The life history strategy of Penthorum chinense: Implication for the restoration of early successional species

Shade avoidance and reproductive strategies of an early successional species Penthorum chinense in relation to shade treatments

“…Moreover, it reproduces through both numerous small seeds and short rhizomes. Sexual reproductive effort of P. chinense is higher than the average for perennials (Yang & Kim ). The seeds cannot germinate in darkness, such as when they are covered by leaves or soil (Yonemura ).…”

“…It is a weak competitor, which is extirpated with increased canopy shading by large and rapidly growing perennials through ecological succession (Kang et al . ; Yang & Kim ). Penthorum chinense occurs at light (PPFD) levels from 11.94% to 100% (mean ± SE 69.27 ± 4.00, median 72.15, quartiles 41.27, 100.00, n = 58) (Figure S2(1),(2)).…”

“…Penthorum chinense Pursh ( Crassulaceae ) is a perennial herbaceous species that inhabits the riparian flood plains, marshes and wetlands around paddy fields and abandoned paddy fields in eastern Asia (Yonemura ; Ikeda & Itoh ). The realized niche of P. chinense is characterized by high photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), low soil organic matter and available nitrogen and phosphorus, high sand content and low water depth or at edges with a wide range of water content, from waterlogged to dry soils in the ‘water level fluctuation zone’ (Yang & Kim ). In addition, this is a pioneer species, recolonizing open spaces formed after flooding.…”

“…Once shoots from the rhizomes had reached 10 cm in height in plug trays, each plant was transplanted to a pot (11.5 cm diameter × 13.5 cm depth). A total of 60 plants were transplanted to pots filled with a mixture (1:5, v/v) of potting compost and river sand; the mixture contained a similar concentration of nutrients (6.48 mg·kg −1 NO 3 ‐N and 7.44 mg·kg −1 PO 4 ‐P) as found in the natural habitat (Yang & Kim ). Fresh weight and shoot length of each plant prior to transplantation was considered in the setup of the experiment.…”

“…Therefore, it is possible that shade avoidance traits for herbaceous species in dense fields will be highest in moderate light, unlike tree species. As a pioneer herbaceous plant, Penthorum chinense Pursh occurs mainly in open spaces, although it is also found in communities of large perennials and shrubs (Yang & Kim ). In field surveys, we observed that P. chinense plants under moderate light were taller and less branched than those in open areas or under low light.…”