Adaptation mechanisms and life strategies of species of the Robinia L. genus under the conditions of introduction
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25726/worldjournals.pro/WEJ.2020.1.3Keywords:
Enrichment of forest flora; Robinia pseudoacacia; Robinia viscosa; Robinia neomexicana; Robinia luxurians; environmental plasticity; adaptation mechanisms; phylogenetic, ontogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic adaptations; vital (environmental) strategies for survival; secondary habitats; naturalization; reproductive capacity; protective afforestation; landscapingAbstract
The Robinia L. genus is of great interest for mobilizing genetic resources in arid regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. The different rates of expansion of cultigen areas of some species of the Robinia L. genus are undoubtedly related to the peculiarities of their adaptation and life strategies for survival in new conditions of existence.
In this regard, the purpose of this work was to analyze the mechanisms of adaptation and life strategies of various species of the Robinia genus under the conditions of introduction.
The objects of research were species and forms of the Robinia L. genus: R. neomexicana Gray. (syn. Robinia luxurians(Dieck.) C.K. Shneid.); R. pseudoacacia L.; R. pseudoacacia f. pyramidalis (Pepin) Rehd.; R. pseudoacacia f. umbraculifera (DC) Rehd.; Robinia viscosa Vent. var. hartwegii (Koehne) Ashe, growing in cluster collection sites of the Federal Center for Agroecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, cadastre No. 34:34:000000:122, 34:34:060061:10.
Studies have revealed a number of phylogenetic adaptations to adverse environmental factors in various members of the Robinia genus, such as a highly branched root system, xeromorphic structure of leaves, openness and wind permeability of crowns, the ability to tolerate prolonged droughts, and symbiotic relationships with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
The research results have shown that all species of the Robinia L. genus use a number of phenotypic ontogenetic devices during introduction. Among them, the most important ones are the change of life form (tree – shrub, single-trunk tree – multi-trunk tree), as well as a decrease in growth rates and a decrease in the overall height of plants, depending on soil fertility, moisture supply, and the damaging effects of low winter temperatures. For example, on ordinary chernozems in Ukraine at the age of 20 years, plantings of Robinia pseudoacacia reach a height of 14-15 m, while on light chestnut soils in the Lower Volga region at the same age, they reach only 6 meters.
In addition, over the past centuries, representatives of the Robinia L. genus have developed a number of genotypic adaptations to new conditions of existence. These adaptations are among the most important ones, because they lead to the appearance of qualitatively new adaptations that expand the boundaries of ecological plasticity of the species. All species have reduced their seasonal cycles of phenological development and currently meet the optimal time frame for the development of introduced trees in regions with a relatively harsh climate for them. According to the indicator of phenological atypicality, they are in the lower half of the normal range (from +1 to 0) in terms of the implementation of phenological phases, which indicates that the cycle of their development has successfully adapted and corresponds to the vegetation period of the place of introduction. As shown by the authors’ research, all species of the Robinia L. genus in the process of acclimatization crossed the temperature threshold of –37°C.
The genotypic nature of the formed adaptations to low winter temperatures is proved by a comparative analysis of the literature data on the frost resistance of various species of the Robinia L. genus obtained at the beginning of the 20th century with the data of visual and physiological assessment methods conducted over the past decades. The second important proof of the appearance of adaptations fixed at the genetic level is the difference in winter hardiness between the forms of R. pseudoacacia f. pyramidalis (Pepin) Rehd.; R. pseudoacacia f. umbraculifera (DC) Rehd. and typical representatives of R. pseudoacacia L. The absence of genetic heterogeneity in the vegetative reproduction of these forms of Robinia stopped the processes of microevolution, not allowing them to adapt to the new conditions of existence.
Analysis of life (environmental) strategies has shown that in plant communities, Robinia can equally well act as a patient or an explerent. At the same time, the violent properties of Robinia are much less pronounced. Analysis of r/K survival strategies allows classifying it as an r-species with high generative potential, short juvenile and virginal stages of development, and the ability to naturalize. However, in optimal conditions of existence in the absence of competition, Robinia, like many K-species, can reach a significant age of up to 400 years.
All Robinia species are capable of naturalization in certain regions of the secondary range. However, the record holder for this indicator is undoubtedly Robinia pseudoacacia. In the authors’ opinion, this fact is explained by the high generative potential of R. pseudoacacia L. in relation to related species and its high economic significance for the purposes of forest protection breeding. Representatives of the Robinia L. genus do not have adaptations for active seed propagation over long distances. Naturalization (entering natural plant communities) usually occurs in the immediate vicinity of artificial forest protection stands at a distance. Pink-flowered species of the Robinia L. genus, due to their small growth, are not of particular interest for agroforestry purposes. These types are usually used in landscaping settlements as ornamental plants. Artificial territorial isolation from natural plant communities and relatively low generative potential do not allow them to actively exhibit invasive properties.
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