Annual Herbaceous Plants Exhibit Altered Morphological Traits in Response to Altered Precipitation and Drought Patterns in Semiarid Sandy Grassland, Northern China

• DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.756950
• Publication Date: 2022-06-23T08:36:51Z
• Authors: Shan-Shan Sun; Xin-Ping Liu; Xue-Yong Zhao; Eduardo Medina-Ro...; Yu-Hui He; Peng Lv; Hong-Jiao Hu
• Keywords: Herbaceous plant; Growing season; Drought stress

The frequency and intensity of extreme precipitation events severe drought are predicted to increase in semiarid areas due global climate change. Plant morphological traits can reflect plant responses a changing environment, such as altered or patterns. In this study, we examined the response root, stem, leaf reproduction meristems annual herbaceous species patterns sandy grassland. study involved control treatment (100% background precipitation) following six treatments: (1) P(+): increased by 30%, (2) P(++): 60%, (3) P(-): decreased (4) P(--): (5) 1 (D1): 46-day from May 1st June 15th, (6) 2 (D2): July August 15th. P(++) significantly root length, flower length-to-width ratio, both P(+) stem length number growing seasons, while all them under P(-) P(--). plants marginally second-level branches diameter order better resist stress leaf, dry weight, with weight accounting for larger proportion than other aboveground parts. Under D2, used limited water resources more efficiently increasing root-to-shoot ratio compared P(-), P(--) D1, which reflects biomass allocation belowground increased. linear mixed-effects models redundancy analysis showed that various components were affected magnitude. Our results have evolved trait allow adapt Such differences may ultimately affect species, enhancing their drought-tolerant capacity grassland during ongoing