Search Results (5)

Phenotypic plasticity is an important adaptive strategy that enables plants to respond to environmental changes, particularly temperature fluctuations associated with global warming. In this study, the phenotypic plasticity of Iris pumila leaf traits in response to an elevated temperature (by 1 °C) was investigated under controlled experimental conditions. In particular, we investigated important functional and mechanistic leaf traits: specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), specific leaf water content (SLWC), stomatal density (SD), leaf thickness (LT), and chlorophyll content. The results revealed that an elevated temperature induced trait-specific plastic responses, with mechanistic traits exhibiting greater plasticity than functional traits, reflecting their role in short-term acclimation. SLA and SD increased at higher temperatures, promoting photosynthesis and gas exchange, while reductions in SLWC, LDMC, LT, and chlorophyll content suggest a trade-off in favor of growth and metabolic activity over structural investment. Notably, chlorophyll content exhibited the highest plasticity, emphasizing its crucial role in modulating photosynthetic efficiency under thermal stress. Correlation analyses revealed strong phenotypic integration between leaf traits, with distinct trait relationships emerging under different temperature conditions. These findings suggest that I. pumila employs both rapid physiological adjustments and longer-term structural strategies to cope with thermal stress, with mechanistic traits facilitating rapid adjustments and functional traits maintaining ecological stability. Full article

Phenotypic plasticity is widely acknowledged as one of the most common solutions for coping with novel environmental conditions following climate change. However, it is less known whether the current amounts of trait plasticity, which is sufficient for matching with the contemporary climate, will be adequate when global temperatures exceed historical levels. We addressed this issue by exploring the responses of functional and structural leaf traits in Iris pumila clonal individuals to experimentally increased temperatures (~1.5 °C) using an open top chamber (OTC) design. We determined the phenotypic values of the specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, specific leaf water content, and leaf thickness in the leaves sampled from the same clone inside and outside of the OTC deployed on it, over seasons and years within two natural populations. We analyzed the data using a repeated multivariate analysis of variance, which primarily focusses on the profiles (reaction norms (RNs)) of a variable gathered from the same individual at several different time points. We found that the mean RNs of all analyzed traits were parallel regardless of experienced temperatures, but differed in the level and the shape. The populations RNs were similar as well. As the amount of plasticity in the analyzed leaf trait was adequate for coping with elevated temperatures inside the OTCs, we predict that it will be also sufficient for responding to increased temperatures if they exceed the 1.5 °C target. Full article

The current state of the coenotic populations of Iris pumila L. (Iridaceae) were studied in the southeast of the European part of Russia (Samara Region). The phytocenotic confinement and population structure of the species were assessed. I. pumila preferred growing in steppe zonal communities. In total, 118 species of vascular plants were found in the communities, where I. pumila has been registered, and of which 34 (28.8%) were included into the Red List of the Samara Region and 8 species into the Red List of the Russian Federation. In the study area, populations of I. pumila were represented by a significant number of individuals and were in a stable state. According to the “delta-omega” criterion, the populations were mature (47.0%), transitional (23.5%), maturing (17.6%), and aging (11.9%), which testified to the diversity of population structure and thus to a satisfactory state of the species in the Samara Region. The populations recovered mainly due to individuals of vegetative origin, but this process was rather slow. Under unfavorable conditions, I. pumila populations were characterized by a vegetative settled way of life. Fires, grazing, and destruction of habitats had a significant impact on the population structure and absolute abundance in the Samara Region. Full article

To gain insight into the evolution of flower traits in the generalized food-deceptive plant Iris pumila, we assessed the color, size, shape, and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of three functionally distinct floral organs—outer perianths (‘falls’), inner perianths (‘standards’), and style branches—and estimated pollinator-mediated selection on these traits. We evaluated the perianth color as the achromatic brightness of the fall, measured the flower stem height, and analyzed the floral organ size, shape, and FA using geometric morphometrics. Pollinated flowers had significantly higher brightness, longer flower stems, and larger floral organs compared to non-pollinated flowers. The shape and FA of the floral organs did not differ, except for the fall FA, where higher values were found for falls of pollinated flowers. Pollinator-mediated selection was confirmed for flower stem height and for subtle changes in the shape of the fall and style branch—organs that form the pollination tunnel. This study provides evidence that, although all analyzed flower traits play significant roles in pollinator attraction, flower stem height and pollination tunnel shape evolved under the pollinator-mediated selection, whereas achromatic brightness, size, and symmetry of floral organs did not directly affect pollination success. Full article

Deliblato Sands is the single largest expanse of sand in Europe. It is the most fire-prone area of Serbia due to the absence of surface water, sandy soils, specific microclimate conditions, and vegetation composition. Post-fire regeneration is a long-term process that includes many aspects of vegetation regrowth and habitat recovery. In the third year following one of the disastrous fires, the growth dynamics of two geophyte species in unburned and burned sites were studied. During the growing season, burned and unburned populations of Crocus reticulatus Steven ex Adam and Iris pumila L. were assessed for growth parameters (biomass production, specific leaf area, leaf area index) and leaf-level ecophysiological traits (photosystem II efficiency, chlorophyll amount, relative water content). Species acclimated differently to changed abiotic and biotic site conditions after the fire event. C. reticulatus burned and unburned populations differed significantly in terms of flowering phenology and ecophysiological traits, whereas I. pumila burned and unburned populations differed significantly in terms of growth parameters. The findings support the assertion that geophytes are generally well adapted to environmental disturbances. Species, however, responded differently to fire-induced changes in the physicochemical and biotic environment, depending on their ecological requirements and adaptive capacity. Full article