The interactions between habitat, sex, biomass and leaf traits of different willow (Salix) genotypes

Abstract

Knowledge of the impacts of sex on plant mortality and biomass production has scientific and practical importance. In the case of willows, we know relatively little about such effects. The main objective of this study was to evaluate whether the sex of individuals of different willow species determines their biomass and mortality. An additional goal was to determine whether the secondary sex characteristics, such as leaf traits, depend on sex. The experiment was conducted from 2011 to 2014 with 8100 plants comprising 150 willow genotypes, including 8 species, 16 interspecies hybrids, cultivars, and specimens differentiated by sex. Statistical analysis of the leaf traits revealed their relationship to sex. On average, male specimens have longer and wider leaves. They also have longer petioles. Males of the studied Salix genotypes were characterized by higher biomass and showed a greater survival rate than females but only under better site conditions; when the site conditions were poorer, males had higher mortality than females.

Drought Differently Modifies Tolerance and Metal Uptake in Zn- or Cu-Treated Male and Female Salix × fragilis L.

“…Male specimens were also less tolerant to drought, and consequently, to combined drought and metal presence. This observation confirmed previous studies on the impact of sex on mortality and biomass production of 127 willow taxa, including S. × fragilis [38]. Similar to the present study, the authors revealed differences in leaf traits (male specimens had longer and wider leaves) and adaptation to soil conditions (males showed higher biomass than females under favorable growth conditions, while at the poorer location, the mortality of males was higher than females).…”

The Impact of Willow Flowering Time on Species Composition and the Number of <i>Apoidea</i> Pollinators

“…In relation to plants, both local and global climatic conditions are of significant importance for the interpretation of results. With regard to willows, it is necessary to refer to their sex, which is often omitted in many activities related to the cultivation of willows [2]. Research has shown that the very approach to the roles of native and non-native plant species in the environment, are debatable.…”

“…In the Polish flora there are 26 native species of Salix genera, but many non-native willows were introduced to Poland because of their utility as a source of renewable energy, in basketry, medicine, and furniture industries, phytoremediation and many other fields. The results of Konatowska et al [2], conducted on 150 genotypes of willows, including 8 species, 16 interspecies hybrids, cultivars, and sex-differentiated specimens from Poznań University of Life Sciences Willow Collection indicated that in all papers devoted to willows, both practical and scientific, it is necessary to refer not only to the willow species and environmental conditions in which they grow, but also to the sex of the examined or cultivated individuals. It is especially important for pollinators.…”

Defence Is a Priority in Female Juveniles and Adults of Taxus baccata L.

“…Moreover, vegetative reproduction is a common phenomenon, and 66.5% of species of central European plants exhibited clonal growth [30]. Cuttings have been used in a number of SSD research studies (e.g., [19,[31][32][33]).…”