Air humidity as key determinant of morphogenesis and productivity of the rare temperate woodland fern Polystichum braunii

Plant Biology
R Schwerbrock, Christoph Leuschner

Abstract

(1) Most ferns are restricted to moist and shady habitats, but it is not known whether soil moisture or atmospheric water status are decisive limiting factors, or if both are equally important. (2) Using the rare temperate woodland fern Polystichum braunii, we conducted a three-factorial climate chamber experiment (soil moisture (SM) × air humidity (RH) × air temperature (T)) to test the hypotheses that: (i) atmospheric water status (RH) exerts a similarly large influence on the fern's biology as soil moisture, and (ii) both a reduction in RH and an increase in air temperature reduce vigour and growth. (3) Nine of 11 morphological, physiological and growth-related traits were significantly influenced by an increase in RH from 65% to 95%, leading to higher leaf conductance, increased above- and belowground productivity, higher fertility, more epidermal trichomes and fewer leaf deformities under high air humidity. In contrast, soil moisture variation (from 66% to 70% in the moist to ca. 42% in the dry treatment) influenced only one trait (specific leaf area), and temperature variation (15 °C versus 19 °C during daytime) only three traits (leaf conductance, root/shoot ratio, specific leaf area); RH was the only factor affecting pr...Continue Reading

References

Jan 13, 2004·Nature·Christoph SchärChristof Appenzeller
Apr 20, 2006·Plant & Cell Physiology·Michio DoiKen-Ichiro Shimazaki
Sep 8, 2007·The New Phytologist·James E WatkinsStephen S Mulkey
Dec 18, 2010·Science·Tim J Brodribb, Scott A M McAdam
Jun 11, 2011·Current Biology : CB·Elizabeth M RuszalaAlistair M Hetherington

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