B. N. Smith*, T. A. Monaco*, D. J. B. Hemming*, L. D. Hansen**, and R. S. Criddle***
* Departments of Botany and Range Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 USA
** Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 USA
*** Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 USA
Received December 21, 1995
Abstract—Native plants used for revegetation must be able to grow and become established rapidly, whether
transplanted as seedlings or directly seeded. Quick methods for predicting performance and identifying geno-
types for a given environment are needed to improve revegetation success. Dark respiration rates measured in
field and laboratory by microcalorimetry, infrared gas analysis, or oxygen electrodes are proposed as means for
identifying plants for revegetation projects. Several accessions of Achillea millefolium, Artemisia tridentata,
Bromus tectorum, Poa secunda, and Stipa thurberiana were collected from different locations and grown in
common gardens. Growth was measured as linear extension growth and/or increase in dry weight per unit time.
In some cases, visual estimates of chlorophyll content and wet–dry weights were used as an index of viability—
particularly in an extended drought. Differences in metabolism were correlated with differences in the environ-
ment of origin. For example, Poa secunda from dry sites was metabolically distinct from Poa secunda from
more mesic sites, even when both were grown in common gardens. Young leaves differed from fully expanded
leaves in both metabolic rate and pathways. Metabolism is greatly affected by environmental factors such as
temperature, light intensity, drought, salt, heavy metals, air pollution, etc., but still predicts growth at extant
conditions. Growth rate predictions based on metabolic rate measurements generally agreed with predictions
based on 13C/12C ratios, but respiration rate measurements are faster and less expensive than isotopic ratios and
are applicable to C4 as well as C3 plants.
Key words: metabolism - dark respiration - growth - cold desert - Acacia auriculariformis - Achillea millefo-
lium - Artemisia tridentata - Bromus tectorum - Pisum sativum - Poa secunda - Stipa thurberiana
Pleiades Publishing home page | journal home page | top
If you have any problems with this server, contact webmaster.