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To evaluate the morpho-physiological characteristics of some cool-season turfgrass species under shade stress, an experiment was conducted outdoor in two subsequent years. Then, tall fescue, as the best-recognized turf from the former test, was exposed to combined drought and shade stress, aiming to measure to what extent shade can decrease turfgrasses water consumption and alleviate drought effects. The first test included 35 treatments at 7 different levels of continuous and temporal shade conditions in the morning and afternoon (60% and 80%) and full sunlight, and 5 cool-season turfgrass species, i.e., tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and sheep fescue (Festuca ovina L.)]. The second test was consisted of 9 treatment, including 3 different irrigation intervals (i. e. 3, 6, and 9 days), 3 shade stress (i.e. full sunlight, 60% and 80% permanent shade), and 3 replications. Seeds of different cool-season turfgrass species were sown in April 2015 and 2016 in a loamy soil. Treated turfgrasses were evaluated for morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics. Results showed that in the first test tall fescue has the highest quality in terms of morpho-physiological characteristics at a high level of shade stress (80% continuous shade). Perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass showed weak tolerance to shade stress conditions. The 80% constant shade had the greatest influence on turfgrass qualitative and quantitative traits, but in some cases did not show a significant difference between temporal shades. Turfgrasses quality decreased by increasing the intensity and duration of shade; however tall fescue was an excellent turfgrass species under shade stress conditions. Although visual quality, tiller density, and total chlorophyll content of tall fescue were significantly reduced by less frequent irrigation, they were improved by shade treatment compared with control plants. In addition, tall fescue has the highest amount of proline, catalase activity, starch, and reducing sugars under 9 days of drought and 60% shade stress. This is the first report of the interaction of shade and drought stress on the biochemical and morpho-physiological responses of tall fescue plants.

This research was carried out in the field of research and application of the Faculty of Agriculture at the Osman Bey Campus of Harran University during the 2015-2016 summer breeding season in Sanliurfa. In the research; tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), the British grass (Lolium perenne), chewing red fescue (Festuca rubra L. subsp. Commutator), creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. subsp. rubra), sheep fescue (Festuca ovina), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) was used as a material and the random blocks were set up with 3 replications according to the trial design. In this study; turf wet grass yield (kg da-1), grass dry grass yield (kg da-1), emergence rate (day), winter resistance (1-9), covering speed (day), coating degree (%), leaf texture (1 -9), number of siblings (1-5), and degree of sparseness (1-9) were examined. According to the trial findings; It would be appropriate to use the Golden Gate variety of the reed ball (Festuca arundinaceae) of the warm season grass species that can be recommended for the ecological conditions of Sanliurfa.

Increased nitrogen (N) availability induced by fertilizer use, rapid urbanization, and livestock cultivation has important effects on the biogeochemical cycles of plant N and phosphorus (P). Knowledge of the long-term N enrichment effects on the biogeochemical cycling of N and P via plant ecological stoichiometry and nutrient resorption remains limited. Nutrient resorption plays an important role in the plant nutrient economy and nutrient cycling. A three-year field experiment was performed to test the effects of N addition on leaf nutrient resorption of two dominant grass species (Leymus tiansecalinus and Festuca ovina) from an 11-year grassland experiment involving four N levels (0, 30, 90, and 150 kg N ha−1 year−1) in an alpine grassland of Tianshan Mountains in northwestern China. Nitrogen addition significantly increased aboveground biomass (AGB) and soil N availability. The N concentrations and N:P ratio in mature and senesced leaves consistently increased with increasing N across all three years. The P concentrations in mature and senesced leaves notably decreased with increasing N. The N addition resulted in decreased N resorption efficiency (NRE) and increased P resorption efficiency (PRE). The divergent responses of plant N and P resorption and N:P ratios resulted in the decoupling of the plant internal nutrient cycles for both grass species, attributed to increased soil N availability and nonsignificant effects on soil available P caused by N addition. In addition, the N:P resorption ratios were negatively correlated with increasing N levels, suggesting different sensitivities of plant N and P to N addition. The aboveground production of both grass species was positively correlated with PRE and negatively correlated with NRE. Under the background of the currently high and steadily increasing atmospheric N deposition, the imbalance of plant nutrient cycling will likely alter plant community compositions and subsequent litter decomposition, ultimately affecting ecosystem stability and function.

Water stress associated with drought-like conditions is a major factor limiting plant growth and impacts productivity of natural plant communities and agricultural crops. Molecular responses of plants to water stress have been studied most extensively in model species and crops, few of which have evolved natural drought tolerance. In the current study, we examined physiological and transcriptomic responses at multiple timepoints during increasing water stress and following initial recovery from stress in a drought-tolerant C3 species, Festuca ovina. Results demonstrated non-linear transcriptomic changes during increasing stress, but largely linear declines in physiological measurements during this same period. Transcription factors represented approximately 12.7% of all differentially expressed genes. In total, 117 F. ovina homologs of previously identified and molecularly characterized drought-responsive plant genes were identified. This information will be valuable for further investigations of the molecular mechanisms involved in drought tolerance in C3 plants.

The study results of hoofed animals impact on vegetation in aviaries of different size of the Volyn Regional Department of Forestry and Hunting are presented. The reaserch sites are laid in forest stand, which belonged (before the construction of the aviary and the arrangement of the feeding area) to one taxonomic department that determines their forestry-taxonomic identity what allows to apply the method of comparative ecology. The impact of hunting hoofed animals on forest vegetation was studied in aviaries and forest stands of Gubynsky, Karasynsky and Muravyshchansky forestry units, which are part of the structure of state enterprises "Volodymyr-Volynske forestry", "Manevytsia forestry" and "Kivertsy forestry", respectively. In oak stands of the aviary of Gubinsky forestry for breeding Sus scrofa, which has been operating since 2010, as of 2017, a twofold decrease in the species composition of vascular plants was observed. Outside the enclosure, 2 times more viable self-seeding and undergrowth of Populus tremula, Ulmus scabra – 8 times, and Sambucus nigra – more than 2 times were recorded. The coefficient of similarity between the grass cover inside and outside the enclosure is insignificant - 9.5%. Within the enclosure, a slight change in the sanitary condition category of such tree species as Salix caprea, Betula pendula, Populus tremula, Quercus robur was registered. As a result of exposure of wild boar within the enclosure, the sanitary condition of Carpinus betulus trees has changed to significantly weakened compared to healthy outside the enclosure. As of 2017, the grass cover restoration was registered in the aviary of Karasinsky forestry for breeding Sus scrofa, which operated from 2004 to 2010. In aviary conditions the dominant herbs are Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitis-ideaea, Calamagrostis epigeios, Pteridium aquilinum and Pleurozium schreberi. The projective cover is dominated by Vaccinium myrtillus, Calamagrostis epigeios and Pleurozium schreberi, their total abundance is 41%. The coefficient of similarity of grasses in the pine-birch stand of the aviary and outside it is 61.5%. Within the aviary of Muravyshchansky forestry, where Bison bonasus, Cervuselaphus, Sus scrofa are kept, the areas of intensive influence of hoofed animals on forest vegetation are feeding grounds. Self-seeding, undergrowth and undergrowth were not found in pine-birch stands within the existing feeding site. Crops and weeds that are not typical for forest stands have been found in the vegetation within the feeding site. A total of seven grass species were identified, including a cultivated plant (Avena sativa) and two weeds (Calysteria sepium, Chenopodium album). Cultivated plants enter the forest environment together with the fodder they feed hoofed animals. It was found out that with the cessation of animal feeding, the composition of tree species and undergrowth species on the feeding site was restored and is identical to the vegetation outside it. Four years after the cessation of feeding of hunting animals, grain crops and weeds fall out of the grass cover of the former feeding ground and the forest environment is restored. There are 25 species of herbs registered here. The most common are Festuca ovina, Hieracium pilosella, Vaccinium myrtillus and Calysteria sepium. Hylocomium splendens (12%) and Vaccinium myrtillus (8%) predominate in the projective cover. Coefficient of similarity of the grass cover is 26.7%. The sanitary condition of wood species on the functioning feeding site has not changed significantly.

The aim of this study is to determine adaptation and quality parameters of some cool season turfgrass cultivars and species, In the scope of this study, leaf form, variation of leaf colour according to the seasons, tiller number, thinning ratio, weed ratio and general appearance of the species were determined. The experiment was established according to confounding design with four replications in Samsun Conditions at November, 2010. According to 1000 seed weight and characteristics of the plants seeding ratios were determined as pure and viable seed as follows; Lolium perenne 40 g m-2, Festuca rubra var. rubra and Festuca rubra var. commutata 30 g m-2, Festuca arundinacea 40 g m-2, Poa pratensis 20 g m-2, Festuca rubra trichophylla 30 g m-2, Agrostis stolonifera and Agrostis tenuis 5 g m-2, Festuca ovina 25 g m-2. According to the results obtained from this study it was determined that species/cultivars have some superiority to each other because of their different morphological and physiological characteristics. When we consider weed competition, Lolium perenne and Festuca arundinaceae cultivars have to be added to the mixture in order to decrease weed competition. There was colour variation distinctively depending on the seasons for all species. But, compare to the others, cultivars of Agrostis sp. and Poa pratensis cultivars have the potential to keep leaf colour in different seasons. Leaf form and appearance of Festuca rubra, Poa trivialis and Festuca ovina are better than the others. In order to keep good conditions of turfgrass areas, especially after cutting in summer period, Poa pratensis and Poa trivialis should added in mixtures to get benefit their higher regenerating power.

The regrowth of the aboveground biomass of certain plant species after complete or partial defoliation in highlands can depend on competition with neighboring plants, as well as on the level of availability of soil resources, primarily mineral nutrients (especially N and P). A 3-year full-factorial experiment on the effect of three defoliation regimes (control and single and double mowing at the soil level per season), enrichment of soil with N and P, and removal of neighboring plants (competition reduction) on the shoot number and aboveground biomass of three plant species (Anemone speciosa, Festuca ovina, and Oxytropis kubanensis) in alpine heaths was carried out (in total, 12 variants in 10 replications). It is shown that the removal of competing vegetation in low-productive communities of alpine heaths does not contribute to the biomass recovery after defoliation, unlike the addition of NP fertilizers. The regrow of a nitrogen-fixing legume did not depend on the availability of soil resources.

Festuca ovina is a fine fescue that is used as a low-input turfgrass. The ploidy levels of F. ovina accessions held by the USDA National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) are unknown, limiting the use of the germplasm in breeding programs. The objective of this study was to determine DNA content and estimate ploidy of these 127 accessions. Among the accessions, we identified a wide range of ploidy levels from diploid to octoploid. We also found the accessions with higher ploidy levels usually had larger seed size. These results will be informative to plant breeders and researchers using germplasm from the F. ovina collection and point to challenges in maintaining polyploid, outcrossing germplasm seed stocks in common nurseries.

Festuca species have been used for forage, turf, soil conservation and ornamental purpose, which highlighted the importance of these species. This study was conducted to determine genetic variability among the 48 accessions of fine-leaved fescue from different regions of Iran using ISSR markers. To understand genetic relationships among these accessions, unweight pair-group method (UPGMA) were applied to the ISSR marker data set. The ten ISSR primers amplified in total 189 loci for 48 Festuca ovina accessions. All of the amplified loci were polymorphic. A high level of genetic diversity was detected in F. ovina accessions with an average genetic diversity index of 1.522. The expected heterozygosity (He) for the primers varied from 0.153 to 0.347. According to the ISSR data, accessions grouped in two main and seven sub clusters. Results indicated that each of the main clusters include plants that demonstrate Green and Silver phenotypes. Little congruence between the groupings patterns of accessions of F. ovina based on ISSR markers data and categorization based on phenotypes as a Green and Silver, was observed. In conclusion results reveal the high genetic diversity among F. ovina accessions, which can be used for alternative conservation and breeding programs.

Cotula alpina (Hook f.) Hook f. is an Australian herb that has been naturalised in Britain since the 1970s and is now locally abundant in parts of northern England and northwest Scotland. Its method of arrival is unknown but it is likely to have originated from gardens and perhaps also from wool shoddy. It appears to be spreading rapidly due to high seed production and effective dispersal by sheep, humans and vehicles and is now locally abundant on moorland tracks and in adjacent acid grassland and heather moorland managed for grouse. Due to its evergreen and mat-forming habit it can outcompete community dominants such as Agrostis capillaris and Festuca ovina in areas where levels of grazing are high. It appears to be well suited to the British climate and is therefore likely to spread into similar habitats in other regions where it could pose a threat to localized species associated with short grassland on acidic soils. Its overall abundance and ability to regenerate rapidly from seed means it is unlikely to be easily controlled or eradicated, although exclusion of grazing may help to reduce its abundance in some areas.

Orman içi meralar gerek evcil gerekse yaban hayvanlarıaçısından önemli bir kaba yem kaynağıdır ve ülkemizde bu alanların durumuhakkında yeterli kayıt yoktur. Bu çalışma, Sarıkamış sarıçam (Pinus sylvestris L.) ormanlarında ormaniçi meralarının bitki örtüsünün belirlenmesi amacıyla yürütülmüştür. İncelenenmera kesimlerinde toplam 63 bitki türüne rastlanmış olup, kesimlerde hakimbitki türleri buğdaygillerden koyun yumağı (Festucaovina), yumrulu salkımotu (Poabulbosa), baklagillerden ise çayır üçgülü (Trifolium pratense) olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışma alanındabotanik kompozisyonda ortalama olarak buğdaygiller %51.01, baklagiller %17.50ve diğer familyalar ise %31.48 oranında tespit edilmiştir. Toprağı kaplamaoranı ortalama %24.56 olarak belirlenmiştir. En yüksek mera kalite derecesi 53.21ile seyrek kesimde, en düşük mera kalite derecesi ise 32.16 ile kapalı kesimdeolduğu belirlenmiştir. Mera durum sınıfı ve sağlığı yönünden açık kesimriskli orta, seyrek kesim sorunlu iyi ve kapalı kesim ise sorunlu ortasınıfında yer almıştır. Mera kesimleri arasındaki benzerlik indeksinin %31.5ile %47.5 arasında değiştiği belirlenmiştir., The forest gaprangelands are an important source of forage for both domestic and wildanimals and there are not enough records about the status of these areas in ourcountry. This study was carried out in Sarıkamış scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) forests in order todetermine the vegetation of forest gap rangelands. A total of 63 plant specieswere found in the pasture sections examined. The dominant plant species inrangelands sites were sheepfescue (Festuca ovina) and bulbous bluegrass (Poa bulbosa) of grasses and red clover (Trifolium pratense) of legumes. In the study area, botanical compositionwas determined as 51.01% grasses, 17.50% legumes and 31.48% other plantfamilies. The canopy coveragerate was determined as 24.56% on average. The highest rangeland quality degreewas 53.21 in sparse rangeland and the lowest rangeland quality degree was 32.16in covered rangeland site. For rangeland health; uncovered rangeland site wasevaluated as “Risky-Fair” class, sparse rangeland site was evaluated as“Unhealthy-Good” class and covered rangeland site was evaluated as“Unhealthy-Fair” class. The similarity index was found from 31.5% and 47.5%among rangeland sites.

The aim of the presented research was to assess the initial growth rate of selected 5 grass species in order to determine their suitability for quick and effective infestation of roadside embankments in two sowing dates (spring and late autumn). The research was carried out on a bank situated along the national road S17. Measurements of root length and height of seedlings of each species were made on 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 days from the date of sowing. It has been shown that in the conditions of the experiment the grass species assessed differ in the rate of initial growth. Sowing dates had significant impact on the rate of root elongation and growth of seedlings of the studied grass species, because on objects with late autumn sowing date, all species and varieties were characterized by the shortest roots and the lowest seedlings. In both sowing dates, regardless of year of research, L. perenne seedlings were characterized by the longest roots and the highest seedlings in comparison to other species. In turn, seedlings of P. pratensis regardless of the year of studies were characterized by the shortest roots and the lowest seedlings in comparison to other species.

Morphological structure and polyvariation of development of Thymus karatavicus, an endemic of the West Tien Shan, were studied. Species habitats are monotypic, restricted to Festuca ovina communities of the Syrdarya Karatau and Talass Аlatau. T. karatavicus was established to be an implicitly polycentric dwarf shrub. An adult plant represents a clump consisting of primary and partial bushes. In morphogenesis, seed individuals pass phases of a primary shoot, a primary bush, and a clump sequentially and vegetative individuals pass phases of a partial bush and a system of partial bushes. The individual ontogenesis does not exceed 20 years; over this period, individuals pass 7 ontogenetic states sequentially. Self-preservation of populations is performed by seeds and vegetatively; under changes of growth conditions, the individuals exhibit polyvariation of development. A specific pattern of the morphological structure and development of T. karatavicus determines preservation and sustainable status of its populations in the West Tien Shan Keywords: Endemic plant, Dwarf shrub, Morphogenesis, Plant architecture, Tien Shan

Increased tendency towards organic fruit production advances alternative methods in orchard floor management. The effect of differences of sowing year of the living mulch Festuca ovina L. within tree rows on selected quantitative and quality parameters of apple fruit was evaluated on the trees budded on three different rootstocks. Long-term observations of full cropping trees in the period from 2013 to 2016 revealed no significant differences in cropping efficiency coefficient among the analysed treatments. Sowing of blue fescue in the 2nd year after orchard establishment resulted in approximately 30% decreased mean annual yield compared to herbicide treatment. Crop loss was less pronounced in treatments in which blue fescue was sown several years since the trees planting. No significant differences in selected fruit quality parameters (soluble solids, starch index, colour parameters L* and h°) were detected among different treatments and rootstocks in growing season 2016. Analysed compounds were determined in fruits with the use of HPLC system. Total sugars and organic acids were not differed among treatments. Five phenolic groups were analysed in apple peel and pulp. No significant differences of secondary metabolites content were measured in apple pulp between living mulch treatments and herbicide fallow. The results are expected as plants usually react to stress with the production of phenolics in outer tissues. Consequently, higher levels of some phenolic groups were detected in apple in treatments, which included blue fescue sowing in the 4th or 5th year after tree planting on semi-dwarf P 60 and M.26 rootstocks—the combinations which also the best mitigated the negative influences of living mulch on the yielding level.

Herbivory is one of the key drivers shaping plant community dynamics. Herbivores can strongly influence plant productivity directly through defoliation and the return of nutrients in the form of du ...

The aim of this study was to screen plant species for remediation of oil-polluted soil in a semi-arid loess area. Pot experiments were conducted to test six indigenous plant species: ryegrass (Lolium perenne), tall fescue (Festuca ovina), wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), erect milkvetch (Astragalus adsurgens), and caragana (Caragana korshinskii). Loessial soil was spiked with crude oil at five pollution levels (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4%, w/w). We analyzed plant growth parameters at different stages, soil oxidoreductase activities, and oil degradation rate under different treatments. Soil pollution by oil negatively affected the germination rate, plant height, and biomass of all six species while inhibiting soil dehydrogenase and catalase activities. These inhibitory effects increased with increasing oil pollution level, with 2% and 1% being the critical levels at which plant growth and soil oxidoreductase activities were significantly inhibited, respectively. Both oxidoreductase activities in the rhizosphere soil were significantly higher than those in the bulk soil, which led to a considerable increase in the degradation rate of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the rhizosphere. The plants showed varying remediation effects in the oil-polluted soil. Erect milkvetch and caragana showed potential for remediation of soil below the 0.5% pollution level, alfalfa for soil below the 1% pollution level, and ryegrass, tall fescue, and wheatgrass for soil below the 4% pollution level. The oil pollution level was negatively correlated with plant height, biomass, oxidoreductase activities, and TPH degradation rate for the six plants (p

Over the past 150 years, semi-natural grasslands have suffered from either large-scale intensification of land use or abandonment. Lepidoptera are excellent model organisms to study the effects of land-use changes. In this study, we analysed the effects of landscape quality and habitat quality on the patch occupancy of two specialist Lepidoptera species, the butterfly Erebia medusa and the burnet moth Adscita statices, in small but well-connected semi-natural grasslands (N = 71) in central Germany. Our study revealed that habitat quality was the main driver of patch occupancy of the two species. The generalized linear model analysis revealed that the occurrence of both species was determined by the litter volume. Additionally, for A. statices the cover of the host plants (Rumex acetosella and R. acetosa) was a further predictor. In contrast, landscape quality had only a minor role on patch occupancy. For both species, the observed population structure resembled a classical metapopulation of the Levins type consisting of many small and highly connected patches. In the short and medium term, abandonment was beneficial for both species, as it maintained the litter layer. In the long run it would lead to vegetation dominated by competitive, high-growing grasses (e.g., Arrhenatherum elatius) and a decreasing cover of the less competitive host plants, especially Festuca ovina agg. and R. acetosella. Hence, we would recommend rotational grazing or mowing, if sufficiently large parts of the habitats were not under management every year.

The abandoned Kettara pyrrhotite mine, located near Marrakech, Morocco, is an acid mine drainage (AMD) producer site. A store-and-release cover system made of phosphate wastes was built to prevent water infiltration and the formation of AMD. This cover system should be vegetated with appropriate plants to ensure its long-term sustainability and allow its reintegration in the surrounding ecosystem. Several indigenous plant species were studied. The choice of plant species was based mainly on their tolerance to trace elements contained in the phosphate wastes, and their low capacity to translocate these metals to their aboveground parts in order to limit the risk of pollutants transfer along the food chain. The main metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr) are determined in 13 dominant plants naturally colonizing the store-and-release cover and their rhizospheric soils. The results showed that the phosphate cover contained high concentrations of Cr (138.04 mg/kg), Cu (119.86 mg/kg) and Cd (10.67 mg/kg) exceeding the regulatory thresholds values (Cr &gt, 100 mg/kg, Cu &gt, 100 mg/kg, Cd &gt, 3 mg/kg). The studied plants revealed no hyper-accumulation of metals and metalloids, and lower concentrations in shoots than in roots. Six species (Plantago afra, Festuca ovina, Aizoon hispanicum, Herniaria cinerea, Echium plantagineum and Asphodelus tenuifolius) have bioconcentration factors greater than 1, and weak translocation factors, identifying them as appropriate candidates for phytostabilization of the phosphate cover.

Summary • The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was investigated in an unfertilized limestone grassland soil supporting different synthesized vascular plant assemblages that had developed for 3 yr. • The experimental treatments comprised: bare soil; monocultures of the nonmycotrophic sedge Carex flacca; monocultures of the mycotrophic grass Festuca ovina; and a species-rich mixture of four forbs, four grasses and four sedges. The diversity of AM fungi was analysed in roots of Plantago lanceolata bioassay seedlings using terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). The extent of AM colonization, shoot biomass and nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were also measured. • The AM diversity was affected significantly by the floristic composition of the microcosms and shoot phosphorus concentration was positively correlated with AM diversity. The diversity of AM fungi in P. lanceolata decreased in the order: bare soil > C. flacca > 12 species > F. ovina. • The unexpectedly high diversity in the bare soil and sedge monoculture likely reflects differences in the modes of colonization and sources of inoculum in these treatments compared with the assemblages containing established AM-compatible plants.

Summary • This study examined morphological and topological responses of nodal root axes to defoliation in a fast- and a slow-growing grass species. • Vegetative tillers of both Lolium perenne and Festuca ovina were grown on slant boards and either left intact or subjected to repeated defoliation, under both a high nitrogen (N) and a low N supply. Root length, diameter and branching characteristics were measured on individual nodal root axes. • The total axis root length of F. ovina was less when plants had been defoliated. Root axis weight, primary root axis length and primary root diameter were also less with defoliation than an undefoliated control, under high N. Under low N conditions the root axes of F. ovina had a more randomly branched topology without defoliation. For L. perenne under low N conditions, the length of the primary root axis was longer with defoliation than in an undefoliated control, while the primary root axis diameter decreased. By contrast to F. ovina, the root axes of L. perenne had a more randomly branched topology without defoliation only when supplied with high N. • The greatest plasticity in branching caused by defoliation was observed under high N for L. perenne and under low N for F. ovina. Although grass root axis topology has, in general, a herringbone in structure, the nodal root system can alter root axis structure in response to defoliation.

Microbial immobilization may decrease the inorganic nutrient concentrations of the soil to the extent of affecting plant nutrient uptake and growth. We have hypothesized that graminoids with opportunistic nutrient-acquisition strategies are strongly influenced by nutrient limitation imposed by microbes, whereas growth forms such as dwarf shrubs are less affected by the mobilization–immobilization cycles in microbes. By adding NPK fertilizer, labile C (sugar) and fungicide (benomyl) over a 5 yr period in a fully factorial design, we aimed to manipulate the sink–source potential for nutrients in a non-acidic heath tundra soil. After 2 yr, N and P accumulated in the microbial biomass after fertilization with no change in microbial C, which suggests that nutrients did not limit microbial biomass growth. After 5 yr, microbial C was enhanced by 60% in plots with addition of labile C, which points to C-limitation of the microbial biomass. Microbial biomass N and P tended to increase following addition of labile C, by 10 and 25%, respectively. This caused decreased availability of NH4+ and P, showing close microbial control of nutrient availability. The most common graminoid, Festuca ovina, responded to fertilizer addition with a strong increase, and to labile C addition with a strong decrease in cover, providing the first direct field evidence that nutrient limitation imposed by immobilizing microbes can affect the growth of tundra plants. Also in support of our hypothesis, following addition of labile C the concentrations of N and K in leaves and that of N in roots of F. ovina decreased, whilst the demand of roots for P increased. In contrast, the most common dwarf shrub, Vaccinium uliginosum, was only slightly sensitive to changes in resource availability, showing no cover change after 4 yr addition of labile C and fertilizer, and little change in leaf nutrient concentrations. We suggest that the differential responses of the two growth forms are due to differences in storage and nutrient uptake pathways, with the dwarf shrub having large nutrient storage capacity and access to organic forms of N through its mycorrhizal association. While the fungicide had no effect on ericoid mycorrhizal colonization of roots or symbiotic function inferred from plant 15N natural abundance, it decreased microbial biomass C and N after 2 yr. Throughout the fifth season, the availability of soil NO3− and inorganic P was decreased with no change in microbial biomass C, N or P, suggesting a negative impact of benomyl on N and P mineralization.

The Yarlung Zangbo River Basin is an important populated area in Tibet, and its plant community structure and diversity pattern have attracted the attention of many scholars. In this paper, the distribution pattern of plant diversity and the environmental factors impacting it in the middle and upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River are revealed and discussed through sample surveys and climate and habitat data. The results show that the plant communities in the study area can be divided into seven types according to the dominant species: Artemisia minor + Stipa purpurea, Artemisia wellbyi + Festuca ovina, Potentilla fruticosa + Orinus thoroldii, Trikeraia hookeri + Artemisia frigida, Kobresia pygmaea, Sophora moorcroftiana + Artemisia hedinii, and Sophora moorcroftiana + Pennisetum centrasiaticum. Plant diversity decreases with decreasing longitude, increasing latitude, and increasing altitude; and the diversity distribution pattern in the study area has distinct zonal characteristics. Water and heat are the main factors which affect the distribution of vegetation types. The explanation rates of water and heat for the plant diversity distribution pattern were 19.3% and 5.7%, respectively, while the spatial variation explained by these two factors together was 60.8%. Therefore, the coupling effect is obvious.

Vegetation recovery in severely disturbed alpine ecosystems can be accelerated through active restoration measures. This study evaluated the short-term effects of two restoration treatments, planting of propagated native Salix (willow) shrubs in three different densities (1, 2.5, and 4 plants/m2) and seeding of the native grass Festuca ovina (sheep fescue), in a disturbed alpine heathland. We evaluated natural vegetation recovery (i.e. vegetation cover, vascular plant species richness, and Salix recruitment) in permanent plots, 5 years after the implementation of restoration measures. The results showed that both treatments had positive but different effects on vegetation recovery; Salix plantings (with densities ≥2.5 plants/m2) increased vascular plant species richness and recruitment of Salix seedlings, whereas seeding of F. ovina increased bottom and field layer cover. Our results also show the importance of soil conditions for vegetation recovery, as moister plots with a higher percentage of fine soil substrate had a higher vegetation cover and vascular plant species richness. This study shows that different restoration treatments can work complementary and also highlights the importance of considering different indicators of vegetation recovery when evaluating the effectiveness of restoration measures.

Reproductive and early‐acting life‐history traits are likely to be particularly important determinants of plant fitness under a changing climate. There have, however, been few robust tests of the evolution of these traits under chronic climate change in natural ecosystems. Such studies are urgently needed, to evaluate the contribution of evolutionary change to population persistence.\ud \ud Here, we examine climate‐driven evolutionary change in reproductive and early‐acting plant life‐history traits in the long‐lived perennial plant, Festuca ovina.\ud \ud We collected established plants of F. ovina from species‐rich calcareous grassland at the Buxton Climate Change Impacts Laboratory (BCCIL), after 17 years of in situ experimental drought treatment.\ud \ud P1 plants collected from drought‐treated and control (ambient climate) plots at BCCIL were used to create an open‐pollinated F1 progeny array, which was subsequently validated using microsatellite markers to establish a robust bi‐parental pedigree. We measured the timing of germination and seed mass in the F1 progeny, the P1 paternal contribution to F1 offspring (paternal reproductive success), and assessed the effects of flowering time on the mating system.\ud \ud F1 seed with ancestry in drought‐treated plots at BCCIL germinated significantly later than seed derived from individuals from control plots. P1 plants from the drought treatment flowered significantly earlier than those from the control plots in summer 2012, but not in 2013. Male reproductive success was also lower in P1 plants collected from drought plots than those from control plots. Furthermore, our pedigree revealed that mating among parents of the F1 progeny had been assortative with respect to flowering time.\ud \ud Synthesis. Our study shows that chronic drought treatment at Buxton Climate Change Impacts Laboratory has driven rapid evolutionary change in reproductive and early‐acting life‐history traits in Festuca ovina, and suggests that evolutionary differentiation may be reinforced through changes in flowering time that reduce the potential for gene flow.

British populations of Carex ericetorum Poll. (Rare Spring Sedge) were visited between 2008 and 2015 to assess size, habitats, associated vegetation, management, threats and changes in abundance since the 1970s. C. ericetorum was relocated at 40 of the 64 sites visited, mainly in northwest England (24 sites) and East Anglia (nine sites); most populations that couldn’t be relocated were in southern and eastern England. Population sizes were usually small (

Knowledge of species’ ecological requirements is key for designing effective conservation management. In butterflies, the needs of larval stages are often the most specialised part of the life-cycle, but for many species information on this is lacking. The Mountain Ringlet Erebia epiphron is a cold-adapted butterfly found in alpine grasslands in mountainous regions of Europe. Efforts to devise conservation strategies for this climate change-threatened species are hampered due to its basic ecology being poorly understood. Here, we describe a study on the autecology of Mountain Ringlets at sites across its British distribution, focusing on the habitat preferences of egg-laying females as a proxy for larval preferences. Female Mountain Ringlets placed their eggs predominantly on Nardus stricta and Festuca ovina, but also on several other host plant species, suggesting larvae may be more broadly polyphagous than previously realised. Sites chosen for eggs had higher abundance of larval host plants, intermediate leaf litter cover, and lower cover of grass tussocks than random locations, as well as a shorter and sparser grass sward. Although the main host plant is ubiquitous in upland areas of Britain, our findings suggest that this butterfly’s egg and larval stages have specialised ecological requirements, requiring specific microhabitat features characterised by a narrow range of vegetation composition and structural characteristics. Many habitat associations are liable to be explicable as adaptations to ensure placement of eggs and larvae in sites within optimal (warm or buffered) microclimates. We tentatively suggest that the distribution of Mountain Ringlets in the landscape is thermally-constrained.

Festuca ovinais a fine fescue that is used as a low-input turfgrass. The ploidy levels ofF. ovinaaccessions held by the USDA National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) are unknown, limiting the use of the germplasm in breeding programs. The objective of this study was to determine DNA content and estimate ploidy of these 127 accessions. Among the accessions, we identified a wide range of ploidy levels from diploid to octoploid. We also found the accessions with higher ploidy levels usually had larger seed size. These results will be informative to plant breeders and researchers using germplasm from theF. ovinacollection and point to challenges in maintaining polyploid, outcrossing germplasm seed stocks in common nurseries.

Alpine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbances and have a slow natural recovery rate. Open questions remain as to which forms of active restoration measures could accelerate alpine ecosystem recovery from severe disturbances. This study evaluated the short-term effects of two restoration treatments – planting of propagated Salix shrubs in three different densities (1, 2.5 and 4 plants/m2) and seeding of the grass Festuca ovina – on vegetation recovery in a disturbed alpine heathland in the Dovre Mountains, Norway. In addition, the relationships between soil moisture and vegetation recovery, and between soil substrate and vegetation recovery were investigated. Measurements were obtained in permanent monitoring plots, five years after implementation of the measures. Results showed that the effectiveness of the restoration treatments depended on the metric used to assess vegetation recovery. Salix plantings with higher densities had a higher naturally recovered vascular plant diversity and a higher Salix recruitment but the plantings did not affect naturally established vegetation cover. Seeding of F. ovina resulted in a higher bottom and field layer cover but did not affect vascular plant diversity. Vegetation recovery was positively related to soil moisture and fine soil substrate. Exploratory aerial photography suggested that the large-scale revegetation pattern in the study site was linked to artificially created topography. If the outlined restoration goal is to increase both vascular plant diversity and vegetation cover, this study suggests that planting and seeding might be used complementary to each other and in conjunction with improving soil water retention capacity and creating artificial relief. M-ECOL

Data for stable C and N isotope natural abundances of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are currently sparse, as fungal material is difficult to access for analysis. So far, isotope analyses have been limited to lipid compounds associated with fungal membranes or storage structures (biomarkers), fungal spores and soil hyphae. However, it remains unclear whether any of these components are an ideal substitute for intraradical AM hyphae as the functional nutrient trading organ. Thus, we isolated intraradical hyphae of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis from roots of the grass Festuca ovina and the legume Medicago sativa via an enzymatic and a mechanical approach. In addition, extraradical hyphae were isolated from a sand-soil mix associated with each plant. All three approaches revealed comparable isotope signatures of R. irregularis hyphae. The hyphae were 13C- and 15N-enriched relative to leaves and roots irrespective of the plant partner, while they were enriched only in 15N compared with soil. The 13C enrichment of AM hyphae implies a plant carbohydrate source, whereby the enrichment was likely reduced by an additional plant lipid source. The 15N enrichment indicates the potential of AM fungi to gain nitrogen from an organic source. Our isotope signatures of the investigated AM fungus support recent findings for mycoheterotrophic plants which are suggested to mirror the associated AM fungi isotope composition. Stable isotope natural abundances of intraradical AM hyphae as the functional trading organ for bi-directional carbon-for-mineral nutrient exchanges complement data on spores and membrane biomarkers.

Duplicative horizontal gene transfer may bring two previously separated homologous genes together, which may raise questions about the interplay between the gene products. One such gene pair is the “native” PgiC1 and “foreign” PgiC2 in the perennial grass Festuca ovina. Both PgiC1 and PgiC2 encode cytosolic phosphoglucose isomerase, a dimeric enzyme whose proper binding is functionally essential. Here, we use biophysical simulations to explore the inter-monomer binding of the two homodimers and the heterodimer that can be produced by PgiC1 and PgiC2 in F. ovina. Using simulated native-state ensembles, we examine the structural properties and binding tightness of the dimers. In addition, we investigate their ability to withstand dissociation when pulled by a force. Our results suggest that the inter-monomer binding is tighter in the PgiC2 than the PgiC1 homodimer, which could explain the more frequent occurrence of the foreign PgiC2 homodimer in dry habitats. We further find that the PgiC1 and PgiC2 monomers are compatible with heterodimer formation; the computed binding tightness is comparable to that of the PgiC1 homodimer. Enhanced homodimer stability and capability of heterodimer formation with PgiC1 are properties of PgiC2 that may contribute to the retaining of the otherwise redundant PgiC2 gene.

Interest in abandoning herbicide fallow as the standard in-the-row orchard floor management system continues unabated. Despite research efforts, available relevant data remain insufficient to formulate reliable recommendations for individual site conditions. A long-term experiment was therefore initiated in a temperate climate area in south-western Poland. ‘Ligol’ and ‘Pinova’ cultivar apple trees were planted in an unirrigated orchard in 2004, with treatment plot tree-rows mulched and control plots maintained with herbicide fallow. In 2016, black woven polypropylene fabric and Agrostis vulgaris With. and Festuca ovina L. living mulches were compared with the herbicide fallow in terms of their effect on soil properties, tree nutrient status and yields. While the living mulches had a positive influence on soil porosity, humus content and pH, there were substantial yield reductions; arguably due to competition for water. It is therefore important that more intensive methods of understory vegetation suppression are explored and more competition-resilient rootstocks sought to counteract yield loss. The polypropylene cover was primarily associated with a decreased leaf K:Ca+Mg ratio. A synthetic mulch is a viable choice for certain rain-fed orchards.