Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photosynthetic response of Fragaria orientalis in different water contrast clonal integration

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

The capacity to exchange resources and non-resource agents is one of the most outstanding features of clonal plants. Contrast between patches in a heterogeneous environment is the main external driving force behind integration effects. It was hypothesized, on the basis of the source–sink hypothesis, that assimilate demand from drought-stressed ramets will result in enhancement of the photosynthesis of well-watered ramets by a mechanism of feedback regulation, that the negative effect of drought on the photosynthesis of drought-stressed ramets will be ameliorated by physiological integration, and that these effects will be enhanced by increasing contrast. A pot experiment was conducted with clonal fragments consisting of two interconnected ramets of Fragaria orientalis. In the experiment, both the connected and the disconnected clonal fragments were divided into three water contrast groups: (1) homogeneous (no contrast) group; (2) low-contrast group; (3) high-contrast group. The photosynthesis and stress tolerance of drought-stressed ramets did not decrease under the support of well-watered ramets when they were connected, allowing clones to maintain their performance in less favorable environments. But the photosynthesis and stress tolerance of drought-stressed ramets decreased with increasing drought-stress when stolons were disconnected. With a feedback regulation process, the photosynthesis of well-watered ramets connected to drought-stressed ramets was enhanced by the latter, which can compensate, at least partially, for the cost of maintaining the stressed ramets. Drought-stressed ramets gained more benefits in a high-contrast environment than in a lower-contrast environment; this can enhance the survival of drought-stressed ramets in unfavorable habitats, especially stressed patches that would otherwise be unexploitable by independent ramets. But photosynthesis of well-watered ramets did not increase with increasing water availability contrast. It can be concluded that photosynthesis and stress tolerance of F. orientalis was affected by clonal integration and by contrasts of water availability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alpert P (1990) Water sharing among ramets in a desert population of Distichlis spicata (Poaceae). Am J Bot 77:1648–1651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alpert P (1991) Nitrogen sharing among ramets increases clonal growth in Fragaria chiloensis. Ecology 72:69–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alpert P (1999a) Clonal integration in Fragaria chiloensis differs between populations: ramets from grassland are selfish. Oecologia 120:69–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alpert P (1999b) Effects of clonal integration on plant plasticity in Fragaria chiloensis. Plant Ecol 141:99–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alpert P, Mooney HA (1986) Resource sharing among ramets in the clonal herb, Fragaria chiloensis. Oecologia 70:227–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Athar H-u-R, Ashraf M (2005) Photosynthesis under drought stress. In: Pessarakli M (ed) Handbook of photosynthesis, 2nd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 793–809

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker NR, Rosenqvist E (2004) Applications of chlorophyll fluorescence can improve crop production strategies: an examination of future possibilities. J Exp Bot 55:1607–1621

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolhàr-Nordenkampf HR, Öquist G (1993) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a tool in photosynthesis research. In: Hall DO, Scurlock JMO, Bolhàr-Nordenkampf HR, Leegood RC, Long SP (eds) Photosynthesis and production in a changing environment. Chapman and Hall, London, pp 193–206

    Google Scholar 

  • Bolhar-Nordenkampf HR, Long SP, Baker NR, Oquist G, Schreiber U, Lechner EG (1989) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a probe of the photosynthetic competence of leaves in the field: a review of current instrumentation. Funct Ecol 3:497–514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Březina S, Koubek T, Munzbergova Z, Herben T (2006) Ecological benefits of integration of Calamagrostis epigejos ramets under field conditions. Flora 201:461–467

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugnoli E, Björkman O (1992) Chloroplast movements in leaves—influence on chlorophyll fluorescence and measurements of light-induced absorbency changes related to Delta-Ph and zeaxanthin formation. Photosynth Res 32:23–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bukhov N, Carpentier R (2004) Effects of water stress on the photosynthetic efficiency of plants. In: Chlorophyll a fluorescence. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 623–635

  • Bullock JM, Mortimer AM, Begon M (1994) Physiological Integration among tillers of Holcus lanatus: age-dependence and responses to clipping and competition. New Phytol 128:737–747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler WL, Kitajima M (1975) Fluorescence quenching in photosystem II of chloroplasts. Biochim Biophys Acta 376:116–125

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Caraco T, Kelly CK (1991) On the adaptive value of physiological integration in clonal plants. Ecology 72:81–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2004) Study on the adaptive strategies of clonal plants in heterogeneous environments. Wuhan University, Wuhan

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen JS, Yu D, Liu Q, Dong M (2004) Clonal integration of the stoloniferous herb Fragaria vesca from different altitudes in Southwest China. Flora 199:342–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y-H, Hsu B-D (1995) Effects of dehydration on the electron transport of Chlorella. An in vivo fluorescence study. Photosynth Res 46:295–299

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colom MR, Vazzana C (2003) Photosynthesis and PSII functionality of drought-resistant and drought-sensitive weeping lovegrass plants. Environ Exp Bot 49:135–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cook RE (1983) Clonal plant populations. Am Sci 71:244–253

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Hertefeldt T, Jónsdóttir IS (1994) Effects of resource availability on integration and clonal growth in Maianthemum bifolium. Folia Geobot Phytotaxon 29:167–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Kroon H, van der Zalm E, van Rheenen JWA, van Dijk A, Kreulen R (1998) The interaction between water and nitrogen translocation in a rhizomatous sedge (Carex flacca). Oecologia 116:38–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson O, Jerling L (1990) Hierarchical selection and risk spreading in clonal plants. In: Van Groenendael J, De Kroon H (eds) Clonal growth in plants: regulation and function. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague, pp 79–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Fracheboud Y, Haldimann P, Leipner J, Stamp P (1999) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a selection tool for cold tolerance of photosynthesis in maize (Zea mays L.). J Exp Bot 50:1533–1540

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez S, Stuefer JF (2006) Members only: induced systemic resistance to herbivory in a clonal plant network. Oecologia 147:461–468

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Genty B, Briantais JM, Baker NR (1989) The relationship between the quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Biochim Biophys Acta 990:87–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guan WB, Wu JA, Liang GL, Wang B, Ma KM, Liu GH, Wang XL (2004) Vegetation classification and the main types in the headwater area of the Minjiang River. China Meteorological Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen P (1970) 14C-Studies on apple trees. V. Translocation of labelled compounds from leaves to fruit and their conversion within the fruit. Physiol Plant 23:564–573

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hartnett DC, Bazzaz FA (1983) Physiological integration among intraclonal ramets in Solidago canadensis. Ecology 64:779–788

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He B, Li G-q, Gao H-y, Chen W-h, Li G, Qiao W-l, Ni J-b (2007) A comparison study on the clonal growth of Hippophae rhamniodes L. subsp. sinensis at different soil moisture condition. J Yunnan Univ 29:101–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchings M, Bradbury I (1986) Ecological perspectives on clonal perennial herbs. Bioscience 36:178–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jónsdóttir IS, Callaghan TV (1988) Interrelationships between different generations of interconnected tillers of Carex bigelowii. Oikos 52:120–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jónsdóttir IS, Watson MA (1997) Extensive physiological integration: an adaptive trait in resource-poor environments. In: de Kroon H, van Groenendael J (eds) The ecology and evolution of clonal plants. Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, pp 109–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson RB, Caldwell MM (1993) Geostatistical patterns of soil heterogeneity around individual perennial plants. J Ecol 81:683–692

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janeček Š, Kantorová J, Bartoš M, Klimešová J (2007) Integration in the clonal plant Eriophorum angustifolium: an experiment with a three-member-clonal system in a patchy environment. Evol Ecol 22(3):325–336. doi:10.1007/s10682-10007-19203-10687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotliar NB, Wiens JA (1990) Multiple scales of patchiness and patch structure: a hierarchical framework for the study of heterogeneity. Oikos 59:253–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krapp A, Hofmann B, Schafer C, Stitt M (1993) Regulation of the expression of Rbcs and other photosynthetic genes by carbohydrates—a mechanism for the sink regulation of photosynthesis. Plant J 3:817–828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lambers H, Chapin FS, Pons TL (1998) Plant physiological ecology. Springer, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lau RR, Young DR (1988) Influence of physiological integration on survivorship and water relations in a clonal herb. Ecology 69:215–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Berninger F, Koskela J, Sonninen E (2000) Drought responses of Eucalyptus microtheca provenances depend on seasonality of rainfall in their place of origin. Aust J Plant Physiol 27:231–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Ikeda H, Ohba H (2003) Fragaria linnaeus. In: Flora of China pp 337–340

  • Li CY, Wang KY (2003) Differences in drought responses of three contrasting Eucalyptus microtheca F. Muell. populations. For Ecol Manage 179:377–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu WB (1994) Main types of the semi-arid valley scrubs in the upper reaches of the Minjiang river. Mountain Res 12:27–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu C, Zhang J, Vonshak A (1998) Inhibition of quantum yield of PS II electron transport in Spirulina platensis by osmotic stress may be explained mainly by an increase in the proportion of the QB-non-reducing PS II reaction centres. Aust J Plant Physiol 25:689–694

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall C (1990) Source–sink relations of interconnected ramets. SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall C, Anderson-Taylor G (1992) Mineral nutritional inter-relations amongst stolons and tiller ramets in Agrostis stolonifera L. New Phytol 122:339–347

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell K, Johnson GN (2000) Chlorophyll fluorescence-a practical guide. J Exp Bot 51:659–668

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Medrano H, Parry MAJ, Socias X, Lawlor DW (1997) Long term water stress inactivates Rubisco in subterranean clover. Ann Appl Biol 131:491–501

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oborny B, Bartha S (1995) Clonality in plant communities—an overview. Abstr Bot 19:115–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennings SC, Callaway RM (2000) The advantages of clonal integration under different ecological conditions: a community-wide test. Ecology 81:709–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulos HM, Goodale UM, Berlyn GP (2007) Drought response of two Mexican oak species, Quercus laceyi and Q. sideroxyla (Fagaceae), in relation to elevational position. Am J Bot 94:809–818

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price EAC, Marshall C (1999) Clonal plants and environmental heterogeneity—an introduction to the proceedings. Plant Ecol 141:3–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price EAC, Marshall C, Hutchings MJ (1992) Studies of growth in the clonal herb Glechoma hederacea. 1. Patterns of physiological integration. J Ecol 80:25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prioul JL, Chartier P (1977) Partitioning of transfer and carboxylation components of intracellular resistance to photosynthetic CO2 fixation: a critical analysis of the methods used. Ann Bot 41:789–800

    Google Scholar 

  • Retuerto R, Fernandez-Lema B, Rodriguez-Roiloa Obeso JR (2004) Increased photosynthetic performance in holly trees infested by scale insects. Funct Ecol 18:664–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roiloa SR, Retuerto R (2005) Presence of developing ramets of Fragaria vesca L. increases photochemical efficiency in parent ramets. Int J Plant Sci 166:795–803

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roiloa SR, Retuerto R (2006a) Physiological integration ameliorates effects of serpentine soils in the clonal herb Fragaria vesca. Physiol Plant 128:662–676

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roiloa SR, Retuerto R (2006b) Small-scale heterogeneity in soil quality influences photosynthetic efficiency and habitat selection in a clonal plant. Ann Bot 98:1043–1052

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roiloa SR, Retuerto R (2007) Responses of the clonal Fragaria vesca to microtopographic heterogeneity under different water and light conditions. Environ Exp Bot 61:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saitoh T, Seiwa K, Nishiwaki A (2002) Importance of physiological integration of dwarf bamboo to persistence in forest understorey: a field experiment. J Ecol 90:78–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid B, Bazzaz FA (1987) Clonal integration and population structure in perennials: effects of severing rhizome connections. Ecology 68:2016–2022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid B, Puttick GM, Burgess KH, Bazzaz FA (1988) Clonal integration and effects of simulated herbivory in old-field perennials. Oecologia 75:465–471

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber U, Bilger W, Hormann H, Neubauer C (1998) Chlorophyll fluorescence as a diagnostic tool: basics and some aspects of practical relevance. In: Raghavendra AS (ed) Photosynthesis: a comprehensive treatise. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 320–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Slade AJ, Hutchings MJ (1987) An analysis of the costs and benefits of physiological integration between ramets in the clonal perennial herb Glechoma hederacea. Oecologia 73:425–431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuefer JF (1995) Separating the effects of assimilate and water integration in clonal fragments by the use of steam-girdling. Abstr Bot 19:75–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuefer JF (1996) Potential and limitations of current concepts regarding the response of clonal plants to environmental heterogeneity. Vegetatio 127:55–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuefer JF, DeKroon H, During HJ (1996) Exploitation of environmental heterogeneity by spatial division of labour in a clonal plant. Funct Ecol 10:328–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweet GB, Wareing PF (1966) Role of plant growth in regulating photosynthesis. Nature 210:77–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Kleunen M, Stuefer JF (1999) Quantifying the effects of reciprocal assimilate and water translocation in a clonal plant by the use of steam-girdling. Oikos 85:135–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker DA, Jarvis PG, Farquhar GD, Leverenz J (1989) Automated measurement of leaf photosynthetic O2 evolution as a function of photon flux density (and discussion). J Inf Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 323:313–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wijesinghe DK, Handel SN (1994) Advantages of clonal growth in heterogeneous habitats—an experiment with Potentilla simplex. J Ecol 82:495–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao KY, Yu D, Xu XW, Xiong W (2007) Benefits of clonal integration between interconnected ramets of Vallisneria spiralis in heterogeneous light environments. Aquat Bot 86:76–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan Z, Chen K, Chen J, Wang C (2000) Studies on ecological characteristics and reforestation in dry valley area of Minjiang river. World Sci Technol Res Dev 22:36–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Yin C, Wang X, Duan B, Luo J, Li C (2005) Early growth, dry matter allocation and water use efficiency of two sympatric Populus species as affected by water stress. Environ Exp Bot 53:315–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin CY, Berninger F, Li CY (2006) Photosynthetic responses of Populus przewalski subjected to drought stress. Photosynthetica 44:62–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu F, Chen Y, Dong M (2002) Clonal integration enhances survival and performance of Potentilla anserina, suffering from partial sand burial on Ordos plateau, China. Evol Ecol 15:303–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu F, Dong M, Krusi B (2004) Clonal integration helps Psammochloa villosa survive sand burial in an inland dune. New Phytol 162:697–704

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to two anonymous reviewers and Dr Liang Yu for their valuable suggestions on manuscript improvement. This research was financially supported by the Important Directional Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KSCX2-YW-418), key project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences knowledge innovation program (KZCX2-XB2-02), National Natural Science Foundation of China (40671181), and the key project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (90511008).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9 Section 4, Renmin Nan Road, 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Yunchun Zhang, Peng Luo & Ning Wu

  2. Shandong Institute of Light Industry, 250353, Jinan, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Yunchun Zhang

  3. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Sun Yat-Sen University, 510275, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China

    Qiaoying Zhang

Authors
  1. Yunchun Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qiaoying Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Peng Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ning Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ning Wu.

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, Y., Zhang, Q., Luo, P. et al. Photosynthetic response of Fragaria orientalis in different water contrast clonal integration. Ecol Res 24, 617–625 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-008-0533-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-008-0533-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation