A putative hybrid of Eucalyptus largiflorens growing on salt- and drought-affected floodplains has reduced specific leaf area and leaf nitrogen
Georgia R. Koerber A E , Jack V. Seekamp A D , Peter A. Anderson A , Molly A. Whalen A and Stephen D. Tyerman B C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
B Cooperative Research Centre for Viticulture, PO Box 154, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
C School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
D Deceased (11 February 2007).
E Corresponding author. Email: g.koerber@internode.on.net
Australian Journal of Botany 60(4) 358-367 https://doi.org/10.1071/BT12012
Submitted: 18 January 2012 Accepted: 13 April 2012 Published: 25 June 2012
Abstract
A putative hybrid between Eucalyptus largiflorens F.Muell. and Eucalyptus gracilis F.Muell., called green box, has attracted attention for its ability to grow on the salt- and drought-affected Chowilla floodplain of the Murray River in South Australia. Relationships between carbon isotope discrimination (Δ13C) and the ratio of substomatal to ambient CO2 (ci/ca) indicated that green box was not as water use efficient as E. largiflorens. Specific leaf area of green box and E. gracilis was significantly lower compared with E. largiflorens (38.38 and 36.96 versus 43.71 cm2 g–1). Leaf nitrogen for green box and E. gracilis was significantly lower compared with E. largiflorens (12.66 and 11.35 versus 15.07 mg g–1 dry weight, P = 0.004 and 0.001, respectively) and leaf carbon of E. gracilis was significantly higher compared with green box and E. largiflorens (541.75 versus 514.90 and 519.82 mg g–1 dry weight, P = 0.002 and 0.011 respectively). There were significantly (P = 0.016) more occurrences of elevated ci/ca below a minimum gs in E. gracilis compared with E. largiflorens, with green box being intermediate (means = 21.6, 6.8 and 9.4). After 10 years, E. largiflorens trunk circumference had significantly increased (P = 0.017) and height had significantly decreased (P = 0.026) due to visible dieback. Green box and E. gracilis grew slower, conserving resources, illustrating a useful strategy to consider when choosing plants for revegetation efforts.
References
Brodribb T (1996) Dynamics of changing intercellular CO2 concentration (c i) during drought and determination of minimum functional c i. Plant Physiology 111, 179–185.Condon AG, Richards RA, Rebetzke GJ, Farquhar GD (2004) Breeding for high water-use efficiency. Journal of Experimental Botany 55, 2447–2460.
| Breeding for high water-use efficiency.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXovVOisrk%3D&md5=9f1a5ad07bba837465bcb2e771ab75aeCAS |
Dawson TE, Brooks PD (2001) Fundamentals of stable isotope chemistry and measurement. In ‘Stable isotope techniques in the study of biological processes and functioning of ecosystems’. pp. 1–18. (Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, The Netherlands)
Farquhar GD, Ehleringer JR, Hubick KT (1989) Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 40, 503–537.
| Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXktlKmu70%3D&md5=81bf4044435e418e817414a44c9935abCAS |
Flexas J, Bota J, Escalona JM, Sampol B, Medrano H (2002) Effects of drought on photosynthesis in grapevines under field conditions: an evaluation of stomatal and mesophyll limitations. Functional Plant Biology 29, 461–471.
| Effects of drought on photosynthesis in grapevines under field conditions: an evaluation of stomatal and mesophyll limitations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flexas J, Ribas-Carbó M, Diaz-Esipejo A, Galmés J, Medrano H (2008) Mesophyll conductance to CO2: current knowledge and future prospects. Plant, Cell & Environment 31, 602–621.
| Mesophyll conductance to CO2: current knowledge and future prospects.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXlvFehtbc%3D&md5=9c429268ee829bc4f600a0e7c53ac486CAS |
Fourcaud T, Zhang X, Stokes A, Lambers H, Körner C (2008) Plant growth modelling and applications: the increasing importance of plant architecture in growth models. Annals of Botany 101, 1053–1063.
| Plant growth modelling and applications: the increasing importance of plant architecture in growth models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hassiotou F, Ludwig M, Renton M, Veneklaas EJ, Evans JR (2009) Influence of leaf dry mass per area, CO2, and irradiance on mesophyll conductance in sclerophylls. Journal of Experimental Botany 60, 2303–2314.
| Influence of leaf dry mass per area, CO2, and irradiance on mesophyll conductance in sclerophylls.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXmtlyiurs%3D&md5=cf5bc1f8904fd650a444bab41f4aef4bCAS |
Högberg P (1997) Tansley review no 95. N-15 natural abundance in soil–plant systems. New Phytologist 137, 179–203.
| Tansley review no 95. N-15 natural abundance in soil–plant systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jarwal SD, Walker GR, Jolly ID (1996) General site description. In ‘Salt and water movement in the Chowilla floodplain’. (Eds GR Walker, ID Jolly, SD Jarwal) pp. 5–20. (CSIRO Division of Water Resources: Canberra)
Kingsford RT (2000) Ecological impacts of dams, water diversions and river management on floodplain wetlands in Australia. Austral Ecology 25, 109–127.
| Ecological impacts of dams, water diversions and river management on floodplain wetlands in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambers H, Poorter H (1992) Inherent variation in growth rate between higher plants: a search for physiological causes and ecological consequences. Advances in Ecological Research 23, 187–261.
| Inherent variation in growth rate between higher plants: a search for physiological causes and ecological consequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXksVGiu7w%3D&md5=b0b57c79a98627d792c1b019899b9d50CAS |
Lambers H, Stuart Chapin F, III, Pons TL (2008) ‘Plant physiological ecology.’ (Springer: New York)
Lawlor DW (2002) Limitation to photosynthesis in water-stressed leaves: stomata vs. metabolism and the role of ATP. Annals of Botany 89, 871–885.
| Limitation to photosynthesis in water-stressed leaves: stomata vs. metabolism and the role of ATP.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XlsVeitLk%3D&md5=6e37089079ff2e1a1a86c4ad7f30e525CAS |
Lloyd J, Syvertsen JP, Kriedemann PE, Farquhar GD (1992) Low conductances for CO2 diffusion from stomata to the sites of carboxylation in leaves of woody species. Plant, Cell & Environment 15, 873–899.
| Low conductances for CO2 diffusion from stomata to the sites of carboxylation in leaves of woody species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXnslansA%3D%3D&md5=8eaafdb695d0ac2402b0adb1cb45e5faCAS |
NEC (1988) Chowilla salinity mitigation scheme – Draft environmental impact statement. Report prepared by Natural Environment Consultancy for the Engineering and Water Supply Department of South Australia.
Niinemets U (1999) Components of leaf dry mass per area – thickness and density – alter leaf photosynthetic capacity in reverse directions in woody plants. New Phytologist 144, 35–47.
| Components of leaf dry mass per area – thickness and density – alter leaf photosynthetic capacity in reverse directions in woody plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Niinemets U, Wright IJ, Evans JR (2009) Leaf mesophyll diffusion conductance in 35 Australian sclerophylls covering a broad range of foliage structural and physiological variation. Journal of Experimental Botany 60, 2433–2449.
| Leaf mesophyll diffusion conductance in 35 Australian sclerophylls covering a broad range of foliage structural and physiological variation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXmtlyiuro%3D&md5=daa13a58623deff14ade0d88174e68c4CAS |
Nobel PS (1977) Internal leaf area and cellular CO2 resistance: photosynthetic implications of variations with growth conditions and plant species. Physiologia Plantarum 40, 137–144.
| Internal leaf area and cellular CO2 resistance: photosynthetic implications of variations with growth conditions and plant species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE2sXks1GntLg%3D&md5=b5c4c23e6ae487669ec4f352fc0e5eceCAS |
Overton I, Doody T (2010) Ecosystem response modelling in the Chowilla floodplain, Lindsay and Wallpolla islands icon site. In ‘Ecosystem response modelling in the Murray–Darling Basin’. (Ed. N Saintilan, I Overton) pp. 357–372. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne)
Overton IC, Jolly ID, Slavich PG, Lewis MM, Walker GR (2006) Modelling vegetation health from the interaction of saline groundwater and flooding on the Chowilla floodplain, South Australia. Australian Journal of Botany 54, 207–220.
| Modelling vegetation health from the interaction of saline groundwater and flooding on the Chowilla floodplain, South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parsons RF, Zubrinich TM (2010) The green-leaved variant of Eucalyptus largiflorens: a story involving hybridization and observant local people. Cunninghamia 11, 413–416.
Poorter H, Evans JR (1998) Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency of species that differ inherently in specific leaf area. Oecologia 116, 26–37.
| Photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency of species that differ inherently in specific leaf area.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reich PB, Ellsworth DS, Walters MB (1998) Leaf structure (specific leaf area) modulates photosynthesis–nitrogen relations: evidence from within and across species and functional groups. Functional Ecology 12, 948–958.
| Leaf structure (specific leaf area) modulates photosynthesis–nitrogen relations: evidence from within and across species and functional groups.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schieving F, Poorter H (1999) Carbon gain in a multispecies canopy: the role of specific leaf area and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in the tragedy of the commons. New Phytologist 143, 201–211.
| Carbon gain in a multispecies canopy: the role of specific leaf area and photosynthetic nitrogen-use efficiency in the tragedy of the commons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scholander PF, Hammel HT, Bradstreet ED, Hemmingsen EA (1965) Sap pressure in vascular plants. Science 148, 339–346.
| Sap pressure in vascular plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cvlsVKquw%3D%3D&md5=c1cc635969038621d641375c8c7497cfCAS |
Sharley T, Huggan C (1995) Chowilla resource management plan. Murray–Darling Basin Commission’s Chowilla Working Group, 0730846970, Canberra.
Vile D, Garnier E, Shipley B, Laurent G, Navas M-L, Roumet C, Lavorel S, Di’as S, Hodgson JG, Lloret F, Midgley GF, Poorter H, Rutherford MC, Wilson PJ, Wright IJ (2005) Specific leaf area and dry matter content estimate thickness of laminar leaves. Annals of Botany 96, 1129–1136.
| Specific leaf area and dry matter content estimate thickness of laminar leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
von Caemmerer S, Evans JR (1991) Determination of the average partial pressure of CO2 in chloroplasts from leaves of several C3 plants. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology 18, 287–305.
| Determination of the average partial pressure of CO2 in chloroplasts from leaves of several C3 plants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXltlaisrc%3D&md5=a31b12643694d876e8470c4dff6d33a9CAS |
Warren CR, Adams MA (2006) Internal conductance does not scale with photosynthetic capacity: implications for carbon isotope discrimination and the economics of water and nitrogen use in photosynthesis. Plant, Cell & Environment 29, 192–201.
| Internal conductance does not scale with photosynthetic capacity: implications for carbon isotope discrimination and the economics of water and nitrogen use in photosynthesis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XitFWjtLc%3D&md5=6650a7797c337946fad6e0b098d46ecfCAS |
Wright IJ, Reich PB, Westoby M, Ackerly DD, Baruch Z, Bongers F, Cavender-Bares J, Chapin T, Cornelissen JHC, Diemer M, Flexas J, Garnier E, Groom PK, Gulias J, Hikosaka K, Lamont BB, Lee T, Lee W, Lusk C, Midgley JJ, Navas M-L, Niinemets U, Oleksyn J, Osada N, Poorter H, Poot P, Prior L, Pyankov VI, Roumet C, Thomas SC, Tjoelker MG, Veneklaas EJ, Villar R (2004) The worldwide leaf economics spectrum. Nature 428, 821–827.
| The worldwide leaf economics spectrum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjt1Crt74%3D&md5=9132fa3148d3f2b6d93965a733af57efCAS |
Zubrinich TM (1996) An investigation of the ecophysiological, morphological and genetic characteristics of Eucalyptus largiflorens F.Muell and Eucalyptus gracilis F.Muell; in relation to soil salinity and groundwater conditions throughout the Chowilla Anabranch. PhD Thesis, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide.
Zubrinich TM, Loveys B, Gallasch S, Seekamp JV, Tyerman SD (2000) Tolerance of salinized floodplain conditions in a naturally occurring Eucalyptus hybrid related to lowered plant water potential. Tree Physiology 20, 953–963.
| Tolerance of salinized floodplain conditions in a naturally occurring Eucalyptus hybrid related to lowered plant water potential.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MvgvFWnug%3D%3D&md5=4196871f31d6fc10468b68fce866d450CAS |
