Abstract
Global warming is considered a pivotal environmental factor influencing the growth of meadow forage grasses and the balance of alpine meadow ecosystems, especially on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of introducing and restoring forage grass species on the Hongyuan prairie in response to temperature changes. Based on the analysis of photosynthetic parameters such as PN, GS, CI, Vcmax, Jmax, Fv/Fm, Fv′/Fm′, qP, and ΦPSII for different forage grass species grown in the alpine meadow area, we found the local native grass species had photosynthetic capacities that were more sensitive to temperature changes than those of the introduced species. Among the several kinds of introduced forage grasses, reed canary grass showed the greatest redistribution of absorbed light energy when light energy exceeded the utilization capacity. Reed canary grass also showed an increased distribution of biomass in its roots and a decreased distribution of biomass in its stems. Overall, reed canary grass is a potential resource to address grassland desertification and to restore or reconstruct meadow grass ecosystems in accordance with the temperature changes.
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Abbreviations
- C i :
-
Intercellular CO2 concentration
- F o :
-
The minimal fluorescence
- F m :
-
The maximal fluorescence
- F 0′:
-
The minimal fluorescence level in the light-adapted state
- F m′:
-
The maximal fluorescence level in the light-adapted state
- F s :
-
Steady-state fluorescence yield
- F V/F M :
-
Maximum photochemical efficiency was measured using
- F v′/F m′:
-
Maximum photochemical efficiency was measured using
- G S :
-
Stomatal conductance
- J max :
-
Maximum rate of electron transport driving RuBP regeneration
- P N :
-
Net photosynthetic rate
- q P :
-
Photochemical quenching
- V cmax :
-
Maximum velocity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylation
- Φ PSII :
-
Photochemical utilization
- Φ f,D :
-
Constitutive thermal dissipation
- Φ NPQ :
-
Regulated thermal energy dissipation
- Φ NF :
-
Inactive photosystem II centers
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (2015CB150100), the National Research and Development Project of Transgenic Crops of China (2016ZX08009-003–002), Sichuan Natural Science Foundation (2019YFS0457) and Forage Innovation Team Supporting Fund from Sichuan Provincial Department of Agriculture. Chao Zhang was also supported by the Youth Science and Technology Talent Growth Project of the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education ([2018]378), and High-level Talent Introduction Project of Liupanshui Normal University (LPSSYKYJJ201806).
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10725_2019_499_MOESM1_ESM.jpg
Supplementary Fig. S1 Plant growth conditions in this study. (A) Changes in average temperature from 2010 to 2016. (B) Diurnal time courses of photosynthetic photon flux density. (C) Temperatures in field and greenhouse. (D) Differences of maximum and minimum temperatures between greenhouse and field. (E) Relative humidity differences between greenhouse and field. (E) Vapor pressure deficit differences between greenhouse and field (JPG 886 kb)
10725_2019_499_MOESM2_ESM.tif
Supplementary Fig. S2 Grass organizational structure responsiveness to temperature. Differences in stems and roots of five meadow forage grasses growth on filed and greenhouse. (A) The anatomy of stems in five meadow forage grasses at 80 days after transplanting, scalebar = 500 µm. (B) Stem thickness in five meadow forage grasses at 80 days after transplanting (Mean ± SE; n = 3). (C) Stem diameter of five meadow forage grasses growth on filed and greenhouse at 80 days after transplanting (Mean ± SE; n = 10). (D) Root morphology of five meadow forage grasses growth on filed and greenhouse at 80 days after transplanting (JPG 1683 kb)
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Zhang, C., Zhang, DW., Deng, XG. et al. Various adaptations of meadow forage grasses in response to temperature changes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, China. Plant Growth Regul 88, 181–193 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-019-00499-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-019-00499-x