• Plant resource-use traits are generally hypothesized to be adaptively differentiated for populations distributed along resource gradients. Although nutrient limitations are expected to select for resource-conservative strategies, water limitations may select for either resource-conservative or -acquisitive strategies. We test whether population differentiation reflects local adaptation for tr...

Physiological traits that control the uptake of carbon dioxide and loss of water are key determinants of plant growth and reproduction. Variation in these traits is often correlated with environmental gradients of water, light, and nutrients, suggesting that natural selection is the primary evolutionary mechanism responsible for physiological diversification. Responses to selection, however, ca...

Evapotranspiration (ET) is a key flux in the water cycle and has strong seasonal dynamics for forest ecosystems. Recently eddy flux covariance measurements are continuously taken at a temperate mixed forest in Northeastern China since 2002. In an effort to better understanding the factors that control the seasonal dynamics of ET, here we (1) calculate ecosystem-level water use efficiency (WUE) ...

Plastic film mulching (PM) has been widely used to improve maize (Zea mays L.) yields and water use efficiency (WUE) in Northeast China, but the effects of PM in a changing climate characterized by highly variable precipitation are not well understood. Six site-year field experiments were conducted in the dry and rainy years to investigate the effects of PM on maize growth, grain yield, and WUE...

One of the great challenges for the future is the production of sufficient food for a dramatically growing population during a period of climate change where water supplies are dwindling, and phytotoxic air pollutants such as ozone are increasing. By 2050 global grain demand is expected to double (Postel, 1998; Tilman et al., 2002; Schiermeier, 2008). Greater food production, however, will requ...

An understanding of the mechanisms that determine plant response to reduced water availability is essential to improve water-use efficiency (WUE) of stone fruit crops. The physiological, biochemical and molecular drought responses of four Prunus rootstocks (GF 677, Cadaman, ROOTPAC 20 and ROOTPAC(®) R) budded with 'Catherina' peach cultivar were studied. Trees were grown in 15-l containers and ...

This study investigated the interaction of NaCl-salinity and elevated atmospheric CO(2) concentration on gas exchange, leaf pigment composition, and leaf ultrastructure of the potential cash crop halophyte Aster tripolium. The plants were irrigated with five different salinity levels (0, 25, 50, 75, 100% seawater salinity) under ambient and elevated (520 ppm) CO(2). Under saline conditions (amb...

Abstract Photosynthetic rate and water use efficiency (WUE) are crucial for the sustainable of in agriculture. Our objective was to analyze variability photosynthetic related traits maize ( Zea mays L.) other summer crops a temperate humid area. We evaluated parameters three years compared them pigeonpea chickpea, adapted arid environments, pepper, tomato common bean, as irrigated crops. Variab...