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Phenotypic variation between high and low elevation populations of Rumex nepalensis in the Himalayas is driven by genetic differentiation

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Abstract

Rumex nepalensis, one of several plant species distributed across wide elevation gradient in Himalayas, was studied for difference in seed traits, phenology and photosynthetic characteristics in four populations from 800 m (sub-tropical population: SP), 1300 m (sub-temperate population: STP), 2200 m (temperate population: TP) and 4000 m (alpine population: AP) elevations above mean sea level. Seeds of AP were larger in size and germinated faster at 15 °C than at 25 °C compared to those from lower elevations. Seed raised four populations of the species studied under ex situ conditions of greenhouse showed that AP emerged late but was able to complete its post flowering phenophases much earlier, such that its life cycle was reduced by 14 days compared to SP. Ex-situ and in situ studies in the native habitat for all populations showed AP and SP to differed significantly in most of the photosynthetic traits, thus indicating the two populations to be genetically different. Further studies are required to understand how different genotypes of R. nepalensis would respond to atmospheric warming.

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Abbreviations

C i :

Intercellular CO2 concentration

Chl:

Chlorophyll

ECU:

Efficiency of carbon uptake

g S :

Stomatal conductance

PPFD:

Photosynthetic photon flux density

P N :

Net photosynthetic rate

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Acknowledgements

Authors thank Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) for funding through mission mode Project on “Plant diversity: studying adaptation biology and understanding/exploiting medicinally important plants for useful bioactives” (SIMPLE-BSC0109). RJ gratefully acknowledges the Junior/Senior Research Fellowship awarded by University Grants Commission (UGC). The manuscript represents IHBT communication number 3710.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, P.O. Box No. 6, Palampur, 176 061, India

    Rupali Jandrotia & Surender Kumar Vats

  2. Quality Plant Production Division, CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, P.O. Box No. 6, Palampur, 176 061, India

    Probir Kumar Pal

  3. CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, P.O. Box No. 6, Palampur, 176 061, India

    Sanjay Kumar

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  1. Rupali Jandrotia
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Correspondence to Surender Kumar Vats.

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Communicated by U. Feller.

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11738_2017_2396_MOESM1_ESM.jpg

Supplementary Fig. 1 Germination pattern of seeds of Rumex nepalensis collected from four different elevations: SP sub-tropical population (800 m amsl); STP sub-temperate population (1300 m amsl); TP temperate population (2200 m amsl); AP alpine population (4000 m amsl) and grown at 15 °C and 25 °C in growth chamber (JPEG 135 kb)

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Jandrotia, R., Pal, P.K., Kumar, S. et al. Phenotypic variation between high and low elevation populations of Rumex nepalensis in the Himalayas is driven by genetic differentiation. Acta Physiol Plant 39, 99 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11738-017-2396-7

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