| Abstract Detail
Ecological Section Japhet, Wisdom [1], Zhou, Daowei [2]. Phenotypic plasticity in Datura stramonium in response to density and nutrient supply. Phenotypic plasticity is a flexible strategy that can enhance the survival of plants in environments of reduced resources. Phenotypic plasticity in response to variations in density and nutrient supply in Datura stramonium were measured in two field experiments. Seed of the species were sown at inter-plant distance of 7cm, 14cm and 21cm to represent high, medium and low density respectively. Plants in the other experiment received Nitrogen fertilization at the rate of 80, 100 and 120kg/h to represent low, medium and high nutrient supply respectively. Plants sown at high density showed significant increase in traits such as specific leaf area, leaf area ratio and number of leaves; traits that are associated with light capture. Similarly, plants sown at low nutrient availability have significantly higher root biomass, root mass ratio, and root: leaf length; traits that will increase the potential for the absorption of nutrients belowground. We interpreted these results as a strategy for this species to maximize fitness in environment of low light and low nutrient availability. Our study also highlights the importance of considering a wider range of plant traits to fully understand the ability of plants to respond to changes in the environment.
 Key words: Datura stramonium, density, nutrient availability, flexible strategy, phenotypic plasticity, specific leaf area. Broader Impacts:
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1 - Northeast Normal University, Ecology department, Key Laboratory for Ecological Restoration and Ecosystem Management, Jilin Province, Changchun, Jilin, 130024, China
2 - Northeat Institute for geography and Agroecology, Chinese academy of S, Ecology, Changchun, Jilin, China
Keywords:
phenotypic plasticity
Datura Sramonium
density
Nutrient availability
Flexible strategy
specific leaf area.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 33
Location: 555B/Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Time: 10:30 AM
Number: 33002
Abstract ID:23 |
