Sex-Specific Responses of Sexual Reproduction, Clonal Reproduction, and Vegetative Growth to Environmental (Biotic and Abiotic) Factors in the Clonal Dioecious Plant Acer barbinerve.

ABSTRACT: Sexual dimorphism in dioecious plants serves as a critical adaptive strategy in complex environments. This study systematically investigated the effects of topographic factors (elevation, slope, aspect, and convexity), soil nutrients (C, N, P), and interspecific competition intensity on the reproductive strategies and vegetative growth of the clonal dioecious plant, Acer barbinerve. Using Spearman's correlation analysis, multiple regression models, and PLS-PM path models, key findings include the following: (1) female sexual reproduction biomass showed a significant positive correlation with the topography principal component (topo_PC1), with a notable gender-topography interaction, whereas male sexual reproduction was negatively regulated by elevation; (2) clonal reproduction in bo

SUBMITTER: Liao D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11860127 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature