Ontogenetic shifts in biomass allocation and xylem structure of the world's highest-occurring plants: balancing growth, storage, and resilience in the extreme Himalayan subnival zone
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985939%3A_____%2F25%3A00641776" target="_blank" >RIV/67985939:_____/25:00641776 - isvavai.cz</a>
Alternative codes found
RIV/60076658:12310/25:43910347
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70045" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.70045</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/plb.70045" target="_blank" >10.1111/plb.70045</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
Ontogenetic shifts in biomass allocation and xylem structure of the world's highest-occurring plants: balancing growth, storage, and resilience in the extreme Himalayan subnival zone
Original language description
Understanding how plants allocate biomass to different organs and tissue types is essential for revealing their adaptive strategies across life stages and environments. This study investigates ontogenetic shifts in biomass allocation in Ladakiella klimesii, a long-lived alpine forb in the Himalayan subnival zone at 5900 m, to understand how plants adapt to extreme environments. Biomass distribution to roots, stems, and leaves, plus xylem tissue composition were measured in 205 individuals to determine how plant size and age influence resource prioritization across development stages. Root collar cross-sections were examined to determine plant age, annual growth increments, and tissue fractions. Smaller plants prioritized roots for nutrient uptake, while larger plants allocated more biomass to parenchyma for storage and metabolic activities. Lignified tissues decreased with increasing size, reflecting reduced structural requirements, while vessel fraction and radial growth were higher in younger plants to support water transport. Age modulated these patterns independently, with younger plants focusing on establishing structures and older plants emphasizing storage tissues for resilience. Ladakiella klimesii adapts to the extreme subnival zone through narrow xylem vessels to prevent freezing-induced embolism, the absence of fibres to minimize freezing risks, and high leaf mass fractions to optimize photosynthesis during short growing seasons. Its simplified xylem structure, dominated by parenchyma and single-lignified vessel rows, reflects thermal constraints and functional efficiency. These findings highlight the importance of integrating plant size and age in ecological studies and underscore this species' specialized strategies to thrive in a challenging subnival environment.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
10618 - Ecology
Result continuities
Project
Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.
Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2025
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Plant Biology
ISSN
1435-8603
e-ISSN
1438-8677
Volume of the periodical
27
Issue of the periodical within the volume
6
Country of publishing house
US - UNITED STATES
Number of pages
11
Pages from-to
1176-1186
UT code for WoS article
001499866300001
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-105007093385