commelinaceae from nine genera was examined with simultaneous attention to constraints, adaptive hypotheses and relatedness. Eleven morphological traits, including leaf length and width, angle between the leaves and internode distances, were measured for each species and analysed by principal components analysis and nested analysis of variance. The results revealed a significant signal of relatedness in vegetative morphology; genus explained 20-50% of the variance in a single trait. The relationships between some traits are consistent with adaptive explanations. The findings are consistent with the prediction that evolution for optimal phyllotaxis should be relaxed as self-shading decreases, and that light availability governs leaf size and branching patterns. Constraints potentially explain some trait correlations, and support was found for the hypothesis that structural constraints govern leaf size and internode size correlations.

The Effects of Elevation on the Morpho-Anatomical and Ecological Traits in Cyclamen coum subsp. coum Mill. Populations in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey in Contrasting Habitats

Polish Journal of Ecology, 2017

The differences in morpho-anatomical, ecological and biochemical traits of Cyclamen coum subsp. coum, threatened plant listed in CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora) have been investigated in the central Black Sea region of Turkey in the context of its distribution at different altitudes. We found that shoot length, bulb width, leaf width and length, number of branches and flowers were significantly different along elevation gradient, whereas length of tubers, number of living and dead leaves, number of nodes, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf mass area (LMA) values, did not differ significantly, PCA analysis revealed that leaf length and width, the number of branches, soil organic matter content and available potassium concentration and N concentrations of above and belowground parts and reproductive effort (RE3) played significant role in differentiation of the studied populations, while several other studied factor were found not significant. The reproductive effort of individuals from the sea level was higher. We suggest that significant differences in the studied traits may indicate the ecotypic differentiation among populations.

SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF PUNICA GRANATUM L. COENOPOPULATIONS IN THE CONDITIONS OF NORTHERN AZERBAIJAN

Plant and Fungal Research, 2019

The results of studying the spatial structure, ontogenetic state, morphometric and coenotic parameters of 14 coenopopulations of wild pomegranate growing in different regions of Azerbaijan are presented. Abiotic and biotic factors that could affect the variability of the phytocenotic composition, ontogenetic state, morphological parameters, and density of coenopopulations of this species were shown. Our studies showed that the studied coenopopulations belong to normal mature coenopopulations, where the individuals of the generative period constitute the maximum (51%). The content of the postgenerative fraction is small (3.98%). The ontogenetic spectra of CPs I, III, VII, VIII, XI and XIV are right-handed, CPs II, V, X, XII - bimodal, CPs IV, VI, IX, XIII - left-handed. Age (∆) of the studied coenopopulations has a strong distribution amplitude from 0.22 (CP II) to 0.62 (CP XIV), efficiency indices range from 0.24 (CP II) to 0.67 (CP XIV). According to the “delta omega” criterion, three types of populations were obtained: young (CPs II, IV, V, VI, VII, IX, X, X, XII, XIII), transient (CPs I, III, VIII, XI) and aging (CP XIV). The value of the recovery index ranges from 0.14 (CP XIV) to 2 (CP VI). The most threatened state in CP XIV, because of the population is aging and unstable. The density of individuals in the studied coenopopulations ranged from 0.3 to 0.5 individuals per 100 m2. The length of the petiole, the length and width of the leaf blade have low variation coefficients. The greatest amplitude of variation among morphological features of the species is linear dimensions of the plant height and leaf area.

Plant functional types in Mediterranean enclaves in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey

TURKISH JOURNAL OF BOTANY, 2015

Introduction Plant functional types (PFTs) have been widely proposed as an ecological alternative to classical taxonomy and include easily measurable traits such as life form, leaf habit, plant height, plant longevity, and specific leaf area (SLA). They exhibit similar responses to environmental conditions and also have similar effects on matter and energy processes in ecosystems (Díaz Barradas et al., 1999). PFTs consist of species that have common morphological and physiological attributes, and classification schemes according to PFTs can include the identification of correlations among quantitative traits that reflect life history trade-off or assignment of species to plant functional groups based on dominant traits (Garcia

The Invasive Species Commelina benghalensis L.: A Step Towards The Biological Flora of Egypt

Catrina: The International Journal of Environmental Sciences, 2019

Invasive species Commelina benghalensis L. was investigated for its morphological, anatomical aspects. Ecological studies were carried out to explore the floristic composition of its community type and assess the factors that affect its invasion to the study area. Furthermore, proximate analysis, mineral composition, phytochemical screening and GC/MS analysis of secondary metabolites were studied to explore the nature of compounds present and evaluate its potential uses. Forty-seven weed species related to 21 families were recorded in C. benghalensis community type. Poaceae, Asteraceae and Brassicaceae were the most important families. Portulaca oleracea, Cyperus rotundus, Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Euphorbia heterophylla were the common associates. Therophytes were the most frequent life-form (78.7%). The chorological analysis showed the prevalence of paleotropical, cosmopolitan and Mediterranean taxa. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that pH, cations (calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium), anions (bicarbonates, sulphates and chlorides), soil texture (sand, silt and clay) and organic matter were the most effective soil variables for the distribution of C. benghalensis and its associated species in the study area. The highest values of succulence and mean leaf surface area were recorded in mango orchards, while the highest shoot length and phytomass were registered in the habitats of crop fields. The results also indicated that this plant is a valuable source of nutritional, mineral and phytochemical compounds; hence it can be used as potential source of relatively low-cost, palatable forage for livestock and might be of a very important medicinal value and should be explored further to extract new drugs. It should not be included in the harmful weeds.

Asexual Morphological Differences in Male and Female Plants of Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari -An Endangered Medicinal Plant

Studies were carried out on growth characteristics, stem branching pattern and leaf morphology to reveal the significant differences in male and female plants and development of reliable morphological markers to identify gender even in non-flowering phase. Female plants have spreading growth and weeping canopy whereas male plants have erected growth and divergent canopy. Female plants have significantly higher height (p = 0.06) and collar diameter (p = 0.03) than males. Similarly, female plants also have higher number of secondary and tertiary branches with wider branch angles leading to the differences in canopy shape and size between two genders. Other morphological differences observed in female and male plants are in leaf characters viz. leaf area, leaf margin and number. Male plants were only having higher stomatal density (p = 0.03) on both the sides of leaves as compared to females. Guggulsterone-Z was detected only in aerial branches of female plants (0.014-0.029%) and in males it was below detectable limits.

Gatzuk L.E., Smirnova O.V., Vorontzova L.I., Zaugolnova L.B., Zhukova L.A. Age states of plants of various growth forms: a review // Journal of Ecology. 1980. V. 68. N. 3. P. 675-696.

Gatzuk L.E., Smirnova O.V., Vorontzova L.I., Zaugolnova L.B., Zhukova L.A. Age states of plants of various growth forms: a review // Journal of Ecology. 1980. V. 68. N. 3. P. 675-696., 1980

Analysis of more than one-hundred plant species has shown certain con- sistently-recognizable biological age states in their ontogeny. These are called seed, seedling, juvenile, immature, virginile, reproductive (young, mature and old), subsenile and senile. Each age state may be characterized by a particular combination of quanti- tative and qualitative features. Qualitative features used to define the various age states are: the manner of nutrition, the type of growth, the pattern of branching of the root and shoot systems, leaf form, the presence of a particular type of shoot, the ability to reproduce by seeds, the balance between living and dead structures, and the balance between actively-growing and fully-formed structures. Quantitative characteristics change uninterruptedly during ontogeny, and as a rule follow a unimodal curve. Age states of species representative of a variety of growth forms have been distinguished and described. These include trees, shrubs, semi-shrubs, low semi- shrubs, firm- and loose-tussock plants, and the following categories of perennial herbs: long- and short-rhizomed, root-suckering, stoloniferous, bulbous, tuber- bulbous, tuberous and tap-rooted. On the basis of these age-state studies, three main types of ontogeny in polycarpic plants are defined, using as characterizing features architectural changes of the individual plant, the form and timing of break-up of the individual plant, and the extent of rejuvenation

A Chorological Study on the Taxa Naturalized in the Eastern Black Sea Region

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 2001

Diaspores of taxa with large ecological tolerance can be easily carried between continents and some of these taxa become an important factor, threatening the maintenance of plant species diversity, in addition to other factors, such as clear-cutting, overgrazing and dwellings. Chorological study is an important step for conserving plant species diversity, and it provides information about naturalized plant taxa that have migrated from one continent to others. Presenting the floristic relationships between the continents is important for plant geography and paleobotany. The chorological features of 32 taxa of flowering plants belonging to 14 families, naturalized in the Eastern Black Sea Region of Turkey, were examined and discussed. Most of these taxa come from parts of North America, China and Japan, all of which are areas with climatic conditions similar to those of this region. These taxa have been dispersed by human activity, wind, animals and water. Because of the high rainfall throughout the year, diaspores of naturalized taxa can germinate easily and become new individuals in the study area. Consequently, there have been plant migrations in the temperate region of the world, where the eastern Black Sea region is a plant migratory route between Europe and Caucasia.

Ecological Phytogeography: A Case Study of Commiphora Species

Science, Technology and Arts Research Journal, 2013

The present paper stipulated phytogeography, ecological ranges, possible origin and migratory route of Commiphora Jacq. species. Data were gathered from the field, herbarium and secondary sources. Information on distribution, altitude and soil preferences were compiled and aggregated together. Phytogeographical aspect of the group has been analyzed using Brooks's par done by tabulating flora regions versus the species under consideration where the matrix has been filled as either presence or absence. The result of data on phytogeography showed three patterns of distribution. Based on t theory, evolution and diversification of most angiosperm families into consideration, the origin of Commiphora has been discussed in details. It was recommended that the migratory route of Commiphora still requires further investigation a be corroborated with data on the age of the genus and that of the concept of plate tectonic theory. INTRODUCTION The genus Commiphora Jacq. is one of the most diverse genera of the family Burseraceae. It is largely represented in Africa where it is confined to arid and semi-arid areas. Commiphora in Iran, Pakistan, Peninsula India, Sri Lanka and Brazil. The genus is co-dominant with the huge areas of the Horn of Africa and supports the large livestock populations of pastoral and agro pastoral communities. Of the 190 or so species in the genus, more than half of the species are native to the Horn of Africa. This might support the notion that the center of genetic diversity of the genus is in this part of the world.

All rights reservedAnatomical Study on Commelina diffusa Burn f. and Commelina erecta L. (Commelinaceae)

Commelina diffusa Burn. f. and Commelina erecta L. (Commelinaceae) are known from tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In the present work, the leaf epidermal characters, midrib and stem anatomy were studied in relation to their taxonomic values. Voucher specimens collected from different parts of Abia, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States were analysed. The samples were fixed in FAA, dehydrated in series of ethanol (50%, 70% and 90%), peeled/sectioned, stained in 2% aqueous solution of Safranin O, counter stained in Alcian blue for about 3-5 minutes, mounted in glycerine, viewed and micro-photographed using Leica WILD MPS 52 microscope camera on Leitz Diaplan microscope. Comparative foliar epidermal features, midrib and stem anatomical characters of the two Commelina species indicated that the leaf epidermal characters showed close similarity among the species though with few distinguishing features while the anatomical features of the midrib and lamina could be used to distinguish these species.