Clonal Plants Research Articles

Plant–plant interactions vary greatly along a flooding gradient in a dam-induced riparian habitat

Plant–plant interactions under extreme environmental stress are still controversial. The stress gradient hypothesis (SGH) proposes that facilitation prevails under extreme environmental stresses, while an alternative view states that facilitation collapses or even switches back to competition at the extreme end of stress gradients. However, how the relationship between plant–plant interaction and periodic extreme flooding stress varies and its underlying mechanism are still unclear in a dam-regulated riparian ecosystem. We established a controlled experiment using two dominant species pairs (Cynodon dactylon–Cyperus rotundus and C. dactylon–Xanthium sibiricum) in the water level fluctuating zone of the Three Gorges Dam to examine their growth responses to the periodic extreme flooding stress. The results showed that as flooding stress increased, the competitive effect of C. dactylon on X. sibiricum shifted to facilitation, whereas the effect of X. sibiricum on C. dactylon maintained a strong inhibition. The plant height of X. sibiricum was the most important driver of the interaction between X. sibiricum and C. dactylon along the flooding gradient. The net effect of C. dactylon on C. rotundus shifted from neutral to negative, and the inhibitory effect of C. rotundus on C. dactylon became stronger at the extreme end of flooding stress. The root biomass of the two species was the key trait regulating their interaction with increasing flooding stress. Overall, the SGH was partially supported along our periodic extreme flooding stress gradient. Aboveground resource (light) might be the dominant factor driving the response of the interaction between annual plants and perennial clonal plants to periodic flooding stress, whereas belowground resource (water and nutrients) was probably the dominant factor for perennial clonal plants. Our study will help to further understand the environmental responses of plant–plant relationships and their regulatory mechanism, and the succession of riparian plant communities under extreme environmental changes, providing a basic theoretical basis and data support for the ecological restoration and management of riparian wetland vegetation.

Biological inhibition of denitrification (BDI): an early plant strategy for Fallopia × bohemica seedling development.

The successful plant Fallopia × bohemica presents interesting capacities for control of the soil nitrogen cycle at the adult stage, termed biological inhibition of denitrification (BDI). The BDI strategy allows the plant, via the production of secondary metabolites (procyanidins), to compete with the denitrifying microbial community and to divert nitrate from the soil for its benefit. In this study, we analysed whether seedlings of F. × bohemica can implement BDI at the seedling stage. We also determined whether soil nitrogen availability influences the implementation of BDI and seedling growth. We sowed achenes of F. × bohemica in soils representing a nitrogen gradient (six treatments) and harvested seedlings after 20 or 40 days of growth. The denitrification and related microbial communities (i.e. functional gene abundances of nirK and nirS), soil parameters (nitrate content and humidity) and plant performance (biomass, growth and root morphology) were determined. On soil without addition of nitrogen, BDI was observed after 20 days of growth, whereas a stimulation of denitrification was found after 40 days. The increase of soil N content had few effects on the activity and structure of the soil denitrifying community and on the plant biomasses or the relative growth rates. Correlations between plant and microbial parameters were observed after 20 days of growth, reflecting early and strong chemical interactions between plants and the denitrifying community, which decreased with plant growth after 40 days. This study shows that an early BDI enhances the efficiency of nitrogen acquisition in the first weeks of growth, allowing for a conservative root strategy after 40 days. This switch to a conservative strategy involved resource storage, an altered allocation to above- and below-ground parts and an investment in fine roots. It now seems clear that this storage strategy starts at a very young age with early establishment of BDI, giving this clonal plant exceptional capacities for storage and multiplication.

Risk-spreading strategies of two dwarf bamboos in heterogeneous Pb (lead) environments

As a typical clonal plant, dwarf bamboo has potential applications in the remediation of Pb (lead) -contaminated soils; however, the environmental risk-spreading strategies of dwarf bamboo in heterogeneous Pb-contaminated environments are not known. To this end, we conducted hydroponic experiments on two species of groundcover bamboo, Sasa fortunei (Van Houtte) Fiori (SF) and Sasa auricoma (Mitford) E.G. Camus (SU), with seven treatments including two environments, homogeneous and heterogeneous. The results showed that SF protected the distal ramets (DRs) and that SU did the opposite in a homogeneous Pb environment. In the heterogeneous Pb environment, the NTR of both bamboos (RSISF = 0.64/0.44, RSISU = 0.40/0.33) was higher than that under the heterogeneous high-concentration environment (RSISF = 0.15/0.28, RSISU = 0.26/0.26). Moreover, the total Pb concentration of SF was as high as 80123.5 mg/kg and that of SU was as high as 53333.33 mg/kg, and in general, SF was more capable of absorbing Pb. In the heterogeneous low-Pb environment, the ascorbic acid and proline levels of the TRs (Pb-treated ramets) were elevated to alleviate oxidative stress; in contrast, antioxidant enzyme activities of SU were all reduced due to the damage caused by Pb absorption. The results of the experiments showed that SF had a greater risk-spreading capacity and higher Pb concentrations than SU in heterogeneous environments, and therefore, SF had better Pb bioenrichment and tolerance than SU. We proposed a novel metric (RSI) to assess the ability of plants to spread risk, and the results of the study provid a basis for dwarf bamboo phytoremediation in heterogeneous Pb environments.

High correlations between plant clonality and ecosystem service functions after management in a chronosequence of evergreen conifer plantations.

Climate change and mono-afforestation or mono-reforestation have continuously caused a decline in biodiversity and ecosystem services on forest plantations. Key plant functional traits in forests or plantations may affect ecosystem functions after forest management practices. Plant clonality, a key functional trait, frequently links to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and affects the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship. However, little is known about how plant clonality affects ecosystem functions and services of plantations after forest management. We conducted a field experiment to discuss the diversity and proportion of clonal plants, plant diversity of the communities, and ecosystem service functions and their relationships under 10 years of close-to-nature (CTN) management, artificial gap management, and control (i.e., without management) in the three stages of C. Lanceolata plantations. Our results showed that CTN and gap management modes significantly facilitated diversity of clonal plants, plant diversity of the communities, and parameters of ecosystem service functions in C. lanceolata plantations. Moreover, CTN management promoted plant community diversity, soil water conservation, and carbon storage the most in the earlier stand stages. Diversity of clonal plants was significantly positively correlated with ecosystem service functions after forest management. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated that forest gap or CTN management indirectly positively affected ecosystem service functions through increasing diversity of clonal woody plants and plant diversity of the communities. Our results indicate a highly positive effect of gap or CTN management on diversity and proportion of clonal plants and on plant diversity of the communities, which link to improvements in ecosystem service functions (i.e., water and soil conservation and carbon storage). The link between forest management, diversity, and ecosystem functions suggests that key functional traits or plant functional groups should be considered to underline the mechanism of traits-ecosystem functioning relationships and the restoration of degraded plantations.

Nitrogen availability affects the responses of marsh grass and sedge plants (Phragmites australis and Bolboschoenus planiculmis) to flooding time

Flooding time and external nitrogen (N) input have been projected to be the main threats to marsh ecosystems in the scenario of more intense flooding events and N deposition. How flooding and N addition experienced at different growth stages interact in determining phenotypic change remains scarce. We established a controlled experiment (3 flooding time treatments x 5 N addition levels) using two herbaceous marsh species (Phragmites australis and Bolboschoenus planiculmis) to assess the responses of six key traits to environmental changes and the indication of plant performance. Early flooding reduced plant height and aboveground biomass of P. australis and below/aboveground biomass ratio of B. planiculmis and increased below/aboveground biomass ratio of P. australis and root biomass of B. planiculmis, whereas late flooding reduced root biomass of P. australis and ramet number and aboveground biomass of B. planiculmis. The combination of flooding and high N (16 and 32 g N m−2) exerted negative effects on ramet number of both plant species. The interaction of early flooding and low-medium N (8 and 16 g N m−2) inhibited clonal/belowground biomass ratio of both plant species. The combination of early flooding and low N (0, 4 and 8 g N m−2) promoted root biomass and below/aboveground biomass ratio of P. australis. Ramet number, plant height, and root biomass explained 80–90 % of aboveground biomass variation of both plant species, and the contribution of ramet number was greater than that of the other two traits. These results highlight that the influence of flooding time and external N input on the performance of marsh plants depends on species identity. Meanwhile, the ramet number-plant height-root biomass (RHR) strategy is supposed to be the adaptation strategy of wetland clonal plants to environmental changes, and clonal reproductive traits should be incorporated into vegetation dynamics models for marsh plants.

Common ecological indicators identify changes in seagrass condition following disturbances in the Gulf of Mexico

Seagrasses are long-lived, clonal plants that can integrate fluctuations in environmental conditions over a range of temporal scales, from days to years, and can act as barometers of coastal change. There are many estimated seagrass traits and ecosystem parameters that have the potential to reflect ecosystem status, linking seagrass condition to natural and anthropogenic drivers of change. We identified five seagrass indicators and seven metrics that are suitable, affordable and frequently measured by 38 monitoring programs across the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). A specific set of ratings and assessment points were formulated for each measurable metric. We determined metric ratings (Acceptable, Concerning, Alarming) and validated assessment points using long-term monitoring data from Texas and Florida, coupled with existing literature and input from a panel of seagrass biologists. We reported scores using a blue-gray-orange (Acceptable-Concerning-Alarming) scale to summarize information in a format accessible to the public, resource managers, stakeholders, and policymakers. Seagrass percent cover, shoot allometry and species composition were sensitive indicators of large-scale climatic disturbances (droughts, hurricanes). Severe drought led to reductions in total seagrass cover and leaf length in Upper Laguna Madre, Texas, and Florida Bay; however, Syringodium filiforme was disproportionally affected in Texas while Thalassia testudinum beds responded strongly to drought impacts in Florida. Hurricanes Harvey (TX) and Irma (FL) also resulted in loss of seagrass cover and diminished leaf length in the Texas Coastal Bend and Florida Keys; both storms largely impacted T. testudinum and to a lesser extent, S. filiforme. Many of the metrics within these affected bays and basins received either a “Concerning” or “Alarming” rating, driven by the impacts of these disturbances. Our proposed indicators serve as a tool to evaluate seagrass condition at the bay or basin scale. Moreover, the indicators, metrics, and assessment points are amenable to large-scale evaluations of ecosystem condition because they are economically feasible. This framework may provide the foundation for a comprehensive assessment of seagrass status and trends across the entire GoM.

Warming in combination with increased precipitation mediate the sexual and clonal reproduction in the desert steppe dominant species Stipa breviflora

BackgroundClonal plants can successfully adapt to various ecosystems. A trade-off between sexual and clonal reproduction is generally assumed in clonal plants, which may be influenced both by the characteristics of the plant itself and environmental conditions. Currently, it is unclear how climate change, and specifically warming and increased precipitation, might affect sexual and clonal reproduction in clonal plants. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate both the sexual and clonal reproduction responses of Stipa breviflora to warming and increased precipitation. A controlled experiment was conducted by inducing increases in precipitation (ambient condition, 25% and 50% increases) and warming (ambient temperature, 1.5 °C and 3.0 °C increases).ResultsWarming significantly influenced both the ratio of reproductive ramet shoot biomass to total shoot biomass, and the ratio of reproductive ramet number to total ramet number. Additionally, the ratio of reproductive ramet shoot biomass to total shoot biomass was also significantly affected by increased precipitation. Increased precipitation benefited sexual reproduction, while effects of warming on reproductive and/or vegetative ramets varied from negative to positive depending on precipitation conditions. There was no relationship between the number or shoot biomass of reproductive ramets and vegetative ramets. Reproductive ramets displayed greater sensitivity to climate change than vegetative ramets.ConclusionsThe findings of our study suggest that there was no trade-off between sexual and clonal reproduction in S. breviflora. The combined impact of warming and increased precipitation promoted sexual reproduction but did not inhibit clonal reproduction. Clonal plants with the capacity for both sexual and clonal reproduction, may cope with climate change well via clonal reproduction, ensuring their survival.

Does genotypic diversity of Hydrocotyle vulgaris affect CO2 and CH4 fluxes?

Biodiversity plays important roles in ecosystem functions and genetic diversity is a key component of biodiversity. While effects of genetic diversity on ecosystem functions have been extensively documented, no study has tested how genetic diversity of plants influences greenhouse gas fluxes from plant-soil systems. We assembled experimental populations consisting of 1, 4 or 8 genotypes of the clonal plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris in microcosms, and measured fluxes of CO2 and CH4 from the microcosms. The fluxes of CO2 and CO2 equivalent from the microcosms with the 1-genotype populations of H. vulgaris were significantly lower than those with the 4- and 8-genotype populations, and such an effect increased significantly with increasing the growth period. The cumulative CO2 flux was significantly negatively related to the growth of the H. vulgaris populations. However, genotypic diversity did not significantly affect the flux of CH4. We conclude that genotypic diversity of plant populations can influence CO2 flux from plant-soil systems. The findings highlight the importance of genetic diversity in regulating greenhouse gas fluxes.

Roadsides and gardens facilitate the expansion of non-native clonal succulent plants to wetlands in the coastal fringe of the Atacama Desert

Roadsides and gardens facilitate the expansion of non-native clonal succulent plants to wetlands in the coastal fringe of the Atacama Desert

The oldest known clones of Salix herbacea growing in the Northern Apennines, Italy are at least 2000 years old.

Dominant in many ecosystems around the world, clonal plants can reach considerable ages and sizes. Due to their modular growth patterns, individual clonal plants (genets) can consist of many subunits (ramets). Since single ramets do not reflect the actual age of genets, the ratio between genet size (radius) and longitudinal annual growth rate (LAGR) of living ramets is often used to approximate the age of clonal plants. However, information on how the LAGR changes along ramets and how LAGR variability may affect age estimates of genets is still limited. We assessed the variability of LAGR based on wood-section position along the ramets and on the duration of the growing season on three genetically distinct genets of Salix herbacea growing in the Northern Apennines (Italy). We compared genet ages estimated by dividing genet radius by the LAGRs of its ramets. LAGR increased significantly from the stem apex to the root collar; indicating that ramet growth rate decreased with time. Furthermore, a difference of ca. 2 weeks in the onset of the growing period did not impact LAGR. Considering the high LAGR variability, we estimated that the three genets started to grow between ~2100 and ~7000 years ago, which makes them the oldest known clones of S. herbacea even considering the most conservative age estimate. Our findings indicate that analyzing ramets at the root collar provides an integrative measurement of their overall LAGR, which is crucial for estimating the age of genets.

Seedling Morphological Characteristics on Survival, Uniformity, and Growth during a Full Short Rotation in Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla Plantation

The objective of this work was to evaluate the losses in the process, survival, uniformity and growth during an entire short rotation of a clonal planting of Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla in Brazil as a function of the different morphological characteristics of the seedlings considered a proxy of seedling quality. Seedlings were classified in descending order of quality by the following treatments: A > B > C. Treatment D was composed of prime seedlings 180 days old in the nursery. Treatment A and B experienced a mortality rate of 3% 30 days after planting, while seedlings C and D showed a mortality rate of 8%. Throughout the entire planting process, treatment C had the highest total losses of 24%, which was 15% higher than the average of the other three treatments. The quality of seedlings, as determined by the IQD, positively correlated with stem diameter, leaf biomass, and PH50 at 60 days of age. However, these relationships lost significance at later ages, and the DQI could not explain the variation in volume and stand uniformity (PV50) along the rotation. Despite early differences, from 36 to 64 months, only old seedlings (Treat. D) showed a difference in wood volume to the other treatments.

Effects of nutrients and light in aquatic habitat on the growth of Hydrocotyle vulgaris when expanded from terrestrial to aquatic habitat

Many amphibious clonal plants in aquatic-terrestrial ecotones commonly expand from terrestrial to aquatic habitats. Nutrient availability and light intensity are both key factors affecting plant growth in aquatic habitats, but little is known about the role of nutrient availability and light intensity in aquatic habitats during the expansion of amphibious clonal plants from terrestrial to aquatic habitats, when clonal integration is maintained. We conducted a greenhouse experiment to simulate expansion from terrestrial to aquatic habitats of the amphibious clonal plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris. We grew basal portions of clonal fragments in soil and connected the apical portions of the same fragments to water which subjected to three levels of nutrient availability under a low or a high light condition. High nutrient level and light condition increased the growth of the apical portions of H. vulgaris and thus increased the performance of the whole clones. Meanwhile, root-shoot mass ratio of the apical portions and the basal portions were higher at the high light condition and the low nutrient level. Results suggest that the relatively high levels of nutrients and light condition in aquatic habitats can improve the expansion of apical portions from terrestrial to aquatic habitats. Our results also suggest that maintaining clonal integration may benefit the expansion of H. vulgaris via the trade-off of biomass allocation which can optimize the utilization of resources. These results may provide theoretical basis for community dynamics prediction and vegetation restoration in the ecotones such as wetlands.

Temperature is a cryptic factor shaping the geographical pattern of genetic variation in Ceratophyllum demersum across a subtropical freshwater lake

Macrophyte habitats exhibit remarkable heterogeneity, encompassing the spatial variation of abiotic and biotic components such as changes in water conditions and weather as well as anthropogenic stressors. Environmental factors are thought to be important drivers shaping the genetic and epigenetic variation of aquatic plants. However, the links among genetic diversity, epigenetic variation, and environmental variables remain largely unclear, especially for clonal aquatic plants. Here, we performed population genetic and epigenetic analyses in conjunction with habitat discrimination to elucidate the environmental factors driving intraspecies genetic and epigenetic variation in hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum) in a subtropical lake. Environmental factors were highly correlated with the genetic and epigenetic variation of C. demersum, with temperature being a key driver of the genetic variation. Lower temperature was detected to be correlated with greater genetic and epigenetic variation. Genetic and epigenetic variation were positively driven by water temperature, but were negatively affected by ambient air temperature. These findings indicate that the genetic and epigenetic variation of this clonal aquatic herb is not related to the geographic feature but is instead driven by environmental conditions, and demonstrate the effects of temperature on local genetic and epigenetic variation in aquatic systems.

Adaptive Strategies Employed by Clonal Plants in Heterogeneous Patches

Heterogeneity is widespread in natural environments; as a result, connected clonal ramets often live in areas characterized by patches of different resources. Specifically, clonal plants are frequently affected by conditions of heterogeneous water stress. This raises the question of how clonal plants grow and reproduce in areas with patches of different resources. In this study, we investigated the adaptation mechanisms of clonal plants under heterogeneous environmental conditions. On the one hand, we bore in mind that phenotypic plasticity is abundantly exhibited in clonal plants. Clonal plants respond to water stress mainly through regulation of the size of individuals, the allocation of population biomass, and the number of daughter plants, as well as the extension ability and branching intensity of clonal organs, which directly affect reproduction and population stability in clonal plants. On the other hand, we also considered the physiological integration in clonal plants which has been shown in many studies. Ramets of clonal plants normally stay connected to each other through horizontal connectors (stolons or rhizomes). Communicated substances and resources such as water, mineral nutrition, photosynthetic products, and secondary metabolites are translocated between ramets; by such means, the plant relieves stress caused by heterogeneous patches. In this study, we sought to obtain scientific references to improve our understanding of how clonal plants in natural environments acclimate to stresses caused by soil heterogeneity.

Clonal integration can promote the growth and spread of Alternanthera philoxeroides in cadmium-contaminated environments

Clonal plants are able to support the growth of their ramets in stressful environments via clonal integration between the ramets. However, it remains unclear whether the developmental status of stressed ramets affects the role of clonal integration. Here, we explored the effects of clonal integration at both the ramet level and the whole clonal fragment level when the apical ramets (younger) and basal ramets (older) were subjected to different concentrations of cadmium contamination. We grew pairs of ramets of Alternanthera philoxeroides, which were connected or disconnected by stolon between them. The apical and basal ramets were either uncontaminated or individually subjected to Cd contamination at concentrations of 5 mg kg−1 and 50 mg kg−1, respectively. Our results showed that clonal integration significantly promoted the growth of apical ramets subjected to Cd contamination. More importantly, under high Cd treatment, clonal integration also had a significant positive effect on the fitness of the whole clonal fragments. However, clonal integration did not affect plant growth when basal ramets were subjected to Cd contamination. Our study reveals the influence of the developmental status of stressed ramets on the role of clonal integration in heterogeneous heavy metal stress environments, suggesting that clonal integration may facilitate the spread of A. philoxeroides in Cd-contaminated habitats.

Nutrient stress can have opposite effects on the ability of plants to tolerate foliar herbivory and floral herbivory.

Discovering how organisms respond to the combinations of stressors they face in their environment is an enduring challenge for ecologists. A particular focus has been how natural enemies and abiotic stressors faced by plants may interact in their effect on the ecology and evolution of plant defense strategies. Here, we report on the results of an experiment measuring how reproduction in the clonal herbaceous plant horsenettle (Solanum carolinense) is affected by damage by leaf-feeding and by flower-feeding herbivores-as well as how horsenettle's tolerance of these different types of herbivory may be altered by nutrient stress. Leaf herbivory by lace bugs reduced horsenettle's seed production and root growth, and the relative impacts were greater in fertilized than in nutrient-stressed plants. In contrast, simulated-floral herbivory reduced seed production to a similar degree in fertilized and nutrient-stressed plants. However, compensation for floral herbivory through increased root growth occurred to a much greater extent in the fertilized than in the nutrient-stressed plants. These results can be explained in terms of the limiting resource model of plant tolerance, with leaf damage interpreted as exacerbating carbon limitation in the fertilized plants and floral damage ameliorating carbon limitation in the fertilized plants. These results can be extended to predicting patterns in the field: Although plants in a nutrient-poor environment may have overall low fitness, they are likely to be more tolerant of leaf herbivores-though this benefit may be countered by lower tolerance of any floral herbivores that share the environment.

Use of Coconut and Sugarcane Residues as Rooting Substrate for Pulpwood Clonal Plants Production

Use of Coconut and Sugarcane Residues as Rooting Substrate for Pulpwood Clonal Plants Production

Ring formation in Stipagrostis obtusa in the arid north-eastern Negev, Israel

In drylands, particularly in sandy environments, clonal plants occasionally develop into ring patterns that slowly expand radially, leaving bare soil in the ring's center. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain ring formation, and yet it is very difficult to find out the dominant driving mechanism for each specific ecosystem. This study is the first to assess the rings of Stipagrostis obtusa in the north-eastern Negev of Israel, an arid region with mean annual precipitation of ≈65 mm. Our results propose that S. obtusa rings form in response to the infiltration feedback, which is enhanced by microtopography; the rings developed on small mounds due to continuous deposition of sand and dust. The infiltration feedback is caused by the sharp contrast in water infiltrability between the rings and the inter-ring spaces, where infiltration is lower. In addition, during heavy rainstorms, runoff generated in the inter-ring spaces partially percolates in the rings’ periphery and enhances radial expansion. These source–sink relations increase water availability for the S. obtusa plants, increasing their resilience to the harsh dryland conditions.

Invasive clonal plants possess greater capacity for division of labor than natives in high patch contrast environments.

Invasion success of clonal plants is closely related to their unique clonal life history, and clonal division of labor is a crucial clonal trait. However, so far, it is unclear whether invasive alien clonal species generally possess a greater capacity for division of labor than native species and whether this pattern is affected by environmental conditions. To test whether patch contrast affects the differences in the capacity for division of labor between invasive alien and native clonal plants, we selected five pairs of exotic invasive and native clonal plant species that are congeneric and co-occurring in China as experimental materials. We grew the clonal fragment pairs of these invasive and native plants under high, low, or no contrast of reciprocal patchiness of light and nutrient, respectively, with ramet connections either severed (division of labor prevented) or kept intact (division of labor allowed). The results showed that connection significantly decreased the proportion of biomass allocated to roots in distal (younger) ramets, whereas it increased in proximal (older) ramets of all studied plants under high -contrast treatments. This clear pattern strongly indicated the occurrence of division of labor. Furthermore, the connection had a more pronounced effect on the pattern of biomass allocation of invasive alien plants, resulting in a greater increase in biomass for invasive alien plants compared to native plants. These findings suggest that the invasive alien plants possess a greater capacity for division of labor, which may confer a competitive advantage to them over natives, thus facilitating their invasion success in some heterogeneous habitats such as forest edges where light and soil nutrients show a high negative correlation.

Response of Fragaria vesca to projected change in temperature, water availability and concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere

The high rate of climate change may soon expose plants to conditions beyond their adaptation limits. Clonal plants might be particularly affected due to limited genotypic diversity of their populations, potentially decreasing their adaptability. We therefore tested the ability of a widely distributed predominantly clonally reproducing herb (Fragaria vesca) to cope with periods of drought and flooding in climatic conditions predicted to occur at the end of the twenty-first century, i.e. on average 4 °C warmer and with twice the concentration of CO2 in the air (800 ppm) than the current state. We found that F. vesca can phenotypically adjust to future climatic conditions, although its drought resistance may be reduced. Increased temperature and CO2 levels in the air had a far greater effect on growth, phenology, reproduction, and gene expression than the temperature increase itself, and promoted resistance of F. vesca to repeated flooding periods. Higher temperature promoted clonal over sexual reproduction, and increased temperature and CO2 concentration in the air triggered change in expression of genes controlling the level of self-pollination. We conclude that F. vesca can acclimatise to predicted climate change, but the increased ratio of clonal to sexual reproduction and the alteration of genes involved in the self-(in)compatibility system may be associated with reduced genotypic diversity of its populations, which may negatively impact its ability to genetically adapt to novel climate in the long-term.