Shade-tolerant Research Articles

When Light Is Crucial, but Wind Is Rather Trivial: A Basil Case Study

Light intensity and wind are critical environmental factors of abiotic stress on plants, triggering a considerable number of morphological and physiological responses. This study tested the hypothesis that different light and wind conditions (full sunlight ± wind, shade ± wind) would affect the leaf content of photosynthetic pigments and anthocyanins, as well as the plant height, the fresh and dry weight of the aboveground part, and Water-Use Efficiency on Ocimum basilicum plants. About 16 days after the application of the different conditions, all leaf pigments of the shaded plants exhibited increased contents compared to the lightened ones. Subsequently, this response was enhanced until the 39th day, which was the final day of the experiment. Furthermore, shaded plants grew taller, although their fresh and dry weight and Water-Use Efficiency were lower than that of the corresponding lightened ones. On the other hand, wind did not have any effect on pigment content. Concerning the plant growth indexes, reduced values were observed on the wind-treated plants. The above results demonstrate a considerable effect of light intensity while the applied wind seems to be mild enough to induce important plant responses, partially confirming the hypothesis studied.

Acclimation of the Resurrection Plant Haberlea rhodopensis to Changing Light Conditions

Resurrection plants present an attractive model for studying the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance. In addition to drought, the presence of light during desiccation is extremely dangerous. In the present study, we investigated the effect of light during the desiccation of shade and sun Haberlea rhodopensis from two different habitats by measuring the changes in electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde and proline content, and photosynthetic and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the plasticity and acclimation ability of plants to changing light intensities were studied by desiccating shade plants under high light and sun plants under low light. The most significant differences between shade and sun plants were observed under moderate dehydration. Regardless of some decline in PSII activity in sun plants, it was much higher compared to shade plants. The lower PSII efficiency in the latter was accompanied by a higher extent of excitation pressure and consequently significant enhancement in non-photochemical quenching, Y(NPQ), and especially in the fraction of energy that is passively dissipated as heat and fluorescence, Y(NO). The activity of antioxidant enzymes remained high during the desiccation of H. rhodopensis, being higher in the sun compared to shade plants in an air-dried state. In addition, shade and sun plants showed high acclimation capacity when desiccated at opposite light intensities.

Light-demanding canopy tree species do not indicate past human disturbance in the Yangambi rainforest (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Key messageIn a former paper, we investigated whether the presence of light-demanding tree species in the forest canopy of the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (central Congo basin) might be a result of past human disturbances (Luambua et al., Ecol Evol 11:18691–18707, 2021). We focussed on the spatial distribution of the most abundant light demanders, but this approach did not yield conclusive results. In the present study, we focus on all species in the forest and conclude that light demanders are not a transient feature of successional tropical forests but an intrinsic component of old-growth forests in Yangambi.ContextCentral African rainforests are characterised by an abundance of light-demanding tree species, which are aggregated in the canopy but underrepresented in the understorey. A popular explanation is that these forests are recovering from slash-and-burn farming activities preceding the relocation of settlements during the colonial era. In a former paper, we showed that the abundance of light-demanding tree species in the Yangambi Biosphere Reserve (central Congo basin) cannot be unambiguously attributed to past human disturbances, using an approach that focused on the spatial distribution of the most abundant light demanders (Luambua et al., Ecol Evol 11:18691–18707, 2021).AimsAs the former study was inconclusive, the present study aims to further test the assumptions behind the ‘recovery from human disturbance hypothesis’, by considering all species in the forest of Yangambi. We addressed four specific research questions: (i) do light demanders occur in large ‘pockets’ occupying large areas of forest? (ii) Are light demanders abundant? (iii) Do they exhibit a regeneration deficit? (iv) Is species composition in pockets of light demanders different from the surrounding forests?MethodsWe identified the location and size of pockets of light demanders in several transects cumulating to 50 km. We installed permanent inventory plots within and outside these pockets and calculated the diameter and age distributions of light demanders within each pocket. We assessed whether pockets of light demanders are different from surrounding forests, using plot clustering analysis.ResultsOur results showed that light demanders were aggregated, but the pockets were small, scarce, and represent a minor fraction of the total forest area. Furthermore, light demanders were not abundant, even in pockets where they were aggregated. Their age distributions did not show a regeneration deficit. Finally, species composition in pockets of light demanders did not differ substantially from surrounding forests where they were scarce or absent.ConclusionsWe conclude that light-demanding canopy species do not indicate past human disturbance in Yangambi and that they are an intrinsic component of old-growth forests rather than a transient feature of successional forests. Our insights show that the large carbon sink observed in mature forests in this region is not driven by successional forest dynamics.

Climatic Effects on the Growth of Fagus sylvatica L. in Mixed Stands with Pinus sylvestris L. in Lithuania

Climate change and warming will potentially profoundly affect forest growth and yield. However, climate change is not only a threat but also an opportunity for tree species to be more productive or colonize new territories where previously they were fragmented or absent. European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is a dominant and significant tree species in European forests with a pronounced ability to grow on a great variety of sites and to form mixtures with other tree species due to its shade tolerance. So far, only a few studies have analysed its growth and reaction to changing climatic conditions outside its natural gradient in the north. The aim of this study was therefore to clarify the main growth patterns and tree ring formation characteristics of beech (outside their natural distribution) in mixed stands with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) The analyses were carried out in two-layered stands in the western part of Lithuania with tree-ring data measured on stem disks collected at 1 m height that were available from shelter-cut thinning activities in a number of forest stands in the region. Our results show that higher temperatures during the summer months of July and August generally inhibited the radial growth of beech under given site conditions. In contrast, warmer late-autumn and cooler early-winter periods together with warmer springs positively affected the radial increments. Above-average precipitation during the vegetation period contributed to the beech producing additional amounts of radial increments. The increasing temperature trends of the summer months and decreasing monthly amounts of precipitation during the vegetation period in recent decades tend to have adverse effects on the ecological conditions for beech growth and vitality in Lithuania. Despite these results, the European beech successfully grows in the sample region and has produced 200 m3 ha−1 in the analysed stands.

Empirical study of facade retrofits for optimizing energy efficiency and cooling in school buildings in Saudi Arabia

Educational buildings in Saudi Arabia are characterized by high energy consumption, primarily due to cooling and lighting demands. This study aims to evaluate and optimize facade retrofitting strategies to improve energy efficiency and evaluate economic performance of many scenarios in Saudi school buildings, aligning with the sustainability objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The research employs a simulation-based optimization methodology utilizing Design Builder software to explore key facade design variables, including Window-to-Wall Ratio, glazing type, local shading devices, and external wall insulation. The methodology is structured in sequential stages: it begins with the collection of base-case data, followed by a data-driven optimization process targeting specific design variables. This is then complemented by an economic and environmental assessment of the optimal retrofit scenarios, ultimately leading to the identification of the most effective energy-saving solution presented at the conclusion of the study. Through an optimization process, the research identifies retrofitting strategies that reduce cooling loads by up to 17 %, lighting energy consumption by 49 % and annual energy costs by 18 %. The study also includes an economic analysis of the retrofits, revealing significant savings in annual electricity costs and a reduction in the building's carbon footprint. This research contributes valuable insights into sustainable building practices, offering practical solutions for improving energy efficiency in the educational sector. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of facade retrofits within the context of extreme climatic conditions, which provides a replicable model for retrofitting educational buildings across the region. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, architects, and sustainability advocates seeking to meet Saudi Arabia's energy conservation goals.

Light distribution at the fruit tree-crop interface and consequences for yield in sloping upland agroforestry

Agroforestry can improve soil conservation and overall farm productivity compared with sole-crop systems, but its benefits are limited by competitive interactions between tree and crop components. Studies on light competition have been performed on relatively flat land, but slope can influence light distribution. Little is known about optimizing light utilization and enhancing system productivity and/or income from agroforestry on sloping land.This study examined how slope influences light distribution and performance of maize and coffee crops in fruit tree-crop agroforestry. Starting hypotheses were that 1) crops upslope of tree rows receive and intercept greater amounts of light than those downslope; and 2) position of the crop is more important for light interception and yield when fruit trees have a large, dense canopy.Five-year-old fruit-crop agroforestry experiments on west-southwest facing slopes were revisited. Each agroforestry treatment was divided into nine zones relative to the tree rows (zone 5), with zones 1–4 upslope and 6–9 downslope of the fruit tree row. Light distribution was assessed using Hemiview and SunScan and compared with that in sole-maize and sole-coffee systems. Crop growth and yield were also recorded.Incident light to the crop was higher in the sole-crop system than in agroforestry. In agroforestry, incident light to the crops was lower downslope of trees than upslope but increased with increasing distance from the tree rows. On average, 0.40–0.50 fraction of total light reached the soil surface. Downslope had a stronger negative effect on light distribution and crop yield than upslope. The available light at the soil surface provides scope for additional components. Further studies on the light demands of different crops during the season could improve system design.

How dominant height responds to mixing species: Effect of traits and height difference between species

Adapting forests to climate change is a major challenge for forest ecology and forestry. Among the management options available, encouraging the use of mixtures is a promising way forward. However, this practice requires a thorough understanding of how species respond to mixing. In this article, we analyzed species dominant height responds to mixing and how species ontogeny and traits drive this response. We compared species observed dominant height in mixed even-aged stands with the expected dominant height of the same species in a monospecific stand under the same environmental conditions. We then related this dominant height variation due to mixing to between-species dominant height difference and to species traits linked to competition (shade tolerance, wood density, specific leaf area).We focused our analyses on 76 pairs of forest tree species. We used data from the French National Forest Inventory to calculate species dominant height in 1368 mixed stands. We then used previously developed models to estimate the expected dominant height in virtual monospecific stands with the same environmental conditions.We found that mixture had a significant impact on species dominant height for 15 out of 50 species-combination considered. Dominant height of a given species was higher in mixture than in pure stands when this species had a lower dominant height in pure stands, a lower shade tolerance, a lower specific leaf area or a higher wood density than its companion species.Our results suggest that species dominant height response to mixing depends on how mixture influences the competition for light. Our results will help inform strategies aiming to diversify species in forests, and will be especially useful in anticipating a given species’ behavior in response to competition for light when it is mixed with other species.

Comparative Analysis of Volatile Compounds and Biochemical Activity of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. Essential Oil Extracted from Distinct Shaded Plants.

The application of shade during plants' growth significantly alters the biochemical compounds of the essential oil (EO). We aimed to analyze the effect of shade on the volatile compounds and biochemical activities of EO extracted from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. (C. xanthorrhiza) plants. Four shading conditions were applied: no shading (S0), 25% (S25), 50% (S50), and 75% shade (S75). The volatile compounds of EO extracted from each shaded plant were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiproliferative activities of EO were also investigated. We found that shade application significantly reduced the C. xanthorrhiza EO yield but increased its aroma and bioactive compound concentration. α-curcumene, xanthorrhizol, α-cedrene, epicurzerenone, and germacrone were found in EO extracted from all conditions. However, β-bisabolol, curzerene, curcuphenol, and γ-himachalene were only detected in the EO of S75 plants. The EO of the shaded plants also showed higher antioxidant activity as compared to unshaded ones. In addition, the EO extracted from S75 exerted higher antiproliferative activity on HeLa cells as compared to S0. The EO extracted from S0 and S25 showed higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria than kanamycin. Our results suggest that shade applications alter the composition of the extractable volatile compounds in C. xanthorrhiza, which may result in beneficial changes in the biochemical activity of the EO.

White light emission in Bi3+/Te4+ co‐doped Cs2SnCl6 for adjustable daily lighting and visible light communication

Abstractns2 ions‐doped lead‐free perovskites have garnered significant attention for their potential in diverse optoelectronic applications, owing to their broad emission characteristics arising from self‐trapped excitons (STEs). Herein, high‐performance white light‐emitting diodes (WLEDs) for intelligent lighting are developed by Bi3+/Te4+co‐doped Cs2SnCl6. Effective energy transfer between the dual STE emissions results in tunable broadband emissions covering the full‐color region. Adjustable WLEDs containing cold‐ and warm‐white lighting are fabricated. The WLEDs have excellent luminescent performances coupled with adjustable correlated color temperatures of 6417 and 3829 K. This versatility allows them to meet lighting demand for different scenarios, which is essential for future WLEDs to achieve healthy lighting. In addition, the excellent white light emission characteristics can also be applied in the visible light communication (VLC) system, achieving a −3 dB bandwidth of 13.3 MHz and opening eye diagrams in the data rate range of 10–60 Mbps. This work represents a significant advancement toward building intelligent health lighting applications and achieving high‐quality light sources for VLC based on lead‐free perovskites.

Response of blueberry photosynthetic physiology to light intensity during different stages of fruit development.

To investigate the response of blueberry photosynthetic physiology to different light intensities during different stages of fruit development. In this study, four light intensity treatments (25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of full light) were set up to study the change rule of photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic characteristics of 'O'Neal' southern highbush blueberry leaves during the white fruiting stage (S1), purple fruiting stage (S2) and blue fruiting stage (S3) under different light intensity environments, and to explore the light demand and light adaptability of blueberry during different developmental stages of the fruit. The results showed that the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of blueberry leaves showed an increasing trend with decreasing light intensity at all three stages of fruit development. The total chlorophyll content of blueberry leaves at 25% light intensity increased by 76.4% compared with CK during the blue fruiting stage; the maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pmax), light compensation point (LCP), light saturation point (LSP), rate of dark respirations (Rd), inter-cellular CO2 concentration (Ci), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), net photosynthesis rate (Pn), and chlorophyll a/b showed a decreasing trend with decreasing light intensity. The Pn of blueberry leaves was highest under full light conditions at all three stages, and the Pn at 25% light intensity decreased by 68.5% compared with CK during the white fruiting stage Reflecting the fact that blueberries can adapt to low-light environments through increases in chlorophyll and carotenoids, but reduced light intensity significantly inhibited their photosynthesis. The photosynthetic physiology of blueberry showed a consistent pattern at all three stages, but there were some differences in the changes of photosynthetic parameters at different stages. The results of the study can provide theoretical references for the selection of sites and density regulation in blueberry production.

Effects of foliar silicon and nitrogen applications on winter color retention and spring green-up of zoysia grass

Zoysia japonica Steud. (zoysia grass), with its high drought, shade, and salt tolerance, it is an excellent choice for green areas. However, in regions with subtropical climates, it goes into winter dormancy with a loss of green color and functionality, which is a main barrier to its widespread use. The application of silicon and nitrogen in fall was hypothesized to enhance winter color retention of Z. japonica. This study assessed the impact of fall (late-season) nitrogen (0, 2.5, or 5.0 g/m2 ammonium sulfate) and foliar silicon (0, 3, or 6 mL/L potassium silicate) applications on the winter color retention of Z. japonica grown in the field. The experiment was conducted over two consecutive growing seasons in Antalya, Türkiye. Turfgrass quality, color, chlorophyll content, shoot density, and winter dormancy were all improved by late-season nitrogen application. Overall, two sequential nitrogen applications at 5 g/m2 in fall provided 65% to 100% green coverage with acceptable turfgrass quality during fall and winter, indicating the possibility of maintaining the year-round green color of Z. japonica in subtropical climates. However, the silicon treatment did not affect the winter color retention of Z. japonica. The apparent lack of a beneficial response of Z. japonica to the silicon application might be due to the dose, application methods, and silicon source.

Total Polyphenol Content and Antioxidant Activity of Leaves and Fine Roots as Indicators of Drought Resistance in the Native Quercus robur and Alien Quercus rubra

Research Highlights: Environmental abiotic stressors generate secondary stresses in plants, such as osmotic and oxidative stresses, which negatively influence their normal growth, development, and metabolism. Research about other non-enzymatic components with antioxidant capacity has recently focused on polyphenols. However, their role as indicators of drought and shade tolerance in woody species leaves and roots has been poorly explored or was limited to leaves only. Background and Objectives: Under a scenario of increasing drought, understanding the seedling responses in terms of total polyphenols and their antioxidant activity, in particular at the fine root system level, may help to elucidate the native–alien species interaction. Materials and Methods: At the beginning of July, 5-month-old native Quercus robur and alien Quercus rubra seedlings were transferred indoors to the growth chamber and subjected to progressive soil drying for 21 days. Results: The decrease in soil water content was more pronounced for Q. robur (9%) than for Q. rubra (34% of field capacity). Leaf water potential significantly decreased over time in Q. robur but did not differ from the control in Q. rubra. The total polyphenol concentration in Q. robur was markedly lower in the leaves and significantly higher in the fine roots than in Q. rubra. For the leaves, both species showed markedly higher values if well-watered, and the values significantly decreased in response to drought only in Q. rubra. In contrast, the fine root values for both species were markedly higher if droughted and decreased significantly in time only in Q. robur. Differently from the polyphenol concentration, the antioxidant capacity of Q. rubra was always higher in both the leaves and fine roots. Conclusions: The higher antioxidant activity of the alien species Q. rubra revealed by this work, combined with its isohydric behaviour, could further shed some light on our understanding of its competitive performance at the seedling stage against the native Q. robur.

A Holistic Approach to the Selection of Soybean (Glycine max) Cultivars for Shade Environments Based on Morphological, Yield and Genetic Traits

ABSTRACTThe reduction of photosynthetically active radiation impacts the growth and productivity of soybean in agroforestry and intercropping systems. Thus, this report explored the responses of 16 soybean cultivars submitted to shade levels in field conditions. Multi‐faceted and relative importance analyses revealed that the steam diameter and plant height are fundamental morphological markers for selecting shade‐resilient cultivars, both were high and positively correlated to yield components. Moreover, the responses to shade varied among soybean cultivars, with certain genotypes demonstrating distinct tolerance levels, which allowed also the estimative of genetic variance that revealed strong participation of genetic components in responses to shade. Multivariate and clustering analysis using steam diameter and plant height in combination with two yield components resulted in the identification of four soybean cultivars more tolerant to shade environments and two sensible. Therefore, this report provides insights into soybean cultivation under varying light conditions, provides a robust foundation for the integration of morphological and yield markers in breeding programmes focused on shade tolerance and guides future endeavours in crop improvement for optimal and sustainable yield and resilience in the climate change context.

Vegetative reproduction and yield of bear garlic (<i>Allium ursinum</i> L.) in field cultivation

Bear garlic (<i>Allium ursinum</i> L.) and its value for human health have been known for centuries. Its leaves, flowers, and bulbs contain many health-promoting compounds, and can be essential raw materials for the production of food and dietary supplements of natural origin. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the possibility of growing bear garlic in field conditions that differed significantly from those required by this plant, using unconventional treatments: catch crops (phacelia), shade plant (turnip rape), and biopreparations (Bio-Algeen S90 and Kelpak SL). The plowing of phacelia biomass had a beneficial effect on the number of <i>A. ursinum</i> progeny bulbs, the unit weight of bulbs and their yield per unit area, and the leaf yield not only in the first year of cultivation but also in the follow-up. Winter turnip rape applied as a shade crop caused a slight increase in the unit weight of bulbs and their yield in the first and second years of cultivation and in the number of progeny bulbs in the second and third years of cultivation. The cultivation of <i>A. ursinum</i> with turnip rape increased the percentage of garlic root weight and leaf yield. There was a positive effect of the applied biopreparations on the studied traits of <i>A. ursinum</i> bulb yield and leaf yield and on the formation of progeny bulbs in relation to the control object. The analysis of the interaction of the factors of the experiment showed that the combination with the application of the phacelia catch crop and the simultaneous cultivation of the shade crop had the most favorable effect on <i>A. ursinum</i> progeny bulb formation, bulb unit weight, root system development, and leaf yield. In all years of the study, the worst effect was obtained in the control object, i.e., in the cultivation without the catch crop, rapeseed, and application of biopreparations.

Are Shade-Tolerant Plants Also Drought-Tolerant

This study examines the relationship between drought and shade tolerance in herbaceous plants, which is traditionally assumed to be mutually exclusive due to divergent resource allocation strategies. By collecting and analyzing relevant biochemical and morphological traits on a variety of plants native to grasslands in south eastern Ontario, a quantitative approach to analyzing the relationship between these two stress responses can be employed. This research aims to enhance our characterization of the interplay and relationship of drought and shade tolerance in relation to these plant species.

Diversity and Life History Traits of Native Weed Communities in Agricultural Areas: A Case Study in Eastern China.

Native weeds have a long history of adaptation to local environments. Understanding the relationship between the occurrence of native weeds and their life history traits is crucial for effective weed management and risk assessment of plant invasions. In this study, we surveyed native weed species and their dominance across 666 field sites in agricultural areas of Yangzhou City, China, and each site was 13.3 hectares in area. A total of 287 native weed species were recorded, referring to 63 families, among which 45% were 50-100 cm in plant height and 47% were of an erect life type. In terms of the proportions out of the total native weed occurrence dominance, Poaceae, Compositae, and Fabaceae weeds accounted for 30%, 13%, and 11%; liana and perennials both occupied 32%; and aquatic, hygrophyte, sun plant, and shade plant all occupied < 10%. Additionally, the proportions increased with increasing seed production per plant and with increasing weediness reported worldwide. Native weed groups holding moderate vegetative reproduction abilities, moderate seed sizes, or herbicide resistance showed higher proportions. Moreover, most of the native weeds surveyed were not succulent or thorny plants and did not hold thorns, awns, obvious hairs, or mucilage on their fruits.

Optimization framework of clean heat and CO2 supply for agricultural greenhouses exploiting industrial symbiosis

The rising demand for greenhouse cultivation poses a challenge in providing environmentally friendly energy to maintain favorable greenhouse indoor conditions. This research presents an optimization model to identify cost-optimal symbiotic pathways to replace the import of three key greenhouse crops (tomato, cucumber, lettuce) with local greenhouse production. The proposed solutions involve greenhouses that can meet these crops' heat and CO2 demands via industrial symbiosis. Switzerland is investigated as the case study, and the (waste) heat suppliers are municipal solid waste incinerators, cement production plants and biogas plants. Upgrading biomethane production plants are also considered potential CO2 suppliers. The objective is to minimize the discounted cost when replacing 25%–100 % of vegetable imports with local agricultural greenhouses, considering availability of suitable land as well as waste heat and CO2 suppliers. Optimization results suggest prioritizing northeast and west Switzerland for greenhouse development, due to the availability of suitable land and proximity of waste heat and CO2 suppliers. Waste incinerators could provide 50%–70 % of the necessary heat, while Organic Rankine cycle in cement plants could generate 63 % of the electricity of supplementary lighting demand of greenhouses. While tailored for Switzerland, the optimization framework's general formulation can be adapted also to other regions to optimize greenhouses' heat and CO2 demands. The optimization code is provided open source for associated applications.

Physiological Characters of Vanilla Plant (Vanilla planifolia Andrew) in Various Types of Shade Trees

Vanilla plants are CAM plants and are very sensitive to direct sunlight, so vanilla plants need shade plants to reduce the intensity of sunlight. Research on the physiological characteristics of vanilla plants on various types of shade trees was carried out to finding out the influence of types of shade trees on the physiological characteristics of vanilla plants. The research was conducted using a randomized completely block design with four groups. Planting was carried out using four types of shade plants, namely Gliricidia sepium, Syzygium aromaticums, Erythrina variegata and Leucaena leucocephala plants. To determine microclimate conditions, temperature, air humidity and sunlight intensity were observed three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening). Physiological observation parameters include content of chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B levels, total chlorophyll, proline, relative water content. The results of the research showed that temperature, air humidity and the intensity of sunlight received are different for each type of shade plant. Types of shade plants significantly influence content of chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, total chlorophyll, proline and relative water content. The conclusion was the type of shade plant affects the microclimatic conditions of the vanilla plant, thereby influencing the physiological properties of the vanilla plant.

Are shade tolerance and canopy gradient affecting twig-leaf trait scaling relationships in temperate forests?

Are shade tolerance and canopy gradient affecting twig-leaf trait scaling relationships in temperate forests?

Early Growth and Physiological Acclimation to Shade and Water Restriction of Seven Sclerophyllous Species of the Mediterranean Forests of Central Chile.

The success of using active restoration in Mediterranean-type climate zones mostly depends on an appropriate matching of plant species and specific management prescriptions upon establishment. In this study, we assessed the early growth and short-term physiological acclimation of seven common species found in the sclerophyllous forests in central Chile to water restriction and shading. We established a nursery experiment that included three treatments (T0: sun-exposed and water-restricted, T1: sun-exposed and fully irrigated, and T2: shaded and fully irrigated) and seven tree species differing in their shade and drought tolerance (Quillaja saponaria Molina, Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz, Peumus boldus Molina, Lithraea caustica (Mol.) Hook. and Arn, Luma apiculata (DC.) Burret, Colliguaja odorifera Molina, and Escallonia pulverulenta (Ruiz and Prav.) Pers). We measured the increment in seedling height and different leaf morpho-physiological traits during two months in the dry season. Based on the measured traits, none of the species took advantage of the higher water availability in T1 relative to T0, but most of the species responded to the shade in T2, regardless of their shade or drought tolerance. Height increments due to shade varied from 0% in P. boldus to 203% in L. apiculata. Overall, all the species responded similarly to the treatments in specific leaf area, chlorophyll content index, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intrinsic water use efficiency. This suggests that the species exhibited similar acclimation patterns of these parameters to shade and drought, even regarding the variation in midday xylem water potential found in the water-restricted treatment T0 (from -1.5 MPa in P. boldus to -3.1 MPa in E. pulverulenta). In this study, shading had a higher positive effect on the seedling performance of sclerophyllous species than watering, which at operational level highlights the need for investing in tree shelters when using these species in restoration programs.