Rainfall fluctuation causes invasive plant Prosopis juliflora to adapt ecophysiologically and change phenotypically

Title : Rainfall fluctuation causes invasive plant Prosopis juliflora to adapt ecophysiologically and change phenotypically

Abstract:

Understanding how rainfall variability influences the ecophysiology of invasive plant in tropical grasslands is vital for sustainable ecosystem management. Climate change affects rainfall, which in turn alters the ecophysiology and functional traits of terrestrial ecosystem.

Recently, studies have been conducted to evaluate and comprehend how fluctuating precipitation affects plant growth and, consequently, ecological dynamics.

Here we investigate the same in three different rainout shelters subjected to three different rainout doses: low rainfall (LR, 500 mm, mimicking drought, 20% less rainfall than ambient), normal rainfall (NR, 1000 mm, average ambient rainfall), and high rainfall (HR, 1400mm, mimicking future rainfall changes; 60% more rainfall than ambient). Each rainout shelter was further divided into three replicate plots of 2 x 2 m² using randomised block design.  P. juliflora was transplanted into each 2 × 2 m² subplot, with 20-25 seedlings. The observations were collected one year (2020) after the experimental plots were established. Among the studies physiological parameters, leaf traits and growth measurements such as biomass, height, diameter, photosynthetic rate, leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf carbon (LC), leaf CN ratio and root shoot ratio varied significantly, showing positive responses to the precipitation change. However, WUE, LN, LDMC, and root length differed significantly, had negative responses, and were found to be the highest in plots receiving low rainfall (LR). Our results indicate that P. juliflora's ecophysiology and functional traits are greatly influenced by rainfall variability, which has consequences for the plant's ability to adapt to changing climatic circumstances and the ecosystem's overall functioning. The outcome suggests that P. juliflora is an invasive species with stronger phenotypic plasticity, confirming its superior development in both high and low precipitation conditions (especially helpful in disturbed ecosystems with frequent fluctuations in conditions).

Keywords: Prosopis juliflora, Rainout shelter experiment, Photosynthesis, Plant biomass, Plant functional traits

Biography:

Mr. Prakash Rajak, completed B.Sc. (Hons.) in Botany, Zoology, and Chemistry at Banaras Hindu University, India, in 2016; M.Sc. in Botany at Banaras Hindu University, India, in 2018; and joined Prof. Hema Singh's research group at the Ecosystem Analysis Laboratory Department of Botany, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. He is currently working on the project as a senior research fellow (SRF) at the Department of Science and Technology-Science and Engineering Board (DST-SERB). His research publications and articles have been published in reputable SCI and Scopus journals.