Limited hydraulic adjustments drive the acclimation response of Pteridium aquilinum to variable light.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The success of invasive plants can be attributed to many traits including the ability to adapt to variable environmental conditions. Whether by adaptation, acclimation or phenotypic plasticity, these plants often increase their resource-use efficiency and, consequently, their fitness. The goal of this study was to examine the hydraulic and eco-physiological attributes of sun and shade populations of Pteridium aquilinum, a weedy fern, to determine whether the presence of vessels and other hydraulic attributes affects its success under a variety of light conditions.

Methods

Hydraulic traits such as cavitation resistance, hydraulic conductivity, photosynthesis and water potential at turgor loss point were measured on fronds from sun and shade populations. An

SUBMITTER: Baer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7102999 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature