Variation in growth form in relation to spectral light quality (red/far-red ratio) in Plantago lanceolata L in sun and shade populations

TY - JOUR

T1 - Variation in growth form in relation to spectral light quality (red/far-red ratio) in Plantago lanceolata L in sun and shade populations

AU - Van Hinsberg, A.

AU - Van Tienderen, P.H.

N1 - Reporting year: 1997 Metis note: 2357; CTE; PVP; file:///L:/Endnotedatabases/NIOOPUB/pdfs/Pdfs1997/VanHinsberg_ea_2357.pdf

PY - 1997

Y1 - 1997

N2 - Plants from a sun and shade population were grown in two environments differing in the ratio of red to far-red light (R/FR ratio). A low R/FR ratio, simulating vegetation shade, promoted the formation of long, upright-growing leaves and allocation towards shoot growth, whereas a high R/FR ratio had the opposite effects. The increase in plant height under the low R/FR ratio was accompanied by a reduction in the number of leaves. Population differences in growth form resembled the differences between plants grown in different light environments: plants from the shade population had rosettes with long erect leaves, whereas plants from the sun population formed prostrate rosettes with short leaves. Plants from the shade population were more responsive to the R/FR ratio than plants from the sun population: the increases in leaf length, plant height, and leaf area ratio under a low R/FR ratio were larger in the shade population. However, differences in plasticity were small compared to the population difference in growth form itself. We argue that plants do not respond optimally to shading and that developmental constraints might have limited the evolution of an optimal response. [KEYWORDS: phenotypic plasticity; shade avoidance Relevant morphological variability; 3 contrasting habitats; genetic differentiation; portulaca seedlings; neighbor plants; steady-state; phytochrome; responses; radiation; competition]

AB - Plants from a sun and shade population were grown in two environments differing in the ratio of red to far-red light (R/FR ratio). A low R/FR ratio, simulating vegetation shade, promoted the formation of long, upright-growing leaves and allocation towards shoot growth, whereas a high R/FR ratio had the opposite effects. The increase in plant height under the low R/FR ratio was accompanied by a reduction in the number of leaves. Population differences in growth form resembled the differences between plants grown in different light environments: plants from the shade population had rosettes with long erect leaves, whereas plants from the sun population formed prostrate rosettes with short leaves. Plants from the shade population were more responsive to the R/FR ratio than plants from the sun population: the increases in leaf length, plant height, and leaf area ratio under a low R/FR ratio were larger in the shade population. However, differences in plasticity were small compared to the population difference in growth form itself. We argue that plants do not respond optimally to shading and that developmental constraints might have limited the evolution of an optimal response. [KEYWORDS: phenotypic plasticity; shade avoidance Relevant morphological variability; 3 contrasting habitats; genetic differentiation; portulaca seedlings; neighbor plants; steady-state; phytochrome; responses; radiation; competition]

KW - NIOO/CTE/PVP

U2 - 10.1007/s004420050258

DO - 10.1007/s004420050258

M3 - Article

SN - 0029-8549

VL - 111

SP - 452

EP - 459

JO - Oecologia

JF - Oecologia

IS - 4

ER -