Fraser et al 2009 Annals Botany (original) (raw)

Phenotypic Variation from Waterlogging in Multiple Perennial Ryegrass Varieties under Climate Change Conditions

2022

Identifying how various components of climate change will influence ecosystems and vegetation subsistence will be fundamental to mitigate negative effects. Climate change-induced waterlogging is understudied in comparison to temperature and CO2. Grasslands are especially vulnerable through the connection with global food security, with perennial ryegrass dominating many flood-prone pasturelands in North-western Europe. We investigated the effect of long-term waterlogging on phenotypic responses of perennial ryegrass using four varieties grown in atmospherically controlled growth chambers (ambient vs 2050, +2°C and eCO2) during two months of peak growth. Using image analysis and PCA methodologies, we assess how multiple predictors (phenotypic, environmental, genetic and temporal) influence overall plant performance and productivity. Long-term waterlogging was found to reduce leaf-colour intensity, with younger plants having purple hues indicative of anthocyanins. Plant performance an...

Predicting Leaf Trait Variability as a Functional Descriptor of the Effect of Climate Change in Three Perennial Grasses

Diversity

Aims of the study: The most important trends of the current climate variability is the scarcity of rains that affects arid ecosystems. The aim of this study was to explore the variability of leaf functional traits by which grassland species survive and resist drought and to investigate the potential link between resource use efficiency and water scarcity resistance strategies of species. Methods: Three grasses (Cenchrus ciliaris (C4), Stipa parviflora and Stipa lagascae (C3)) were established in a randomized block consisting of eleven replications. The seedlings were kept under increasing levels of water stress. In addition to their functional leaf traits, the rate of water loss and dimensional shrinkage were also measured. Key Results: Thicker and denser leaves, with higher dry matter contents, low specific leaf area and great capacity of water retention are considered among the grasses’ strategies of dehydration avoidance. Significant differences between the means of the functiona...