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A strategy for introducing an endangered plant Mosla hangchowensis to urban area based on nitrogen preference

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Abstract

To introduce endangered plants to urban green space for ex situ conservation successfully, it is important to better understand the optimal NO3 −/NH4 + ratios for profitable plant. Increasing nitrogen deposition altered the nitrate to ammonium ratio (NO3 −/NH4 +) in soil. This change may strongly affect the fate of endangered plants, which often have little ability to adapt to environmental changes. In this study, we carried out a microcosm hydroponic experiment by growing Mosla hangchowensis (an endangered species) to test its preference to NO3 −/NH4 + ratios and used congeneric M. dianthera (a widespread species) for comparison. Results showed that M. hangchowensis preferred an equal NO3 −/NH4 + ratio to NO3 − as an N source, with a higher biomass observed under NO3 −/NH4 + ratios of 50/50 and 75/25 than other treatments. However, M. dianthera preferred NO3 − as N source, with a higher biomass under NO3 −/NH4 + ratios of 100/0 and 75/25 than other treatments. NH4 + is the dominant form of N in atmospheric deposition in China and continued increasing in nitrogen deposition may be detrimental to M. hangchowensis, while only have minimal effects on M. dianthera. Urban regions are expanding, and the high environmental heterogeneity in urban areas can provide potential habitats for M. hangchowensis. Based on this study, we advise that the ex suit conservation of M. hangchowensis in urban green spaces needs to adjust the fertilization strategy according to the situation of nitrogen deposition to achieve the optimal NO3 −/NH4 + ratio.

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Abbreviations

R/S:

Root/shoot ratio

LA:

Leaf area

LAR:

Leaf area ratio

Chl:

Chlorophyll

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Acknowledgements

The research was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (No. 31370354).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Mei-Ying Fan, Kai-Xuan Pan, Wen-Juan Han, Yuan Ren, Ze-Long Qu, Jie Chang & Ying Ge

  2. College of Life and Environment Sciences, Huangshan University, 59 Xihai Road, Huangshan, 245041, China

    Mei-Ying Fan

  3. Hangzhou Botanical Garden, 1 Taoyuanling, Hangzhou, 310013, China

    Yi-Jun Lu

  4. College of Science and Technology, Zhejiang International Studies University, 140 Wensan Road, Hangzhou, 310012, China

    Qi Shen

  5. College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, 3 Taicheng Road, Yangling, Xianyang, Shaanxi, China

    Meng Wang

Authors
  1. Mei-Ying Fan
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  2. Kai-Xuan Pan
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  3. Wen-Juan Han
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  5. Qi Shen
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  7. Yuan Ren
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  8. Ze-Long Qu
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  9. Jie Chang
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  10. Ying Ge
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Correspondence to Ying Ge.

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Communicated by H. Peng.

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Fan, MY., Pan, KX., Han, WJ. et al. A strategy for introducing an endangered plant Mosla hangchowensis to urban area based on nitrogen preference. Acta Physiol Plant 38, 265 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-016-2278-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-016-2278-4

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