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Effects of Simulated Defoliation on Growth and Photosynthetic Characteristics of an Invasive Liana, Ipomoea cairica (Convolvulaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Weihua Li
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Xingshan Tian
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou City, China
Jianning Luo
Affiliation:
Vegetable Research Institute, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou City, China
Yanhong Dai
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
Changlian Peng
Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Ecology and Environmental Science in Guangdong Higher Education, College of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China

Abstract

To better understand the response of Ipomoea cairica (Cairo morningglory) to herbivory, the compensatory growth and photosynthetic characteristics of plants were measured after simulated herbivory by leaf trimming at four intensities: 25, 50, 75, and 100% removal, starting from the apex. Defoliation at 25% had no significant influence on plant biomass, but the total biomass (−19 to −66%) and root biomass (−31 to −75%) of the plants decreased significantly when defoliation intensity was ≥ 50% (P < 0.05). Photosynthetic rates (Pn) increased with defoliation intensity (P < 0.01), and Pn values in the defoliated plants were 10 to 72% greater than those in the control plants, a relationship that could be attributed to a decrease in stomatal limitation (−11 to −34%) and the increase in rubisco content (9 to 18%) as well as higher photosynthetic efficiency and less light energy dissipated as heat. At defoliation intensities up to 50%, plants needed more energy to compensate photosynthetically, which could influence the plant photosynthetic characteristics as well as the allocation of assimilates, resulting in less root development. Since the spread of I. cairica depends primarily on clonal growth, smaller roots could limit uptake of nutrients from the soil. These direct and indirect effects indicate that leaf-feeding herbivores may have potential for biological control of I. cairica but to have any effect the herbivores would need to consume ≥ 50% of the leaf biomass.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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