Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera
Tree species adopt diverse drought resistance strategies, which are crucial for the ability of karst vegetation to adapt to drought stress. However, our understanding of how to differentiate these strategies remains limited, particularly with respect to identifying indicator traits that can accurate...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1644756/full |
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| author | Kai Yao Kai Yao Chunxiu Tu Chunxiu Tu Aoli Zhang Aoli Zhang Zhaoxia Zeng Zhaoxia Zeng Yang Yang Yang Yang |
| author_facet | Kai Yao Kai Yao Chunxiu Tu Chunxiu Tu Aoli Zhang Aoli Zhang Zhaoxia Zeng Zhaoxia Zeng Yang Yang Yang Yang |
| author_sort | Kai Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tree species adopt diverse drought resistance strategies, which are crucial for the ability of karst vegetation to adapt to drought stress. However, our understanding of how to differentiate these strategies remains limited, particularly with respect to identifying indicator traits that can accurately distinguish the drought resistance strategies used by different species. In this study, we use principal component analysis based on functional traits to distinguish the drought resistance strategies of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera; we identify key indicator traits reflecting differences in drought resistance strategies by analyzing the correlations of the same traits across different plant species. Most importantly, in this study, stomatal transpiration efficiency is proposed as a novel trait. Principal component analysis based on functional traits can distinguish plant drought resistance strategies. A correlation analysis of the indicators revealed that 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity, Δcrown width, stomatal transpiration efficiency, and water use efficiency can serve as critical markers to differentiate the drought resistance strategies of plants. Notably, the stomatal transpiration efficiency of P. orientalis and B. papyrifera exhibited entirely opposite trends under drought stress (r = -0.38); however, investigations of additional tree species are needed to further verify the reliability of stomatal transpiration efficiency as an indicator of different plant drought resistance strategies. These findings improve our ability to effectively differentiate karst plant drought resistance strategies and understand the mechanisms involved. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b77fffbfc364b6f98a58d178502f6ce |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b77fffbfc364b6f98a58d178502f6ce2025-08-20T05:32:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-08-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16447561644756Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyriferaKai Yao0Kai Yao1Chunxiu Tu2Chunxiu Tu3Aoli Zhang4Aoli Zhang5Zhaoxia Zeng6Zhaoxia Zeng7Yang Yang8Yang Yang9School of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaGuizhou Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaSchool of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaGuizhou Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaSchool of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaGuizhou Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaKey Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, ChinaHuanjiang Observation and Research Station for Karst Ecosystem, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang, ChinaSchool of Life Science, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaGuizhou Key Laboratory of Forest Cultivation in Plateau Mountain, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, ChinaTree species adopt diverse drought resistance strategies, which are crucial for the ability of karst vegetation to adapt to drought stress. However, our understanding of how to differentiate these strategies remains limited, particularly with respect to identifying indicator traits that can accurately distinguish the drought resistance strategies used by different species. In this study, we use principal component analysis based on functional traits to distinguish the drought resistance strategies of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera; we identify key indicator traits reflecting differences in drought resistance strategies by analyzing the correlations of the same traits across different plant species. Most importantly, in this study, stomatal transpiration efficiency is proposed as a novel trait. Principal component analysis based on functional traits can distinguish plant drought resistance strategies. A correlation analysis of the indicators revealed that 2,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity, Δcrown width, stomatal transpiration efficiency, and water use efficiency can serve as critical markers to differentiate the drought resistance strategies of plants. Notably, the stomatal transpiration efficiency of P. orientalis and B. papyrifera exhibited entirely opposite trends under drought stress (r = -0.38); however, investigations of additional tree species are needed to further verify the reliability of stomatal transpiration efficiency as an indicator of different plant drought resistance strategies. These findings improve our ability to effectively differentiate karst plant drought resistance strategies and understand the mechanisms involved.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1644756/fulldrought resistance strategiesstomatal transpiration efficiencykarst plantsindicator traitisohydric-anisohydric behavior |
| spellingShingle | Kai Yao Kai Yao Chunxiu Tu Chunxiu Tu Aoli Zhang Aoli Zhang Zhaoxia Zeng Zhaoxia Zeng Yang Yang Yang Yang Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera Frontiers in Plant Science drought resistance strategies stomatal transpiration efficiency karst plants indicator trait isohydric-anisohydric behavior |
| title | Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera |
| title_full | Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera |
| title_fullStr | Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera |
| title_short | Distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of Platycladus orientalis and Broussonetia papyrifera |
| title_sort | distinguishing drought resistance strategies and identifying indicator traits of platycladus orientalis and broussonetia papyrifera |
| topic | drought resistance strategies stomatal transpiration efficiency karst plants indicator trait isohydric-anisohydric behavior |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1644756/full |
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