Graphical partitioning of seedling phenotypic plasticity of seven cool-season grass species subjected to two watering frequencies

摘要: Abstract Successful seedling establishment requires the ability to adapt changes in soil moisture, and this may be related phenotypic plasticity. As a case-study of plasticity water availability, we measured root shoot dry-mass 45-d-old seedlings seven cool-season grass species grown under two watering-frequency (WF) regimes glasshouse. To depict plasticity, developed graphical method with three salient features. First, partitioned into components, 1) 1:1 growth 2) for root:shoot allocation. Second, calculated total measure mass fraction (RMF) allocation Third, plotted each species’ plastic response WF on graph four axes: dry-mass, 3) 4) RMF. Three displayed predominately only In low WF, growth-plasticity decreased but did not change RMF, while allocation-plasticity increased Growth-plasticity are opportunistic can capitalize additional increase growth, survivorship by tailoring RMF reflect current soil-moisture status.