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Reproduction of Plants in High-Mountains and Arctic Regions under Climatic Stress

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Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 19627

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Gilbert Neuner

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Guest Editor

Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Interests: Functional plant ecology with a focus on stress physiology of mountain plants: freezing resistance, ice formation and propagation, heat resistance, drought and irradiation stress and specific stress combinations; survival strategies (avoidance, tolerance and restitution)

Prof. Dr. Johanna Wagner

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Guest Editor

Department of Botany, Faculty of Biology, University of Innsbruck A 6020 Innsbruck, Austria, Europe
Interests: reproductive biology of high-mountain plants with focus on flower development, pollination biology; progamic processes; seed development; developmental dynamics and plasticity; reproductive ecology; climatic stress

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is common knowledge that climatic extremes increase with elevation and latitude. Though plants inhabiting high-mountains and arctic regions are stress-tolerant and widely adapted to the harsh conditions, they are threatened by climatic extremes. The main abiotic stress factors are short growing seasons, long snow cover, frost at any time during the year, strong irradiation, partial overheating and drought in summer, and strong winds. Since climate change is particularly pronounced in high-mountains and polar regions, climatic strains further increase inter alia because of the reduction of a protecting snow cover in winter and the increase of heat load and drought in summer.

Stress tolerance of the vegetative structures of mountain and arctic plants is well studied. In contrast, little information is available about the impact of climatic stress on reproductive structures and processes. Studies to date have shown that reproductive structures are generally more vulnerable than vegetative parts, with the degree of impairment being dependent on the state of development. Since flowering and seed formation are essential functions ensuring population turnover and determining the distribution potential of a species, more knowledge in this field is necessary.

This Special Issue focuses on all aspects of reproduction of mountain and arctic plants under climatic stress. Original research papers, reviews, and short communications in this area are welcome.

Prof. Gilbert Neuner
Prof. Johanna Wagner
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Alpine
Arctic
Anthesis
Asexual reproduction
Climatic stress
Developmental dynamics
Developmental plasticity
Drought
Ice formation
Flower development
Frost
Heat
Mountain
Pollination and fertilization
Reproductive ecology
Reproductive phenology
Reproductive success
Seed development
Seed germination
Sexual reproduction
Temperature stress

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 5934 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Induction of Conjugation and Zygospore Cell Wall Characteristics in the Alpine Spirogyra mirabilis (Zygnematophyceae, Charophyta): Advantage under Climate Change Scenarios?

by Charlotte Permann, Klaus Herburger, Martin Felhofer, Notburga Gierlinger, Louise A. Lewis and Andreas Holzinger

Plants 2021, 10(8), 1740; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10081740 - 23 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4740

Abstract

Extreme environments, such as alpine habitats at high elevation, are increasingly exposed to man-made climate change. Zygnematophyceae thriving in these regions possess a special means of sexual reproduction, termed conjugation, leading to the formation of resistant zygospores. A field sample of Spirogyra with numerous conjugating stages was isolated and characterized by molecular phylogeny. We successfully induced sexual reproduction under laboratory conditions by a transfer to artificial pond water and increasing the light intensity to 184 µmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. This, however was only possible in early spring, suggesting that the isolated cultures had an internal rhythm. The reproductive morphology was characterized by light- and transmission electron microscopy, and the latter allowed the detection of distinctly oriented microfibrils in the exo- and endospore, and an electron-dense mesospore. Glycan microarray profiling showed that Spirogyra cell walls are rich in major pectic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides, and immuno-fluorescence allowed the detection of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and xyloglucan in the zygospore cell walls. Confocal RAMAN spectroscopy detected complex aromatic compounds, similar in their spectral signature to that of Lycopodium spores. These data support the idea that sexual reproduction in Zygnematophyceae, the sister lineage to land plants, might have played an important role in the process of terrestrialization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproduction of Plants in High-Mountains and Arctic Regions under Climatic Stress)

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22 pages, 3765 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Winter Frosts Reduce Flower Bud Survival in High-Mountain Plants

by Johanna Wagner, Karla Gruber, Ursula Ladinig, Othmar Buchner and Gilbert Neuner

Plants 2021, 10(8), 1507; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10081507 - 22 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2701

Abstract

At higher elevations in the European Alps, plants may experience winter temperatures of −30 °C and lower at snow-free sites. Vegetative organs are usually sufficiently frost hardy to survive such low temperatures, but it is largely unknown if this also applies to generative structures. We investigated winter frost effects on flower buds in the cushion plants Saxifraga bryoides L. (subnival-nival) and Saxifraga moschata Wulfen (alpine-nival) growing at differently exposed sites, and the chionophilous cryptophyte Ranunculus glacialis L. (subnival-nival). Potted plants were subjected to short-time (ST) and long-time (LT) freezing between −10 and −30 °C in temperature-controlled freezers. Frost damage, ice nucleation and flowering frequency in summer were determined. Flower bud viability and flowering frequency decreased significantly with decreasing temperature and exposure time in both saxifrages. Already, −10 °C LT-freezing caused the first injuries. Below −20 °C, the mean losses were 47% (ST) and 75% (LT) in S. bryoides, and 19% (ST) and 38% (LT) in S. moschata. Winter buds of both saxifrages did not supercool, suggesting that damages were caused by freeze dehydration. R. glacialis remained largely undamaged down to −30 °C in the ST experiment, but did not survive permanent freezing below −20 °C. Winter snow cover is essential for the survival of flower buds and indirectly for reproductive fitness. This problem gains particular relevance in the context of winter periods with low precipitation and winter warming events leading to the melting of the protective snowpack. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproduction of Plants in High-Mountains and Arctic Regions under Climatic Stress)

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18 pages, 5991 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Protective Role of Ice Barriers: How Reproductive Organs of Early Flowering and Mountain Plants Escape Frost Injuries

by Clara Bertel, Jürgen Hacker and Gilbert Neuner

Plants 2021, 10(5), 1031; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10051031 - 20 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2685

Abstract

In the temperate zone of Europe, plants flowering in early spring or at high elevation risk that their reproductive organs are harmed by episodic frosts. Focusing on flowers of two mountain and three early-flowering colline to montane distributed species, vulnerability to ice formation and ice management strategies using infrared video thermography were investigated. Three species had ice susceptible flowers and structural ice barriers, between the vegetative and reproductive organs, that prevent ice entrance from the frozen stems. Structural ice barriers as found in Anemona nemorosa and Muscari sp. have not yet been described for herbaceous species that of Jasminum nudiflorum corroborates findings for woody species. Flowers of Galanthus nivalis and Scilla forbesii were ice tolerant. For all herbs, it became clear that the soil acts as a thermal insulator for frost susceptible below ground organs and as a thermal barrier against the spread of ice between individual flowers and leaves. Both ice barrier types presumably promote that the reproductive organs can remain supercooled, and can at least for a certain time-period escape from effects of ice formation. Both effects of ice barriers appear significant in the habitat of the tested species, where episodic freezing events potentially curtail the reproductive success. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproduction of Plants in High-Mountains and Arctic Regions under Climatic Stress)

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23 pages, 4085 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Flowering Phenology Adjustment and Flower Longevity in a South American Alpine Species

by Mary T. K. Arroyo, Ítalo Tamburrino, Patricio Pliscoff, Valeria Robles, Maria Colldecarrera and Pablo C. Guerrero

Plants 2021, 10(3), 461; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10030461 - 28 Feb 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2694

Abstract

Delayed flowering due to later snowmelt and colder temperatures at higher elevations in the alpine are expected to lead to flowering phenological adjustment to prevent decoupling of peak flowering from the warmest time of the year, thereby favoring pollination. However, even if flowering is brought forward in the season at higher elevations, an elevational temperature gap is likely to remain between the high- and low-elevation populations of a species at the time these reach peak flowering on account of the atmospheric reduction in temperature with increasing elevation. The negative effect of this temperature gap on pollination could be compensated by plastically-prolonged flower life spans at higher elevations, increasing the probability of pollination. In a tightly temperature-controlled study, the flowering phenology adjustment and flower longevity compensation hypotheses were investigated in an alpine species in the Andes of central Chile. The snow free period varied from 7 to 8.2 months over 810 m elevation. Temperatures were suitable for growth on 82–98% of the snow free days. Flowering onset was temporally displaced at the rate of 4.6 d per 100 m increase in elevation and flowering was more synchronous at higher elevations. Flowering phenology was adjusted over elevation. The latter was manifest in thermal sums tending to decrease with elevation for population flowering onset, 50% flowering, and peak flowering when the lower thermal limit for growth (T_BASE) was held constant over elevation. For T_BASE graded over elevation so as to reflect the growing season temperature decline, thermal sums did not vary with elevation, opening the door to a possible elevational decline in the thermal temperature threshold for growth. Potential flower longevity was reduced by passive warming and was more prolonged in natural populations when temperatures were lower, indicating a plastic trait. Pollination rates, as evaluated with the Relative Pollination Rate index (RPR), when weighted for differences in floral abundance over the flowering season, declined with elevation as did fruit set. Contrary to expectation, the life-spans of flowers at higher elevations were not more prolonged and failed to compensate for the elevational decrease in pollination rates. Although strong evidence for phenological adjustment was forthcoming, flower longevity compensation did not occur over Oxalis squamata’s elevational range. Thus, flower longevity compensation is not applicable in all alpine species. Comparison with work conducted several decades ago on the same species in the same area provides valuable clues regarding the effects of climate change on flowering phenology and fitness in the central Chilean alpine where temperatures have been increasing and winter snow accumulation has been declining. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproduction of Plants in High-Mountains and Arctic Regions under Climatic Stress)

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9 pages, 441 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Germination at Extreme Temperatures: Implications for Alpine Shrub Encroachment

by Susanna E. Venn, Rachael V. Gallagher and Adrienne B. Nicotra

Plants 2021, 10(2), 327; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10020327 - 09 Feb 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2223

Abstract

Worldwide, shrub cover is increasing across alpine and tundra landscapes in response to warming ambient temperatures and declines in snowpack. With a changing climate, shrub encroachment may rely on recruitment from seed occurring outside of the optimum temperature range. We used a temperature gradient plate in order to determine the germination niche of 14 alpine shrub species. We then related the range in laboratory germination temperatures of each species to long-term average temperature conditions at: (1) the location of the seed accession site and (2) across each species geographic distribution. Seven of the species failed to germinate sufficiently to be included in the analyses. For the other species, the germination niche was broad, spanning a range in temperatures of up to 17 °C, despite very low germination rates in some species. Temperatures associated with the highest germination percentages were all above the range of temperatures present at each specific seed accession site. Optimum germination temperatures were consistently within or higher than the range of maximum temperatures modelled across the species’ geographic distribution. Our results indicate that while some shrub species germinate well at high temperatures, others are apparently constrained by an inherent seed dormancy. Shrub encroachment in alpine areas will likely depend on conditions that affect seed germination at the microsite-scale, despite overall conditions becoming more suitable for shrubs at high elevations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproduction of Plants in High-Mountains and Arctic Regions under Climatic Stress)

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Other

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20 pages, 1564 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Seeds and Seedlings in a Changing World: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis from High Altitude and High Latitude Ecosystems

by Jerónimo Vázquez-Ramírez and Susanna E. Venn

Plants 2021, 10(4), 768; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/plants10040768 - 14 Apr 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3592

Abstract

The early life-history stages of plants, such as germination and seedling establishment, depend on favorable environmental conditions. Changes in the environment at high altitude and high latitude regions, as a consequence of climate change, will significantly affect these life stages and may have profound effects on species recruitment and survival. Here, we synthesize the current knowledge of climate change effects on treeline, tundra, and alpine plants’ early life-history stages. We systematically searched the available literature on this subject up until February 2020 and recovered 835 potential articles that matched our search terms. From these, we found 39 studies that matched our selection criteria. We characterized the studies within our review and performed a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the extracted meta-data regarding the climatic effects likely to change in these regions, including projected warming, early snowmelt, changes in precipitation, nutrient availability and their effects on seed maturation, seed dormancy, germination, seedling emergence and seedling establishment. Although the studies showed high variability in their methods and studied species, the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the extracted data allowed us to detect existing patterns and knowledge gaps. For example, warming temperatures seemed to favor all studied life stages except seedling establishment, a decrease in precipitation had a strong negative effect on seed stages and, surprisingly, early snowmelt had a neutral effect on seed dormancy and germination but a positive effect on seedling establishment. For some of the studied life stages, data within the literature were too limited to identify a precise effect. There is still a need for investigations that increase our understanding of the climate change impacts on high altitude and high latitude plants’ reproductive processes, as this is crucial for plant conservation and evidence-based management of these environments. Finally, we make recommendations for further research based on the identified knowledge gaps. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproduction of Plants in High-Mountains and Arctic Regions under Climatic Stress)

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