Effects of light on morphological plasticity and biomass allocation of Momordica charantia

Abstract

Abstract: The growth dynamics, morphological characteristics and biomass allocation of climbing plant Momordica charantia were studied under shading. The results showed that the growth of Momordica charantia had a significant difference under different levels of shading. Under weak light, the plants decreased the chance to increase their modular numbers and accumulate biomass, and had fewer shoots, thinner laminas, longer and thinner petioles, and more slender stems. The plants showed a stronger morphological plasticity under weak light than under strong light, and had a stronger morphological plasticity at early growth stage than at later growth stage. The laminas and stem biomass allocation increased, while branch biomass allocation decreased with decreasing light illumination. Light intensity had little effect on biomass allocation to shoot stems. External support is not necessary for the growth of Momordica charantia under strong light.

Key words: Climbing plant, Morphological plasticity, Biomass allocation, Momordica charantia , index of relative importance, niche breadth, Minjiang River Estuary., niche overlap

CLC Number:

TAO Jianping, ZHONG Zhangcheng . Effects of light on morphological plasticity and biomass allocation of Momordica charantia[J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2003, (3): 336-340.

References

[1] Cai Y-L(蔡永立),Song Y-C(宋永昌).2001.Adaptive ecology of lianas in Tiantong evergreen broad-leaved forest,Zhejiang,China 1. Leaf anatomical characters.Acta Phytoecol Sin(植物生态学报),25(1):90～98 (in Chinese)
[2] Dong M.1993.Morphological plasticity of the clonal herb Lamiastrum galeobdolon L. Ehrend & Polatschek in response to partial shading.New Phytol,124:291～300
[3] Dong M (董鸣).1996. Plant clonal growth in heterogeneous habitats:Risk-spreading.Acta Phytoecol Sin(植物生态学报),20(6):543～548 (in Chinese)
[4] de Kroon H, Hutchings MJ.1995.Morphological plasticity in clonal plants:The foraging concept reconsidered.J Ecol,83:143～152
[5] den Dubbelden KC. 1999. On the adaptive growth strategy of climbing herbs. In: Dong M(董鸣) ed.A Spectrum of Ecological Studies. Chongqing:Southwest China Normal University Press.35～45(in Chinese)
[6] den Dubbelden KC, Oosterbeek B.1995.The availability of eternal support affects allocation patterns and morphology of herbaceous climbing plants.Funct Ecol,9:628～634
[7] den Dubbelden KC, Verburg RW.1996.Inherent allocation patterns and potential growth rates of herbaceous climbing plant.Plant Soil,184:341～347
[8] During HJ, Kwant RA, Werger MJA.1994.Effect of light quantity on above-ground biomass investment patterns in the vine Lonicera periclymenum and the shrub Lonicera xyloseum.Phytocoenologia,24:597～607
[9] Hutchings MJ, de Kroon H.1994.Foraging in plants:The role of morphological plasticity in resource acquisition.Adv Ecol Res,25:159～238
[10] He W-M(何维明), Zhong Z-C(钟章成).2000. Morphological and growth responses of the climbing plant,Gynostemma pentaphyllum seedlings to varying light intensity.Acta Phytoecol Sin(植物生态学报),24(3):375～378(in Chinese)
[11] He W-M(何维明),Zhong Z-C(钟章成).2001.Effects of external support on the foraging behavior and reproductive strategies in Gynostemma pentaphylum populations.Acta Ecol Sin(生态学报),21(1):47～50(in Chinese)
[12] Slade AJ, Hutchings MJ.1987.The effect of light intensity on foraging in the clonal herb Glechoma hederacea.J Ecol,75:639～650
[13] Tao J-P(陶建平), Zhong Z-C(钟章成).2000.Morphological responses to different nutrient supply in the stoloniferous herb Glechoma longituba.Acta Ecol Sin(生态学报),20(2):207～211(in Chinese)
[14] Tao J-P(陶建平), Huang L(黄林).1999 .Growth and reproduction of the clonal plant Glechoma longituba in different habitats. In: Dong M(董鸣) ed. A Spectrum of Ecological Studies.Chongqing:Southwest China Normal University Press.27～34(in Chinese)

[1]	ZHANG Tao, WO Jia, LIU Yiwen, XU Binduo, XUE Ying, REN Yiping, ZHANG Chongliang. Species composition and spatial and temporal distribution of occasional fishes in Haizhou Bay, Shandong, China. [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2023, 34(3): 787-795.
[2]	MA Jing-ran, WANG Ya-nan, CHANG Lu, DENG Jiao-jiao, ZHOU Wang-ming, YU Da-pao, WANG Qing-wei. Effects of canopy spectral composition on growth and photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics of Pinus koraiensis and Quercus mongolica seedlings [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2022, 33(9): 2314-2320.
[3]	LIAO Rui-yan, WU Xiao-qi, JIN Cheng, HUANG Li, QIAN Shen-hua, YANG Yong-chuan. Effect of canopy condition on Machilus nanmu seedling configuration and biomass allocation [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2021, 32(6): 2061-2069.
[4]	LIU Kun, YU Cun-gen, XU Yong-jiu, JIANG Xin-qin, ZHENG Ji, YU Nan-jing, ZHANG Pei-yi, JIANG Qiao-li, NIU Wei-zhen, WANG Hui-jun. Spatio-temporal niche of major fish species in Pishan waters off Zhejiang Province, China [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2021, 32(3): 1069-1079.
[5]	WANG He-qi, SONG Yan-tao, LI Qiang, FAN Gao-hua, WANG Ting, ZHOU Dao-wei , HUANG Ying-xin. Trade-off relationship and internal mechanism of plant leaf size and number in Hulunbuir grassland, China [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2021, 32(2): 425-432.
[6]	ZHANG Ya-zhou, ZHANG Lin-lin, YIN Rui, LUAN Hui-ni, LIU Zhi-jian, CHEN Jian, JIANG Ri-jin. Spatial niches of dominant zooplankton species in Yueqing Bay, Zhejiang Province [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2021, 32(1): 342-348.
[7]	CAI Yan-cong, SUN Ming-shuai, XU You-wei, LI Jia-jun, HUANG Zi-rong, CHEN Zuo-zhi, YANG Chang-ping, LIU Wei-da, ZHANG Heng. Dominant species of cephalopods and their niche characteristics in offshore of northern South China Sea [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020, 31(8): 2793-2803.
[8]	LIU Ming-hua, LIANG Jun, XU Han-xiang. Spatio-temporal niche of dominant shrimp species in the Zhongjieshan Islands Marine Protected Area, China [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020, 31(5): 1746-1752.
[9]	ZHAI Feng-qiang, CAI Zhi-quan, LU Jian-mei. Effects of nitrogen application rate on the growth traits in seedlings of different quinoa cultivars [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020, 31(4): 1139-1145.
[10]	ZHANG Lin-lin, ZHOU Yong-dong, JIANG Ri-jin, LI Zhe, FAN ZI-wei, YIN Rui, ZHU YU-dan, RUI Yin, XIAO Yi. Spatial niche of major fish species in spring in the coastal waters of central and southern Zhejiang Province, China [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020, 31(2): 659-666.
[11]	HE Jia-li, WANG Jin-niu, ZHOU Tian-yang, SONG Yi-ke, SHI Ning, NIYATI Naudiyal, WU Yan. Effects of growth stage and altitude on twig functional traits and biomass allocation of Rhododendron przewalskii in the headwater region of Minjiang River, China. [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020, 31(12): 4027-4034.
[12]	ZHANG Peng-fei, SUN Zhi-gao, CHEN Bing-bing, HU Xing-yun, LI Xiao, HE Tao, MAO Li, ZHANG Wen-ting. Effects of spatial expansion of Phragmites australis and Cyperus malaccensis on distributions and stocks of phosphorus in marshes in the Minjiang River estuary, China. [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020, 31(12): 4258-4266.
[13]	ZHANG Lan, ZHANG Ling-wei, LIU Hui-liang, CHEN Yan-feng. Effects of increased precipitation on growth of two ephemeral plants in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2020, 31(1): 9-16.
[14]	BU Dong-dong, LI Ang, WANG Yin-liu, WANG Chang-hui, HUANG Jian-hui. Effects of nitrogen and plant growth promoter addition on the growth and competitiveness of Leymus chinensis [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2019, 30(8): 2667-2674.
[15]	CUI Wan-ying, LIU Si-jia, WEI Ya-wei, YIN You, ZHOU Li, ZHOU Wang-ming, YU Da-pao. Effects of nitrogen addition on biomass allocation of Pinus koraiensis and Fraxinus mandshurica seedlings under water stress. [J]. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2019, 30(5): 1463-1453.