Development of Woody Plants

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Development and Morphogenesis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 993

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Biology (Ministry of Education), College of Horticulture and Forestry Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: plant flowering; plant development; water stress; low temperature; flowering regulation; flower bud differentiation; leaf development
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The topic of the development of woody plants encompasses a multifaceted exploration of various interrelated aspects. Scientists investigate the morphogenesis and growth patterns of trees, scrutinizing the influence of environmental factors such as light and soil composition on their development. Physiological processes, including photosynthesis and responses to stressors, are studied alongside the genetic regulation governing growth and differentiation. Reproductive biology, ecosystem interactions, and wood formation, with a keen eye on quality, contribute to a holistic understanding, and the exploration of biotechnological applications, including genetic engineering, aims to enhance traits. Moreover, the research addresses the critical issue of climate change resilience, investigating how woody plants adapt and strategies to mitigate environmental impacts. This Special Issue primarily focuses on the following aspects of woody plant development:

  • Morphogenesis and growth patterns: Understanding how woody plants grow and develop, including the formation and arrangement of different plant structures like stems, roots, leaves, and reproductive organs.
  • Environmental influences: Investigating how external factors such as light, temperature, and soil composition impact the growth and development of woody plants, with a focus on adapting to changing environmental conditions.
  • Genetic regulation: Studying the genetic basis of woody plant development, focusing on the expression and regulation of genes that control growth, differentiation, and other crucial processes.
  • Reproductive biology: Examining the reproductive strategies of woody plants, from flowering and pollination to seed development, and understanding how these processes contribute to the life cycle of trees.
  • Wood formation and quality: Studying the process of wood formation and factors influencing wood quality, with implications for the economic and industrial uses of different types of wood.
  • Biotechnology and genetic engineering: Applying biotechnological methods to improve specific traits in woody plants, such as disease resistance or wood quality, and studying the potential impacts of genetic engineering on their development.
  • Climate change resilience: Investigating how woody plants cope with and adapt to changing climatic conditions, with a focus on strategies for resilience and potential interventions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Prof. Dr. Jinzhi Zhang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • vascular cambium
  • xylem
  • woody plant development
  • environmental influences
  • genetic regulation
  • reproductive biology
  • wood formation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

15 pages, 1744 KiB  
Article
Early Growth and Physiological Acclimation to Shade and Water Restriction of Seven Sclerophyllous Species of the Mediterranean Forests of Central Chile
by Marco A. Yáñez, Sergio E. Espinoza, Carlos R. Magni and Eduardo Martínez-Herrera
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2410; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172410 - 29 Aug 2024
Viewed by 723
Abstract
The success of using active restoration in Mediterranean-type climate zones mostly depends on an appropriate matching of plant species and specific management prescriptions upon establishment. In this study, we assessed the early growth and short-term physiological acclimation of seven common species found in [...] Read more.
The success of using active restoration in Mediterranean-type climate zones mostly depends on an appropriate matching of plant species and specific management prescriptions upon establishment. In this study, we assessed the early growth and short-term physiological acclimation of seven common species found in the sclerophyllous forests in central Chile to water restriction and shading. We established a nursery experiment that included three treatments (T0: sun-exposed and water-restricted, T1: sun-exposed and fully irrigated, and T2: shaded and fully irrigated) and seven tree species differing in their shade and drought tolerance (Quillaja saponaria Molina, Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz, Peumus boldus Molina, Lithraea caustica (Mol.) Hook. and Arn, Luma apiculata (DC.) Burret, Colliguaja odorifera Molina, and Escallonia pulverulenta (Ruiz and Prav.) Pers). We measured the increment in seedling height and different leaf morpho-physiological traits during two months in the dry season. Based on the measured traits, none of the species took advantage of the higher water availability in T1 relative to T0, but most of the species responded to the shade in T2, regardless of their shade or drought tolerance. Height increments due to shade varied from 0% in P. boldus to 203% in L. apiculata. Overall, all the species responded similarly to the treatments in specific leaf area, chlorophyll content index, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intrinsic water use efficiency. This suggests that the species exhibited similar acclimation patterns of these parameters to shade and drought, even regarding the variation in midday xylem water potential found in the water-restricted treatment T0 (from −1.5 MPa in P. boldus to −3.1 MPa in E. pulverulenta). In this study, shading had a higher positive effect on the seedling performance of sclerophyllous species than watering, which at operational level highlights the need for investing in tree shelters when using these species in restoration programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Woody Plants)
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