Clonal Integration in Ochthochloa Compressa Ecotypes under Various Environmental Conditions - Article Example

Clonal Integration in Ochthochloa Compressa Ecotypes under Various Environmental Conditions Table of Contents Introduction 3 Clonal Integration in Ochthochloa Compressa 3 Benefits of Clonal Integration 5 Conclusion 6 References 8 Introduction Plant vegetation and ‘biological life cycle’ are based on different factors that include soil, weather conditions and the geographic location of the region. Diversity of plant species has been identified to be decreasing as well that becomes apparent when comparing the degree of biological richness in lower altitudes with higher altitudes. Deforestation can also be noted as a major concern in this context. In addition, global atmospheric and climatic changes are identified to affect the diversity of natural communities, such as those of nomads. Forbs and annual grasses have also been observed to react to global changes. For instance, forb production and plant diversity have grown largely due to augmented precipitation. However, precipitation has been recognised to have minimum effect on grasses, which becomes apparent when studying Ochthochloa Compressa, deemed as one of the most tolerant grass species (Hec, n.d.). Terrestrial plants, such as Ochthochloa Compressa, need to survive in adverse situations due to global climatic changes that affect their normal biological growth cycle. Studies have revealed that its ability of clonal integration has proven quintessential for better existence in different microhabitat conditions (Schamp et al., 2008). Clonal Integration in Ochthochloa Compressa Ochthochloa Compressa is a perennial grass that grows upto 10 cm to 30 cm approximately. This grass specie, in order to survive under adverse conditions, has developed an ability of clonal integration. This adaptive mechanism has proven highly beneficial for its growth and survival even in unfavourable conditions. Clonal integration has helped the specie to activate its metabolic defence system, to help it survive. In order to build such immune mechanism, the plant has also developed a specific cellular structure (Peltzer, 2002). When compared to other species of the same genus, it becomes apparent that only a handful of grass families possess such qualities to sustain for long. Scientists studying the plant behaviour revealed that Ochthochloa Compressa, with its ability of clonal integration, is able to produce vegetative offspring in the form of ‘ramets’, which are also genetically identical. The ramets are observed to grow fast and healthy when produced besides the mother within specific distance. The genetic specie is termed as ‘genet’, which continuous spreads in a lateral manner to adapt its surrounding microhabitat conditions (Kun, 2003; Peltzer, 2002). The produced ramets are said to be connected even if dispersed at a distance, sharing almost similar sort of resources that include mineral nutrients, photoassimilates and water among others. It is through this procedure that the plant lowers the effects of harsh and sudden climatic changes on its microbiological development process. The process also helps the plant in enhancing its survival capability through effective resource sharing. Nevertheless, the ramets of Ochthochloa Compressa are ascertained to be biologically independent (Oborny et al., 2000). The ramets of Ochthochloa Compressa are required to be produced genetically with the aim of ensuring better survival and colonisation. The clonal integration process is also determined as an effective procedure based on which, Ochthochloa Compressa can invade in a new environment and exploit heterogeneous resources. In addition, clonal integration facilitates the specie in colonisation as well as growth of ramets under stressful conditions (Oborny et al., 2000). It is owing to this particular reason that genets are able to survive in different environmental changes, adapting adversities effectively. However, to be noted in this context, clonal integration of Ochthochloa Compressa depends on certain factors that include cells’ size and development time required for a new ramet to grow. For this particular species, clonal integration is identified as based on factors that include seed length, seed width, seed weight and seed volume among others. Thus, clonal integration of Ochthochloa Compressa assists the specie to retain its diversity in different environmental conditions (Qureshi et al., 2013; Kun, 2003). Benefits of Clonal Integration Drawing inferences from the above discussion it can be stated that clonal integration is as an important process that enriches the tolerance level of Ochthochloa Compressa to a substantial extent. In general, clonal integration is studied as an effective method of discovering the adaptive elements of the plants those are enhanced based on selection, genetic engineering as well as conventional breeding (Al-Sodany et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2008). Clonal integration provides an effective adaptive mechanism, based on which, plant biomass, physiological characteristics and anatomical factors can be retained. When relating the same with Ochthochloa Compressa, clonal integration develops a connection between the genet and ramets, owing to which, its survival capacity gets better. In this respect, clonal plants, with the implementation of clonal integration process enjoy a better growth as well as regeneration of different co-existing species. On the other hand, the process of clonal integration is identified to have an effect on the ecosystem that further causes changes in the biological life cycle of that particular region (You et al., 2014; Du et al., 2010). However, clonal integration is also determined to possess certain limitations in terms of biodiversity as well as stability of the global ecosystem. The threats of clonal integration exist due to the presence of certain invasive plants, which survive on clonal propagation, which further inhibits the scope of clonal integration by Ochthochloa Compressa. In addition, the clonal integration process is determined as threatened by native plants too (You et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2008). To be stated in this context, growth of clonal plants is depended on the production of ramets, which are genetically identical. Ramets produced are interconnected physically by internodes. In this respect, clonal integration has been a medium based on which, ramets are able to have a better exposure in terms of spatial heterogeneity. The connection of internodes amid ramets also ensures sharing of nutrients, water and others resources in an effective manner. Correspondingly, the connection amid the internodes facilitates proper flow of resources even at stressful conditions, which allows ramets to extract required resources from other ramets of the same family (Liu et al., 2008). Additionally, the development of ramets leads to the colonisation of Ochthochloa Compressa, wherein the clonal integration process is identified as an important medium in accordance with favourable ramets that can be exposed. In addition, it is an important medium through which, unfavourable conditions can be avoided or managed (Chaudhry et al., 2006; Roiloa & Retuerto, 2006). It can therefore be asserted that clonal integration in Ochthochloa Compressa ecotypes has led to the development of a connection between genet and ramets (Khan & Weber, 2006). Conclusion To be concluded, the study helped understand that due to continuous changes in the weather and environment conditions, many plant species have to face the risk of extinction. However, it should also be noted that climatic changes and changes observable in the ecological atmosphere on earth have been constant, which has further given birth to many new species, adding to the diversity of its biological sphere. Not only animals, but also various changes have been apparent in plant families that reflect their adaptation capabilities, such as the advent of clonal integration process. Scientific experiments have revealed that clonal integration has been an important genetic transformation in certain plant species, augmenting their survival capabilities even in extreme conditions. Illustratively, clonal integration of Ochthochloa Compressa has been an important mechanism for its production of ramets that has lowered the severity of climatic changes on this particular species. As the plant does not witness the extreme harshness of climatic changes, its adaptability also becomes stronger, expanding its longevity. Nevertheless, its success to execute clonal integration depends on various factors, such as the immunity and growth potentials of the natural vegetation, which often restricts proper growth of Ochthochloa Compressa in certain regions. References Al-Sodany, Y. M. et al., 2011. Vegetation analysis of Mahazat Al-Sayd Protected Area: The second Largest Fenced Nature Reserve in the World. World Applied Sciences Journal, Vol. 15, No. 8, pp. 1144-1156. Chaudhry, M. S. et al., 2006. Mycorrhizas in the Perennial Grasses of Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. International Journal of Botany, Vol. 2, pp. 210-218. Du, J. et al., 2010. Clonal Integration Increases Performance of Ramets of the Fern Diplopterygium Glaucum in an Evergreen Forest in Southeastern China. Flora, Vol. 205, pp. 399-403. Hec, No Date. Review of Literature. Chapter 2. [Online] Available at: http://prr.hec.gov.pk/Chapters/301S-2.pdf [Accessed February 16, 2010]. Khan, M. A. & Weber, D. J., 2006. Ecophysiology of High Salinity Tolerant Plants. Springer. Kun, A., 2003. Ecology and Evolution of Clonal Integration in Heterogeneous Environment. Thesis. [Online] Available at: http://ramet.elte.hu/~ramet/staff/Ka/AdamKun_theses.pdf [Accessed February 16, 2010]. Liu, J. et al., 2008. Effects of Clonal Integration on Photosynthesis of the Invasive Clonal Plant Alternanthera Philoxeroides. Photosynthetica, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 299-302. Oborny, B. et al., 2000. The Effect of Clonal Integration on Plant Competition for Mosaic Habitat Space. Ecology, Vol. 81, No. 12, 3291-3304. Peltzer, D. A., 2002. Does Clonal Integration Improve Competitive Ability? A Test Using Aspen (Populus Tremuloides [Salicaceae]) Invasion into Prairie. American Journal of Botany, Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 494-499. Qureshi, R. et al., 2013. Seed Morphometry of Some Grasses and Sedges from Cholistan Desert, Pakistan. Archives Des Sciences, Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 128-133. Roiloa, S. R. & Retuerto, R., 2006. Development, Photosynthetic Activity and Habitat Selection of the Clonal Plant Fragaria Vesca Growing In Copper-Polluted Soil. Functional Plant Biology, Vol. 33, pp. 961-971. Schamp, B. S. et al., 2008. Dispersion of Traits Related To Competitive Ability in an Old-Field Plant Community. Journal of Ecology, Vol. 96, pp. 204-212. Wang, N. et al., 2008. Clonal Integration Affects Growth, Photosynthetic Efficiency and Biomass Allocation, but not the Competitive Ability, of the Alien Invasive Alternanthera Philoxeroides under Severe Stress. Annals of Botany, Vol. 101, pp. 671-678. You, W. et al., 2014. An Invasive Clonal Plant Benefits from Clonal Integration More than a Co-Occurring Native Plant in Nutrient-Patchy and Competitive Environments. PLOS One, Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 1-11. Zhang, Y. et al., 2008. Clonal Integration of Fragaria Orientalis Driven By Contrasting Water Availability between Adjacent Patches. Botanical Studies, Vol. 49, pp. 373-383. Read More