Invasive Acer negundo outperforms native species in non-limiting resource environments due to its higher phenotypic plasticity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To identify the determinants of invasiveness, comparisons of traits of invasive and native species are commonly performed. Invasiveness is generally linked to higher values of reproductive, physiological and growth-related traits of the invasives relative to the natives in the introduced range. Phenotypic plasticity of these traits has also been cited to increase the success of invasive species but has been little studied in invasive tree species. In a greenhouse experiment, we compared ecophysiological traits between an invasive species to Europe, <it>Acer negundo</it>, and early- and late-successional co-occurring native species, under different light, nutrient availability and disturbance regimes. We also compared species of the same species groups <it>in </it><it>situ</it>, in riparian forests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Under non-limiting resources, <it>A. negundo </it>seedlings showed higher growth rates than the native species. However, <it>A. negundo </it>displayed equivalent or lower photosynthetic capacities and nitrogen content per unit leaf area compared to the native species; these findings were observed both on the seedlings in the greenhouse experiment and on adult trees <it>in situ</it>. These physiological traits were mostly conservative along the different light, nutrient and disturbance environments. Overall, under non-limiting light and nutrient conditions, specific leaf area and total leaf area of <it>A. negundo </it>were substantially larger. The invasive species presented a higher plasticity in allocation to foliage and therefore in growth with increasing nutrient and light availability relative to the native species.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The higher level of plasticity of the invasive species in foliage allocation in response to light and nutrient availability induced a better growth in non-limiting resource environments. These results give us more elements on the invasiveness of <it>A. negundo </it>and suggest that such behaviour could explain the ability of <it>A. negundo </it>to outperform native tree species, contributes to its spread in European resource-rich riparian forests and impedes its establishment under closed-canopy hardwood forests.</p

Leaf physiological and morphological constraints of water-use efficiency in C3_3 plants

The increasing evaporative demand due to climate change will significantly affect the balance of carbon assimilation and water losses of plants worldwide. The development of crop varieties with improved water-use efficiency (WUE) will be critical for adapting agricultural strategies under predicted future climates. This review aims to summarize the most important leaf morpho-physiological constraints of WUE in C3 plants and identify gaps in knowledge. From the carbon gain side of the WUE, the discussed parameters are mesophyll conductance, carboxylation efficiency and respiratory losses. The traits and parameters affecting the waterside of WUE balance discussed in this review are stomatal size and density, stomatal control and residual water losses (cuticular and bark conductance), nocturnal conductance and leaf hydraulic conductance. In addition, we discussed the impact of leaf anatomy and crown architecture on both the carbon gain and water loss components of WUE. There are multiple possible targets for future development in understanding sources of WUE variability in plants. We identified residual water losses and respiratory carbon losses as the greatest knowledge gaps of whole-plant WUE assessments. Moreover, the impact of trichomes, leaf hydraulic conductance and canopy structure on plants’ WUE is still not well understood. The development of a multi-trait approach is urgently needed for a better understanding of WUE dynamics and optimization

Cu2+-Induced formation of cage-like compounds containing pyrazole macrocycles

The crystal structure of the complex [Cu4(H22L)2(H2O)2- (ClO4)2](ClO4)2·2H2O where L is a new pyrazole ligand containing 1,5-diaminopentane spacers represents a new form of obtaining metal ion-induced inorganic–organic cages.Escarti Alemany, Francisco, [email protected] ; Latorre Saborit, Julio, [email protected] ; Garcia-España Monsonis, Enrique, [email protected]

The Role of Provenance for the Projected Growth of Juvenile European Beech under Climate Change

European beech is one of the most common tree species in Europe and is generally suggested to play even more of a prominent role in forestry in the future. It seems to have the potential to partially replace Norway spruce, as it is less sensitive to expected warmer and drier conditions. It is, however, not well known in which regions these new plantings would be particularly favourable and if specific provenances may be better adapted to the new conditions than others. Therefore, we estimated the potential early height growth under climate conditions in 2040–2060 for 20 beech provenances across a region covering the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This Central European region is expected to experience considerably drier and warmer conditions in the future. For this exercise, we implemented a new neural network model developed from height growth information obtained from the open-access BeechCOSTe52 database. The simulations are driven by past and future climate data obtained from the WorldClim database of historical climate data and future climate projections. Simulations revealed that provenances originating from drier regions performed on average significantly better than those from regions with good water supply. Moreover, provenances originating from drier regions had a particularly large advantage in the relatively arid regions of Central Czechia and Southern Slovakia. We can also confirm that all provenances showed a high phenotypic plasticity of height growth across the whole investigated region

Comparative analysis of conjugated alkynyl chromophore-triazacyclononane ligands for sensitized emission of europium and terbium

A series of europium and terbium complexes based on a functionalized triazacyclononane carboxylate or phosphinate macrocyclic ligand is described. The influence of the anionic group, that is, carboxylate, methylphosphinate, or phenylphosphinate, on the photophysical properties was studied and rationalized on the basis of DFT calculated structures. The nature, number, and position of electron-donating or electron-withdrawing aryl substituents were varied systematically within the same phenylethynyl scaffold in order to optimize the brightness of the corresponding europium complexes and investigate their two-photon absorption properties. Finally, the europium complexes were examined in cell-imaging applications, and selected terbium complexes were studied as potential oxygen sensors

Photosynthesis, leaf hydraulic conductance and embolism dynamics in the resurrection plant Barbacenia purpurea

The main parameters determining photosynthesis are stomatal and mesophyll conductance and electron transport rate, and for hydraulic dynamics they are leaf hydraulic conductance and the spread of embolism. These parameters have scarcely been studied in desiccation-tolerant (resurrection) plants exposed to drought. Here, we characterized photosynthesis and hydraulics during desiccation and rehydration in a poikilochlorophyllous resurrection plant, Barbacenia purpurea (Velloziaceae). Gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and leaf water status were monitored along the whole dehydration-rehydration cycle. Simultaneously, embolism formation and hydraulic functioning recovery were measured at leaf level using micro-computed tomography imaging. Photosynthesis and leaf hydraulic conductance ceased at relatively high water potential (?1.28 and ?1.54?MPa, respectively), whereas the onset of leaf embolism occurred after stomatal closure and photosynthesis cessation (<?1.61?MPa). This sequence of physiological processes during water stress may be associated with the need to delay dehydration, to prepare the molecular changes required in the desiccated state. Complete rehydration occurred rapidly in the mesophyll, whereas partial xylem refilling, and subsequent recovery of photosynthesis, occurred at later stages after rewatering. These results highlight the importance of stomata as safety valves to protect the vascular system from embolism, even in a plant able to fully recover after complete embolism.Este trabajo fue apoyado por el proyecto PGC2018-093824-B-C41 del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España), el Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), y La Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes "Pack Ambition International 2020" a través del proyecto "ThirsTree" 20-006175-01, 20-006175-02. MN recibió el apoyo de la beca predoctoral BES-2015-072578, financiada por el Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) y el Fondo Social Europeo; y las becas postdoctorales Juan de la Cierva-Formación (FJC2020-043902-I y FJC2020-042856-I), financiadas por MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (España) y la Unión Europea ("NextGenerationEU/PRTR").Barbacenia purpureaPublishe

Esca grapevine disease involves leaf hydraulic failure and represents a unique premature senescence process

Xylem anatomy may change in response to environmental or biotic stresses. Vascular occlusion, an anatomical modification of mature xylem, contributes to plant resistance and susceptibility to different stresses. In woody organs, xylem occlusions have been examined as part of the senescence process, but their presence and function in leaves remain obscure. In grapevine, many stresses are associated with premature leaf senescence inducing discolorations and scorched tissue in leaves. However, we still do not know whether the leaf senescence process follows the same sequence of physiological events and whether leaf xylem anatomy is affected in similar ways. In this study, we quantified vascular occlusions in midribs from leaves with symptoms of the grapevine disease esca, magnesium deficiency and autumn senescence. We found higher amounts of vascular occlusions in leaves with esca symptoms (in 27% of xylem vessels on average), whereas the leaves with other symptoms (as well as the asymptomatic controls) had far fewer occlusions (in 3% of vessels). Therefore, we assessed the relationship between xylem occlusions and esca leaf symptoms in four different countries (California in the USA, France, Italy and Spain) and eight different cultivars. We monitored the plants over the course of the growing season, confirming that vascular occlusions do not evolve with symptom age. Finally, we investigated the hydraulic integrity of leaf xylem vessels by optical visualization of embolism propagation during dehydration. We found that the occlusions lead to hydraulic dysfunction mainly in the peripheral veins compared with the midribs in esca symptomatic leaves. These results open new perspectives on the role of vascular occlusions during the leaf senescence process, highlighting the uniqueness of esca leaf symptoms and its consequence on leaf physiology

Plant traits poorly predict winner and loser shrub species in a warming tundra biome

Climate change is leading to species redistributions. In the tundra biome, shrubs are generally expanding, but not all tundra shrub species will benefit from warming. Winner and loser species, and the characteristics that may determine success or failure, have not yet been fully identified. Here, we investigate whether past abundance changes, current range sizes and projected range shifts derived from species distribution models are related to plant trait values and intraspecific trait variation. We combined 17,921 trait records with observed past and modelled future distributions from 62 tundra shrub species across three continents. We found that species with greater variation in seed mass and specific leaf area had larger projected range shifts, and projected winner species had greater seed mass values. However, trait values and variation were not consistently related to current and projected ranges, nor to past abundance change. Overall, our findings indicate that abundance change and range shifts will not lead to directional modifications in shrub trait composition, since winner and loser species share relatively similar trait spaces