Relationships between relative growth rate and its components across 11 submersed macrophytes

Abstract

The relationships between relative growth rate and its components across 11 submersed macrophytes were examined in a short-term experimental study. Plants were grown in identical conditions in pots that were submersed in tanks. The average values for relative growth rate ranged from 17.4 to 94.5 mgg -1 d-1. The net assimilation rate, based on the increase in plant dry weight per unit leaf area in a fixed time, varied fivefold among species and showed a strong, positive correlation with relative growth rate. The leaf area ratio, leaf mass ratio, and specific leaf area were not significantly correlated with the relative growth rate, although these parameters were important in the adaptive responses of macrophytes to environmental stress. These results suggest that the physiological components (net assimilation rate) would be the main determinant of relative growth rate in submersed macrophytes, which highlights the importance of net assimilation rate in explaining differences in macrophyte species performance in freshwater habitat. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.