New field wind manipulation methodology reveals adaptive responses of steppe plants to increased and reduced wind speed.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wind strongly impacts plant growth, leaf traits, biomass allocation, and stem mechanical properties. However, whether there are common whole-plant wind responses among different plant species is still unclear. We tested this null hypothesis by exposing four eudicot steppe species to three different wind treatments in a field experiment: reduced wind velocity using windbreaks, ambient wind velocity, and enhanced wind velocity through a novel methodology using wind-funneling baffles.

Results

Across the four species, wind generally decreased plant height, projected crown area, and stepwise bifurcation ratio, and increased root length and stem base diameter. In contrast, the response patterns of shoot traits, especially mechanical properties, to wind velocity were idi

SUBMITTER: Zhang S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7788872 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature