Variation in functional traits, growth relationships, and resource allocation among annual twig of dove tree along with latitudes
Data files
Jan 22, 2023 version files 34.86 KB
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Datas_of_Dove_Tree.xlsx
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README.md.docx
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Abstract
Dove tree (Davidia involucrata Baill.), a monotypic rare species in China and a famous ornamental plant in the world, was employed as a model species in our study. The morphological and biomass traits of annul D. involucrata twigs were investigated in three latitude regions (32°19′ N, 30°08′ and 27°55′) in the Sichuan, Southwest China.
Methods
In the flowering stage of D. involucrata populations from mid-April to early May, 6 ‒ 8 healthy plants with similar DBH (diameter at breast height) and no insect pests were randomly selected from the three natural populations in PW, TQ and GX. Selected trees were (a) healthy with similar habitats (soil type, slope and aspect); (b) full grown with similar canopy size; (c) not to be located near the edge of the forest, or next to previously sampled trees. Then, to avoid growth differences derived from light intensity, 3 ‒ 5 annual twigs (including stem and all leaves and flowers above the stem) were randomly collected from the sunny side of the lower crown of each plant.
The morphological and biomass traits of leaf, stem and flower from each twig were measured. Lamina, petiole, bract and flower stalk were scanned using CanoScan LiDE210, and then the length, width and area of lamina and bract, as well as the petiole length and flower stalk length were measured by the software Image J version 1.47v (National Institutes of Health, USA). The diameter of stem and flower stalk were measured with an electronic vernier calliper (0.01 mm), respectively. Biomass samples were oven-dried to constant mass (70 °C, 72 h), then the lamina mass, petiole mass, bract mass, receptacle mass, capitulum mass, flower stalk mass and stem mass for each twig were separately measured. The leaf area or leaf mass was the sum of lamina area and petiole area, or lamina mass and petiole mass. The flower mass was the sum of mass of bract, receptacle, capitulum and flower stalk. The twig mass was the sum of the mass of stem, leaves and flowers. The mean of leaf area, lamina length and lamina width was calculated as the total area, length or width divided by leaf number for each twig.