Light and soil moisture effects on biomass and its allocation of Osmorhiza depauperata Philippi (Apiaceae)

SELZER, L; LENCINAS, MV; MARTÍNEZ PASTUR, G; BUSSO, CA

ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH

SPRINGER TOKYO

Lugar: Tokyo; Año: 2013 vol. 28 p. 469 - 480

0912-3814

Changes in forest openings affect light quality and quantity, and the magnitude of rainfall that reach the soil surface. Osmorhiza depauperata, a geophyte, acclimates to changes imposed because of forest openings. We studied what changes in biomass allocation allow the acclimation of O. depauperata to the various environments that this species inhabits, and where it develops better. Three light intensities and two moisture levels were evaluated on O. depauperata under greenhouse conditions. Plant biomasses were 0.81, 0.56 and 0.48 g at medium, low and high light intensities, respectively. The aboveground biomass fraction of and leaf area decreased as light intensity increased. Soil moisture only modified underground biomass and weight of fine roots. The interaction between soil moisture content and light intensity was consistent. This was because of an important reduction in total plant biomass, only produced under high both soil moisture content and light intensity. Osmorhiza depauperata was favoured most at medium light intensities. Changes in biomass allow among various organs allow this species to inhabit various forest habitats with different light intensities.