Titel
Physiological adaptation before and after snow melt in green overwintering leaves of some alpine plants
Verfasser
Cornelius Lütz (*)
E. Schönauer (*)
G. Neuner (*)
Erscheinungsort
Horn
Verlag
Verlag Ferdinand Berger & Soehne Ges.m.b.H.
Erscheinungsjahr
2005
Illustrationen
6 Abb., 2 Tab., 38 Lit. Ang.
Material
Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk
Standardsignatur
5943
Datensatznummer
200138867
Quelle
Phyton 2005, 45(3) Special Edition : Special Aspects of Plant function; S. 139-156
Abstract
The physiological adaptation of Homogyne alpina, Loiseleuria procumbens and Rhododendron ferrugineum plants that were collected at altitudes between 2000 m and 2200 m in the Central European Alps was studied in field samples as it occurs before and after snow melt. These plants retain green leaves over the winter, well protected by snow, but showing some photosynthetic functions. During snow melt in May and June the leaves are suddenly exposed to markedly increased irradiation intensities of PAR and UV-B and to a significant increase in leaf temperature (up to 40 K). This sudden change in microclimate had no detrimental influence on the investigated photosynthetic parameters. Measurements of plastid pigments, fluorescence parameters and of antioxidant and flavonoid compounds revealed a species - specific response. The two woody dwarf shrubs Loiseleuria and Rhododendron behaved more similar as compared to Homogyne.