Competitive Interactions Among Populus euphratica Seedlings Intensify Under Drought and Salt Stresses
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Plant interactions and their responses to stress environments are important ecological processes for ecosystem stability and biodiversity formation, but how plant intraspecific relationships respond to environmental stresses remains to be studied in depth. In this study, annual Populus euphratica seedlings were planted in singles or doubles, and two stress treatments were set up: two drought levels (0.7 and 0.4 L) and two salinity levels (200 and 400 mmol L−1). P. euphratica seedlings’ total and part biomass, root/shoot ratio, net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, nonstructural carbohydrate concentration, and proline content were measured. Relative interaction indices were calculated to clarify their intraspecific relationships. The results of the study showed that compared to the single-planted P. euphratica, the double-planted P. euphratica was more significantly inhibited by drought and salt stress, the total biomass decreased, photosynthesis declined, proline content increased, and non-structural carbohydrates changed, which reflected a competitive intraspecific relationship. Secondly, as drought and salt stress intensified, the relative interaction index indicated that the intraspecific relationship of P. euphratica seedlings gradually shifted from neutrality to competition, which indicated that the intraspecific competitive relationship of P. euphratica seedlings was exacerbated by environmental stresses. These findings highlight the need to account for stress-mediated competition in P. euphratica seedlings during ecological restoration in arid environments.
Source: Plants
Authors: Xiao-Hui Li, Xue-Ni Zhang, Shuang-Fu Zhou, Hui-Xia Li, Yu-Fei Chen
Institution: Xinjiang University
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,258
Award: G1304828121
OpenAlex ID: W4417423532