Journal
PLANTS-BASEL
Volume 11, Issue 22, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/plants11223102
Keywords
Kobresia humilis; leaf morphology; ozone depletion; photosynthesis; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; UV-B radiation
Categories
Funding
- Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Province [2019-ZJ-7016, 2020-ZJ-919]
- Construction Project for Innovation Platform of Qinghai Province [2021-ZJ-Y05]
- Basic Research Innovation Project of Gansu Province [1506RJIA155]
- Innovation team project of basic research program of Qinghai province [2022-ZJ-902]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study found that the alpine meadow plant species Kobresia humilis on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have adapted to enhanced UV-B radiation by developing larger leaves and more flowers, with an earlier flowering period.
Enhanced UV-B radiation resulting from stratospheric ozone depletion has been documented both globally and on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. The response of Kobresia humilis, an important alpine meadow plant species, to enhanced UV-B radiation was experimentally investigated at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station (37 degrees 29'-37 degrees 45' N, 101 degrees 12'-101 degrees 23' E; alt. 3200 m). K. humilis was exposed to UV-B radiation including ambient UV-B and enhanced UV-B (simulating a 14% reduction in the ozone layer) in a randomized design with three replications of each treatment. Enhanced UV-B radiation resulted in a significant increase of both leaf area and fresh weight chlorophyll and carotenoid but had no effect on UV-B absorbing pigments. Similarly, enhanced UV-B radiation did not significantly change the photosynthetic 02 elevation rate while leaf thickness, width, and length significantly increased (p < 0.01). The enhanced UV-B radiation was associated with 2-3 days earlier flowering and a larger number of flowers per spikelet. The enhanced UV-B generally resulted in larger leaves and more flowers but earlier phenology. In summary, these findings suggest that alpine species of K. humilis have adapted to the strong solar UV-B radiation intensity presented on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but the interspecies differences and their influence on trophic level should be more concerning.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available