The contribution of phenotypic plasticity to complementary light capture in plant mixtures. Issue 4 (21st April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Junqi; van der Werf, Wopke; Anten, Niels P. R.; Vos, Jan; Evers, Jochem B.
• Is Part Of: New phytologist. Volume 207:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 1213
• Page End: 1222
• Publication Date: 2015-04-21
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/nph.13416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-646X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="nph13416-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <list id="nph13416-list-0001" list-type="bullet"> <list-item> <p>Interspecific differences in functional traits are a key factor for explaining the positive diversity–productivity relationship in plant communities. However, the role of intraspecific variation attributable to phenotypic plasticity in diversity–productivity relationships has largely been overlooked. By taking a wheat (<italic>Triticum aestivum</italic>)–maize (<italic>Zea mays</italic>) intercrop as an elementary example of mixed vegetation, we show that plasticity in plant traits is an important factor contributing to complementary light capture in species mixtures.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>We conceptually separated net biodiversity effect into the effect attributable to interspecific trait differences and species distribution (community structure effect), and the effect attributable to phenotypic plasticity. Using a novel plant architectural modelling approach, whole‐vegetation light capture was simulated for scenarios with and without plasticity based on empirical plant trait data.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Light capture was 23% higher in the intercrop with plasticity than the expected value from monocultures, of which 36% was attributable to community structure and 64% was attributable to plasticity. For wheat, plasticity in tillering was the main reason for increased light capture, whereas for intercropped maize, plasticity induced a major reduction in light capture.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>The results illustrate the potential of plasticity for enhancing resource acquisition in mixed stands, and indicate the importance of plasticity in the performance of species‐diverse plant communities.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>