[Clonal growth of stoloniferous herb Potentilla anserina on degraded and non-degraded alpine meadow soil].
The clonal growth of Potentilla anserina on degraded and non-degraded Kobresia humilis meadow soil was studied by a transplanting experiment in the field. No significant differences in numbers of stolons, height, and leave size per mother ramet were observed between the two soils, but the numbers of leaves per mother ramet, length and width of stolon, and spacer length were significantly different. There were more leaves per mother ramet, longer stolon and spacer, and wider stolon on degraded soil, where available nutrient was poor than in non-degraded soil. Under degraded alpine meadow soil condition, the clonal plant species might produce much more photosynthetic product to support stolon growth by the increase of leave numbers per mother ramet, and the longer and wider stolon could intensify the foraging ability of the mother ramet that would benefit to daughter ramet. Both mother and daughter ramet of Potentilla anserina invested much more biomass to their underground part (root system) in non-degraded soil to increase the survival rate of daughter ramet.
Shen
Zhenxi
Z
Northwest Plateau Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810001, China. zhenxishen@sina.com
Chen
Zuozhong
Z
Wang
Yanhui
Y
Zhang
Jingli
J
Zhou
Huakun
H
D018533:Biomass; D031987:Potentilla / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil
D012987:Soil