Various growth strategies of yellow birch seedlings in multiple-abiotic factor changing environments

Abstract

Elevated CO 2 concentration, light intensity and soil-sterile conditions are thought as three of the most important factors to affect plant growth and development. However, their combined physiological effect on plants is unknown so far. In this study, we measured the possible individual and combined impacts of the three factors on the growth of yellow birch seedlings {Betula alleghaniensis Britton). Our results showed that from individual perspective, elevated C0 2 can significantly increase biomass attributes (e.g., leaf, root, and stem) and root biomass ratio; light intensity can significantly influence traits like total biomass and leaf biomass; while soil conditions can influence traits like height and leaf biomass. From two-way interaction perspective, the interaction C0 2 and soil can significantly influence total plant biomass, root biomass and R:S ratio; the interaction of light and soil significantly influenced the height, basal diameter, stem biomass, and so on; the interaction between C0 2 and light did not significantly influence the plant growth parameters except for branch biomass ratio. From three-way interaction perspective, both traits stem biomass and root biomass were influenced by the co-effect of the three environmental factors. In conclusion, single or interactive effects among C0 2, light intensity and soil conditions can lead to various growth strategies for the yellow birch.