TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Substratos e intensidades de luz no cultivo de orquídea denfal Substrates and light intensity on cultivation of Denphal orchid

Foi avaliada a influência da luminosidade e de substratos alternativos ao xaxim, no desenvolvimento e floração de plantas de Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. schroederianum x Dendrobium bigibbum var. compactum. O experimento foi conduzido na UFGD-FCA, de outubro de 2007 a agosto de 2008. Foram utilizadas plantas com quatro anos oriundas de cultivo in vitro, aclimatizadas em viveiro com intensidade luminosa de 12.800, 8.300, 6.200, 5.300 e 4.500 lux, e plantadas em vasos plásticos contendo como substrato carvão, fibra de coco ou uma mistura de carvão + fibra de coco. Durante o período experimental foram avaliados a redução de massa fresca (%), o diâmetro de pseudobulbos (%), brotações (%), início da floração, plantas com flores (%), comprimento da haste floral, botões florais (nO), diâmetro das flores e duração do florescimento. As menores reduções da massa fresca e do diâmetro foram observados sob 12.800 lux. Para brotações os maiores valores foram observados em substrato carvão sob 12.800 lux, ou em substrato fibra de coco e carvão + fibra de coco sob 4.500 lux. Nas condições em que o trabalho foi conduzido recomenda-se que esta orquídea seja cultivada em carvão sob 12.800 lux, uma vez que o maior percentual de plantas com flores, número de botões por planta, diâmetro das flores e comprimento da haste floral produzidos foram observados nestas condições.<br>The influence of light and alternative substrates to fern tree fiber was evaluated on the development and flowering of Dendrobium phalaenopsis var. schroederianum x Dendrobium bigibbum var. compactum plants. The experiment was carried out from October 2007 to August 2008. Four-year old plants from in vitro cultivation, and acclimatized in nursery with light intensities of 12,800, 8,300, 6,200, 5,300 and 4,500 lux, were used. Plants were planted in plastic vases filled with charcoal, coconut fiber or a mix of charcoal + coconut fiber as substrate. During the experimental period, the reduction of fresh mass (%) and diameter of pseudobulbs, sprouting (%), beginning of flowering, plants with flowers (%), length of the flower stem, flower buds (nº), diameter of flowers and time of flowering were evaluated. The smallest reduction of fresh mass and of diameter were observed under 12,800 lux. For sprouting, the highest values were observed with charcoal substrate under 12,800 lux, or with coconut fiber substrate and charcoal + coconut fiber substrate under 4,500 lux. This orchid should be cultivated with charcoal under 12,800 lux, since the highest percentage of plants with flowers, number of buds per plant, diameter of flowers and length of the flower stem were produced under those conditions