Sensitivity of Growth and Biomass Allocation Patterns to Different Irradiance for Desert Plant Alhagi sparsifolia Shap.

Sensitivity of Growth and Biomass Allocation Patterns to Different Irradiance for Desert Plant Alhagi sparsifolia Shap.

Alhagi sparsifolia grows in highirradiance environment and is the main vegetation found in the forelands of the Taklamakan Desert. The morphology and iomass acclimation of A. sparsifolia growing under low-light environment were extensively investigated. Plant growth is normally limited by low light conditions. Compared to the ML (middle light) and LL (low light), A. sparsifolia seedlings growing under NL (normal light) allocate less to roots than shoots as indicated by their lower root to shoot ratio. Leaf thickness, and assimilative branch diameter and length reduced, causing a significant increase in specific leaf area (SLA), specific assimilative branch length (SAL), specific assimilative branch area (SAA), and leaf area ratio (LAR) indicate a greater efficiency in capturing light resources with increasing light limitation. However, the assimilative branches were disappeared in low irradiance and maybe it is an evolution for greater productivity. On the other hand, in normal light conditions, and to prevent the evaporation of water plant evolve the assimilative branch to keep water balance. Thus maybe caused the A. sparsifolia evolve the assimilative branch thus facilitate its survival in aridland.