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Interactive effects of UV radiation and drought on the accumulation of flavonols in selected herbs and grass in a mountain grassland ecosystem
Veselá, Barbora ; Surá, Kateřina ; Rajsnerová, Petra ; Klem, Karel ; Holub, Petr ; Urban, Otmar
The main objective of this 4-year experiment conducted in a mountain grassland ecosystem was to investigate the interactive effects of ultraviolet (UV) treatment and drought on changes in accumulation of UV-screening compounds (flavonols) in selected herbs (Hypericum maculatum Crantz, Rumex obtusifolius L.) and grass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth.). Inasmuch as drought and UV radiation induce similar protective mechanisms, we tested the hypothesis that UV radiation and drought elicit synergistic effects on flavonol accumulation. The experimental plots were manipulated using rainout shelters enabling the exclusion and transmission of incident precipitation and UV radiation. Generally, UV and drought treatments had similar effects on flavonol accumulation. For R. obtusifolius, UV exclusion resulted in a substantial reduction of UV-screening compounds, particularly under ambient precipitation conditions, while for H. maculatum and A. tenuis UV exclusion caused only a slight reduction of flavonol content. Similarly, the drought treatment caused an increase in flavonol accumulation.
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Convergence of morphological, biochemical, and physiological traits of upper and lower canopy of European beech leaves and Norway spruce needles within altitudinal gradients
Rajsnerová, Petra ; Klem, Karel ; Večeřová, Kristýna ; Veselá, Barbora ; Surá, Kateřina ; Rajsner, Lukáš ; Holub, Petr ; Urban, Otmar
Climatic variation along altitudinal gradients provides an excellent natural experimental set-up for investigating the possible impacts of climate change on terrestrial organisms and ecosystems. The present work has explored for the first time the acclimation of upper versus lower canopy leaves or needles in European beech (Fagus sylvatica) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) forests along an altitudinal gradient. We tested the hypothesis that restrictive climatic conditions associated with high altitudes reduce within-canopy variations of leaf traits. The investigated beech and spruce forests were located on the southern slope of the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains (Czech Republic). All measurements were taken on leaves from the upper and lower parts of the canopy of mature trees (>60 years old) growing at low (400 m a.s.l.), middle (720 m a.s.l.), and high (1,100 m a.s.l.) altitudes. Generally, we observed that with increasing altitude, which is associated with adverse microclimatic conditions, a convergence of CO2 assimilation rate and other physiological, morphological, and biochemical characteristics between the upper and lower canopy occurred. However, differences in altitudinal response among individual traits and species were found. Such plasticity in acclimation of leaves and needles has the potential to cause substantial change in the photosynthesis of individual parts of forest canopies within the vertical profile and their contribution to the overall carbon balance of vegetation.
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Effects of UV radiation and drouhgt on the accumulation of UV-screening compounds and photosynthetic parameters in selected herbs and grasses of the mountain grassland ecosystem
Klem, Karel ; Holub, Petr ; Urban, Otmar ; Rajsnerová, Petra ; Kubásek, Jiří
The main objective of the experiment conducted on a mountain grassland ecosystem was to investigate the interactive eff ects of UV treatment and drought on the changes in accumulation of UV-screening compounds and photosynthetic parameters in selected herb (Hypericum maculatum) and grass (Agrostis tenuis) species. Th e experimental plots were manipulated using roof constructions enabling exclusion or transmission of incident precipitation and UV radiation, respectively. Generally, UV and drought treatments had a similar eff ect on the accumulation of fl avonols. UV exclusion resulted in a slight reduction of UV-screening compounds, particularly under the conditions of ambient precipitation. Likewise, drought treatment caused an increase in the accumulation of fl avonols per area unit. Under UV exclusion, drought slightly reduced the light-saturated CO2 assimilation rate (Amax) in both the species studied. Th e presence of UV radiation, however, led to less of a diff erence in Amax between [wet] and [dry] treatments. In addition to the increased induction of fl avonols, UV radiation increased water use effi ciency and alleviated thus the negative impact of drought on photosynthesis.
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