The forage grass Paspalum dilatatum tolerates partial but not complete submergence caused by either deep water or repeated defoliation
M. E. Manzur
A C E , A. A. Grimoldi B and G. G. Striker C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas (IIB-INTECH UNSAM-CONICET), Avenida 25 de Mayo y Francia, San Martín, B1650HMP Buenos Aires, Argentina.
B Cátedra de Forrajicultura, Facultad de Agronomía, IFEVA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina.
C Cátedra de Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Agronomía. IFEVA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Avenida San Martín 4453, C1417DSE Buenos Aires, Argentina.
D School of Agriculture and Environment, Faculty of Science, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: mmanzur@iib.unsam.edu.ar
Crop and Pasture Science 71(2) 190-198 https://doi.org/10.1071/CP19303
Submitted: 24 July 2019 Accepted: 28 October 2019 Published: 6 February 2020
Abstract
Grazing, flooding and their combination are major disturbances that could affect plant performance in humid grasslands. We performed two experiments to study the tolerance of the forage grass Paspalum dilatatum Poir. to different submergence depths and defoliation frequencies. First, we addressed whether this species can shift from the escape strategy to ‘quiescence’ when completely submerged for 30 days. Second, we explored to what extent partial or complete submergence produced by defoliation compromises plant regrowth. The results showed that regardless of the depth of water at submergence, P. dilatatum always responded by attempting to expose its leaf area above water, by increasing the tiller angle and/or blade length (i.e. tiller height). Partially submerged plants showed a reduction in starch concentration (89%) but biomass was unaffected, whereas completely submerged plants did not survive. After one defoliation event, 77% of aerial biomass of partially submerged plants was removed and the concentration of carbon reserves (water-soluble carbohydrates and starch) decreased to half that of control plants. A second event of defoliation (20 days later) of plants with few reserves removed 50–52% of shoot biomass and compromised plant survival, with plants dying before the end of the experiment. In conclusion, P. dilatatum does not tolerate prolonged conditions of complete submergence caused by either deep water columns or repeated defoliation.
Additional keywords: biomass allocation, dallisgrass, shoot elongation.
References
Agnusdei MG, Mazzanti A (2001) Frequency of defoliation of native and naturalized species of the Flooding Pampas (Argentina). Grass and Forage Science 56, 344–351.| Frequency of defoliation of native and naturalized species of the Flooding Pampas (Argentina).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Akman M, Bhikharie AM, McLean EH, Boonman A, Visser EJW, Schranz ME, van Tienderen PH (2012) Wait or escape? Contrasting submergence tolerance strategies of Rorippa amphibia, Rorippa sylvestris and their hybrid. Annals of Botany 109, 1263–1276.
| Wait or escape? Contrasting submergence tolerance strategies of Rorippa amphibia, Rorippa sylvestris and their hybrid.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22499857PubMed |
Bailey-Serres J, Voesenek LACJ (2008) Flooding stress: acclimations and genetic diversity. Annual Review of Plant Biology 59, 313–339.
| Flooding stress: acclimations and genetic diversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18444902PubMed |
Burkart SE, León RJC, Movia CP (1990) Inventario fitosociológico del pastizal de la Depresión del Salado (Prov. de Bs. As.) en un área representativa de sus principales ambientes. Darwiniana 30, 27–69.
Colmer TD, Voesenek LACJ (2009) Flooding tolerance: suites of plant traits in variable environments. Functional Plant Biology 36, 665–681.
| Flooding tolerance: suites of plant traits in variable environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cornaglia PS, Schrauf GE, Nardi MG, Deregibus VA (2005) Seed germination and seedling emergence of Dallisgrass: as affected by soil water availability. Rangeland Ecology and Management 58, 35–40.
| Seed germination and seedling emergence of Dallisgrass: as affected by soil water availability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Couso LL, Gatti ML, Cornaglia PS, Schrauf GE, Fernández RJ (2010) Are more productive varieties of Paspalum dilatatum less tolerant to drought? Grass and Forage Science 65, 296–303.
| Are more productive varieties of Paspalum dilatatum less tolerant to drought?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Di Bella CE, Striker GG, Loreti J, Cosentino DJ, Grimoldi AA (2016) Soil water regime of grassland communities along subtle topographic gradient in the Flooding Pampa (Argentina). Soil and Water Research 11, 90–96.
| Soil water regime of grassland communities along subtle topographic gradient in the Flooding Pampa (Argentina).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ferraro D, Oesterheld M (2002) Effect of defoliation on grass growth. A quantitative review. Oikos 98, 125–133.
| Effect of defoliation on grass growth. A quantitative review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gautam P, Lal B, Raja R, Baig MJ, Haldar D, Rath L, Shahid M, Tripathi R, Mohanty S, Bhattacharyya P, Nayak AK (2014) Post‐flood nitrogen and basal phosphorus management affects survival, metabolic changes and anti-oxidant enzyme activities of submerged rice (Oryza sativa). Functional Plant Biology 41, 1284–1294.
| Post‐flood nitrogen and basal phosphorus management affects survival, metabolic changes and anti-oxidant enzyme activities of submerged rice (Oryza sativa).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gautam P, Lal B, Tripathi R, Baig MJ, Shahid M, Maharana S, Bihari P, Nayak AK (2017) Impact of seedling age and nitrogen application on submergence tolerance of Sub1 and non-Sub1 cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 36, 629–642.
| Impact of seedling age and nitrogen application on submergence tolerance of Sub1 and non-Sub1 cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Imaz JA, Giménez DO, Grimoldi AA, Striker GG (2012) The effects of submergence on anatomical, morphological and biomass allocation responses of tropical grasses Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum at seedling stage. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 1145–1155.
| The effects of submergence on anatomical, morphological and biomass allocation responses of tropical grasses Chloris gayana and Panicum coloratum at seedling stage.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Insausti P, Grimoldi AA, Chaneton EJ, Vasellati V (2001) Flooding induces a suite of adaptive plastic responses in the grass Paspalum dilatatum. New Phytologist 152, 291–299.
| Flooding induces a suite of adaptive plastic responses in the grass Paspalum dilatatum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jensen CR, Luxmoore RJ, Van Gundy SD, Stolzy LH (1969) Root air space measurements by a pycnometer method. Agronomy Journal 61, 474–475.
| Root air space measurements by a pycnometer method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Laan P, Tosserams M, Blom CWPM, Veen BW (1990) Internal oxygen transport in Rumex species and its significance for respiration under hypoxic conditions. Plant and Soil 122, 39–46.
| Internal oxygen transport in Rumex species and its significance for respiration under hypoxic conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lattanzi FA, Schnyder H, Thornton B (2005) The sources of carbon and nitrogen supplying leaf growth—assessment of the role of stores with compartmental models. Plant Physiology 137, 383–395.
| The sources of carbon and nitrogen supplying leaf growth—assessment of the role of stores with compartmental models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15618429PubMed |
Lemaire G, Chapman D (1996) Tissue flows in grazed plant communities. In ‘The ecology and management of grazing systems’. (Eds J Hodgson, AW Illius) pp. 3–36. (CABI: Wallingford, UK)
Letey J, Stolzy LH (1964) Measurement of oxygen diffusion rates with a platinum microelectrode. I. Theory and equipment. Hilgardia 35, 545–554.
| Measurement of oxygen diffusion rates with a platinum microelectrode. I. Theory and equipment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loreti J, Oesterheld M, Sala O (2001) Lack of intraspecific variation in resistance to defoliation in a grass that evolved under light grazing pressure. Plant Ecology 157, 197–204.
| Lack of intraspecific variation in resistance to defoliation in a grass that evolved under light grazing pressure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Luo FL, Nagel KA, Scharr H, Zeng B, Schurr U, Matsubara S (2011) Recovery dynamics of growth, photosynthesis and carbohydrate accumulation after de-submergence: a comparison between two wetland plants showing escape and quiescence strategies. Annals of Botany 107, 49–63.
| Recovery dynamics of growth, photosynthesis and carbohydrate accumulation after de-submergence: a comparison between two wetland plants showing escape and quiescence strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21041230PubMed |
Manzur ME, Grimoldi AA, Insausti P, Striker GG (2009) Escape from water or remain quiescent? Lotus tenuis changes its strategy depending on depth of submergence. Annals of Botany 104, 1163–1169.
| Escape from water or remain quiescent? Lotus tenuis changes its strategy depending on depth of submergence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19687031PubMed |
Matches GA (1992) Plant response to grazing: a review. Journal of Production Agriculture 5, 1–7.
| Plant response to grazing: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McNaughton SJ (1983) Compensatory plant growth as a response to herbivory. Oikos 40, 329–336.
| Compensatory plant growth as a response to herbivory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Métraux JP, Kende H (1983) The role of ethylene in the growth-response of submerged deep-water rice. Plant Physiology 72, 441–446.
| The role of ethylene in the growth-response of submerged deep-water rice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16663022PubMed |
Mollard FPO, Striker GG, Ploschuk EL, Vega AS, Insausti P (2008) Flooding tolerance of Paspalum dilatatum (Poaceae: Paniceae) from upland and lowland positions in a natural grassland. Flora 203, 548–556.
| Flooding tolerance of Paspalum dilatatum (Poaceae: Paniceae) from upland and lowland positions in a natural grassland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mollard FPO, Striker GG, Ploschuk EL, Insausti P (2010) Subtle topographical differences along a floodplain promote different plant strategies among Paspalum dilatatum subspecies and populations. Austral Ecology 35, 189–196.
| Subtle topographical differences along a floodplain promote different plant strategies among Paspalum dilatatum subspecies and populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mommer L, Visser EJW (2005) Underwater photosynthesis in flooded terrestrial plants: a matter of leaf plasticity. Annals of Botany 96, 581–589.
| Underwater photosynthesis in flooded terrestrial plants: a matter of leaf plasticity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16024559PubMed |
Mommer L, Pons TL, Visser EJW (2006) Photosynthetic consequences of phenotypic plasticity in response to submergence: Rumex palustris as a case study. Journal of Experimental Botany 57, 283–290.
Oesterheld M, McNaughton SJ (1991a) Interactive effect of flooding and grazing on the growth of Serengeti grasses. Oecologia 88, 153–156.
| Interactive effect of flooding and grazing on the growth of Serengeti grasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28312125PubMed |
Oesterheld M, McNaughton SJ (1991b) Effect of stress and time of recovery on the amount of compensatory growth after grazing. Oecologia 85, 305–313.
| Effect of stress and time of recovery on the amount of compensatory growth after grazing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28312033PubMed |
Sasidharan R, Voesenek LACJ (2015) Ethylene-mediated acclimations to flooding stress. Plant Physiology 169, 3–12.
| Ethylene-mediated acclimations to flooding stress.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25897003PubMed |
Sasidharan R, Bailey-Serres J, Ashikari M, Atwell B, Colmer TD, Fagerstedt K, Fukao T, Geigenberger G, Hebelstrup K, Hill RD, Holdsworth MJ, Ismail A, Licausi F, Mustroph A, Nakazono M, Pedersen O, Perata P, Sauter M, Shih MC, Sorrell B, Striker GG, van Dongen JT, Whelan J, Xiao S, Visser EJW, Voesenek LACJ (2017) Community recommendations on terminology and procedures used in flooding and low oxygen stress research. New Phytologist 214, 1403–1407.
| Community recommendations on terminology and procedures used in flooding and low oxygen stress research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28277605PubMed |
Setter TL, Laureles EV (1996) The beneficial effect of reduced elongation growth on submergence tolerance of rice. Journal of Experimental Botany 47, 1551–1559.
| The beneficial effect of reduced elongation growth on submergence tolerance of rice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soil Survey Staff (1975) ‘Soil Taxonomy.’ United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Handbook No. 436. (U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC)
Striker GG, Insausti P, Grimoldi AA (2008) Flooding effects on plant recovery from defoliation in the grass Paspalum dilatatum and the legume Lotus tenuis. Annals of Botany 102, 247–254.
| Flooding effects on plant recovery from defoliation in the grass Paspalum dilatatum and the legume Lotus tenuis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18499769PubMed |
Striker GG, Manzur ME, Grimoldi AA (2011a) Increasing defoliation frequency constrains regrowth of Lotus tenuis under flooding. The role of crown reserves. Plant and Soil 343, 261–272.
| Increasing defoliation frequency constrains regrowth of Lotus tenuis under flooding. The role of crown reserves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Striker GG, Mollard FPO, Grimoldi AA, León RJC, Insausti P (2011b) Trampling enhances the dominance of graminoids over forbs in flooded grassland mesocosms. Applied Vegetation Science 14, 95–106.
| Trampling enhances the dominance of graminoids over forbs in flooded grassland mesocosms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Striker GG, Casas C, Kuang X, Grimoldi AA (2017) No escape? Costs and benefits of leaf de-submergence in the pasture grass Chloris gayana under different flooding regimes. Functional Plant Biology 44, 899–906.
| No escape? Costs and benefits of leaf de-submergence in the pasture grass Chloris gayana under different flooding regimes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Striker GG, Kotula L, Colmer TD (2019) Tolerance to partial and complete submergence in the forage legume Melilotus siculus: an evaluation of 15 accessions for petiole hyponastic response and gas-filled spaces, leaf hydrophobicity and gas films, and root phellem. Annals of Botany 123, 169–180.
| Tolerance to partial and complete submergence in the forage legume Melilotus siculus: an evaluation of 15 accessions for petiole hyponastic response and gas-filled spaces, leaf hydrophobicity and gas films, and root phellem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30124766PubMed |
Thorne GN (1959) Photosynthesis of lamina and sheath of barley leaves. Annals of Botany 23, 365–370.
| Photosynthesis of lamina and sheath of barley leaves.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
von Ende CN (1993) Repeated-measures analysis: growth and other time-dependent measures. In ‘Design and analysis of ecological plants’. (Eds SM Scheiner, J Gurevitch) pp. 113–137. (Chapman & Hall: New York)
Yemm EW, Willis AJ (1954) The estimation of carbohydrates in plants extracts by Anthrone. The Biochemical Journal 57, 508–514.
