Silene Vulgaris Research Articles

Structural, physiological and genetic diversification of Silene vulgaris ecotypes from heavy metal-contaminated areas and their synchronous in vitro cultivation

Main conclusionResults provide significant comparison of leaf anatomy, pigment content, antioxidant response and phenolic profile between individuals from miscellaneous populations and describe unified cultivation protocols for further research on stress biology.The plant communities growing on heavy metal-polluted areas have attracted considerable attention due to their unique ability to tolerate enormous amounts of toxic ions. Three ecotypes of Silene vulgaris representing calamine (CAL), serpentine (SER) and non-metallicolous (NM) populations were evaluated to reveal specific adaptation traits to harsh environment. CAL leaves presented a distinct anatomical pattern compared to leaves of SER and NM plants, pointing to their xeromorphic adaptation. These differences were accompanied by divergent accumulation and composition of photosynthetic pigments as well as antioxidant enzyme activity. In CAL ecotype, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species scavenging is based on the joint action of superoxide dismutase and catalase, but in SER ecotype on superoxide dismutase and guaiacol-type peroxidase. On the contrary, the concentration of phenylpropanoids and flavonols in the ecotypes was unchanged, implying the existence of similar pathways of their synthesis/degradation functioning in CAL and SER populations. The tested specimens showed genetic variation (atpA/MspI marker). Based on diversification of S. vulgaris populations, we focused on the elaboration of similar in vitro conditions for synchronous cultivation of various ecotypes. The most balanced shoot culture growth was obtained on MS medium containing 0.1 mg l−1 NAA and 0.25 mg l−1 BA, while the most abundant callogenesis was observed on MS medium enriched with 0.5 mg l−1 NAA and 5.0 mg l−1 BA. For the first time, unified in vitro protocols were described for metallophytes providing the opportunity to conduct basic and applied research on stress biology and tolerance mechanisms under freely controlled conditions.

Some Wild Edible Plants of Tosya District (Kastamonu, Turkey)

The study was carried out between 2014-2016 to determine the ethnobotanical characteristics of the Tosya district. For this purpose, in the field studies, Tosya center and villages have been visited and plant specimens were collected and to get information about the used parts of plants. Their local names and their usage patterns were recorded. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 200 people which are 110 female and 90 male. In addition, a survey about ‘edible plants’ was applied to 217 people. According to the results of the interviews and surveys, 22 natural plant taxa, the most common use as food, were determined. These are: Scorzonera laciniata subsp. laciniata, Taraxacum serotinum, Tragopogon latifolius var. angustifolius, Tragopogon longirostris var. abbreviatus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Sinapis arvensis, Silene vulgaris var. vulgaris, Stellaria media subsp. media, Chenopodium album subsp. album var. album, Bryonia alba, Origanum sipyleum, Thymus sipyleus subsp. rosulans, Malva sylvestris, Plantago lanceolata, Plantago major subsp. major, Polygonum cognatum, Rumex acetosella, Rumex crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Rumex scutatus, Portulaca oleracea, Urtica dioica. Keywords : Ethnobotany, Tosya, wild edible plants, food source. *This study was presented as a poster in “Int. Symp. on Biodiversity and Edible Wild Species (Bews 2017), 3-5 April 2017, Antalya/Turkey”. DOI : 10.7176/JSTR/5-3-15

Compensatory mechanisms to climate change in the widely distributed species Silene vulgaris

Abstract The adaptation of plants to future climatic conditions is crucial for their survival. Not surprisingly, phenotypic responses to climate change have already been observed in many plant populations. These responses may be due to evolutionary adaptive changes or phenotypic plasticity. Especially plant species with a wide geographic range are either expected to show genetic differentiation in response to differing climate conditions or to have a high phenotypic plasticity. We investigated phenotypic responses and plasticity as an estimate of the adaptive potential in the widespread species Silene vulgaris. In a greenhouse experiment, 25 European populations covering a geographic range from the Canary Islands to Sweden were exposed to three experimental precipitation and two temperature regimes mimicking a possible climate‐change scenario for central Europe. We hypothesized that southern populations have a better performance under high temperature and drought conditions, as they are already adapted to a comparable environment. We found that our treatments significantly influenced the plants, but did not reveal a latitudinal difference in response to climate treatments for most plant traits. Only flower number showed a stronger plasticity in northern European populations (e.g. Swedish populations) where numbers decreased more drastically with increased temperature and decreased precipitation treatment. Synthesis. The significant treatment response in Silene vulgaris, independent of population origin – except for the number of flowers produced – suggests a high degree of universal phenotypic plasticity in this widely distributed species. This reflects the likely adaptation strategy of the species and forms the basis for a successful survival strategy during upcoming climatic changes. However, as flower number, a strongly fitness‐related trait, decreased more strongly in northern populations under a climate‐change scenario, there might be limits to adaptation even in this widespread, plastic species.

Identification of Salt and Drought Biochemical Stress Markers in Several Silene vulgaris Populations

This study attempted to determine short-term responses to drought and salt stress in different Silene vulgaris genotypes and to identify potential abiotic stress biochemical indicators in this species. Four populations from contrasting habitats were subjected to drought and three levels of salinity under controlled greenhouse conditions. The determination of several growth parameters after the stress treatments allowed for ranking the tolerance to stress of the four analyzed populations on the basis of their relative degree of stress-induced growth inhibition. This was then correlated with changes in the leaf levels of monovalent ions (Na+, Cl−, and K+), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a and b, carotenoids), osmolytes (total soluble sugars, proline), and non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenolic compounds and flavonoids). Despite the observed differences, all four populations appeared to be relatively tolerant to both stress conditions, which in general did not cause a significant degradation of photosynthetic pigments and did not generate oxidative stress in the plants. Drought and salinity tolerance in S. vulgaris was mostly dependent on the use of Na+ and K+ for osmotic adjustment under stress, a mechanism that appeared to be constitutive, and not stress-induced, since relatively high concentrations of these cations (without reaching toxic levels) were also present in the leaves of control plants. The inhibition of additional transportation of toxic ions to the leaves, in response to increasing external salinity, seemed to be a relevant mechanism of tolerance, specifically to salt stress, whereas accumulation of soluble sugars under drought conditions may have contributed to tolerance to drought.

Restoration of grasslands using commercially produced seed mixtures: genetic variation within and among natural and restored populations of three common grassland species

The use of commercially produced seed material is a common practice in restoration. However, the impact of sowing on genetic variation of natural populations is still unclear. Aim of this study was, therefore, to test if genetic variation within and among populations restored with local seed material corresponds to the genetic variation of neighboring natural populations. We investigated each ten natural and restored populations of three common grassland species (Knautia arvensis, Silene vulgaris and Plantago lanceolata), situated in five study regions in southeastern Germany. Our study revealed significant genetic differentiation between natural and restored populations of the insect-pollinated K. arvensis and S. vulgaris although differentiation was much stronger for K. arvensis since most restored populations contained another ploidy level than natural populations. For the wind-pollinated P. lanceolata, genetic differentiation between natural and restored populations was comparable to the genetic differentiation between its natural populations. Genetic diversity within restored populations of each species was equivalent or even higher than within natural populations. Our study provides evidence that the local genetic structure especially of common insect-pollinated grassland species may be affected by the application of regional seed mixtures in restoration. Regional admixed provenancing in seed production is an important approach to preserve regional patterns and to provide seeds for the reestablishment of genetically variable populations. The method would however be an even more powerful tool in restoration when ploidy levels would be checked before seed production and seed transfer zones would be smaller.

APPLICATION OF PECTIC POLYSACCHARIDES AS STIMULANTS FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.

Crop yields can be significantly increased by using pectic polysaccharides – natural ecologically safe and effective plant growth stimulants. In this paper, high growth-stimulating activity of pectins with respect to potatoes is shown. The research was conducted in 2012–2015 in the Komi Republic (Syktyvkar) on sod-podzolic soils with an average humus content of 2.8–3.4%. The objects of the study in the field experiments were zoned potato varieties: early-ripening Gloria variety and the middle-aged variety Nevsky. The following pectic polysaccharides served as stimulants of potato growth and development: heracleuman – pectin of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden., lemnan – pectin duckweed Lemna minor L. and silenan – pectin of callus tissue of campion Silene vulgaris (M.) G. Processing of potatoes with aqueous solutions of pectic polysaccharides included pre-planting soaking of potato tubers in water and spraying potato plants in the phases of 3–5 leaves and tuber formation. For processing potatoes, working solutions were used, which were prepared from 100 times diluted 0.002% aqueous solutions of pectins. The consumption of the working solutions of pectins were 10 liters on 1 ton of tubers and 300 l/ha of planting potatoes. Tubers and potato plants treated with water instead of pectins were used as control samples. It is established that all tested pectins possess growth-stimulating activity and processing of potatoes with aqueous solutions of pectic polysaccharides increases the early and overall yield of this crop, as well as the content of dry matter, starch and vitamin C in potato tubers.

Analysis of the GC-MS of volatile compounds and the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activities of some Bulgarian medicinal plants.

The study's objective was to investigate the volatile compounds, assess the total phenolic content and phenolic acids profile, determine the antioxidant capacity and evaluate the anthocyanin and flavonoid contents in stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.), bladder campion (Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke) and rosehip fruit (Rosa canina L. cv. Plovdiv 1). The total phenolic content ranged from 0.55±0.00 to 47.39±0.41 mg GAE/g dw, total flavonoids ranged from 0.45±0.02 to 17.27±0.45 mg QЕ/g dw and the total anthocyanins ranged from 0.94±0.23 to 58.11±2.85 mg/L. The results demonstrated that the selected research plants show auspiciously useful properties in fields like pharmacy, food preparation, cosmetics, etc. Furthermore, the most promising extraction methods in terms of bioactivity are decoction and tincture (U. dioica; T. vulgare; S. vulgaris) and tincture (R. canina). The current study could be regarded as a first detailed investigation of the biological activity and phytochemical composition of R. canina L. cv. Plovdiv 1.

Metal-tolerant endophytic bacteria associated with Silene vulgaris support the Cd and Zn phytoextraction in non-host plants

The aim of this study was to isolate and characterise metal-resistant endophytic bacteria from the tissues of Silene vulgaris collected within the vicinity of non-ferrous steelworks in Katowice, Upper Silesia, Southern Poland.Twenty-four strains of metal-resistant endophytic bacteria that belong to 15 genera were isolated from the stems and leaves of Silene vulgaris. Most of these strains showed multiple plant growth-promoting capabilities. The most promising strains, Proteus vulgaris H7, Pseudomonas sp. H15, and Pseudomonas helmanticensis H16, were used in a pot experiment, and their impact on the biomass of white mustard and Zn and Cd accumulation was examined.Soil inoculation with the tested strains resulted in a higher fresh biomass of shoots, which increased by 74.5% (Proteus vulgaris H7), 121.7% (Pseudomonas sp. H15), and 142.2% (P. helmanticensis H16) compared to the control plants. The highest phytoextraction enhancement was caused by P. helmanticensis H16, which increased Zn and Cd accumulation in the shoot tissues by 43.8% and 112.6%, respectively. All of the tested strains were detected in the soil at the last sampling points, but only Proteus vulgaris H7 and Pseudomonas sp. H15 were capable of temporary colonisation of the roots of white mustard. None of the inoculants were found in the stems and leaves of the plants during the experimental period.The plant growth-promoting features of the isolates combined with their resistance to heavy metals and high survival in soil after inoculation make these strains good candidates for the promotion of plant growth and increased phytoremediation efficiency.

Homologous recombination changes the context of Cytochrome b transcription in the mitochondrial genome of Silene vulgaris KRA

BackgroundSilene vulgaris (bladder campion) is a gynodioecious species existing as two genders – male-sterile females and hermaphrodites. Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is generally encoded by mitochondrial genes, which interact with nuclear fertility restorer genes. Mitochondrial genomes of this species vary in DNA sequence, gene order and gene content. Multiple CMS genes are expected to exist in S. vulgaris, but little is known about their molecular identity.ResultsWe assembled the complete mitochondrial genome from the haplotype KRA of S. vulgaris. It consists of five chromosomes, two of which recombine with each other. Two small non-recombining chromosomes exist in linear, supercoiled and relaxed circle forms. We compared the mitochondrial transcriptomes from females and hermaphrodites and confirmed the differentially expressed chimeric gene bobt as the strongest CMS candidate gene in S. vulgaris KRA. The chimeric gene bobt is co-transcribed with the Cytochrome b (cob) gene in some genomic configurations. The co-transcription of a CMS factor with an essential gene may constrain transcription inhibition as a mechanism for fertility restoration because of the need to maintain appropriate production of the necessary protein. Homologous recombination places the gene cob outside the control of bobt, which allows for the suppression of the CMS gene by the fertility restorer genes. We found the loss of three editing sites in the KRA mitochondrial genome and identified four sites with highly distinct editing rates between KRA and another S. vulgaris haplotypes (KOV). Three of these highly differentially edited sites were located in the transport membrane protein B (mttB) gene. They resulted in differences in MttB protein sequences between haplotypes.ConclusionsFrequent homologous recombination events that are widespread in plant mitochondrial genomes may change chromosomal configurations and also the control of gene transcription including CMS gene expression. Posttranscriptional processes, e.g. RNA editing shall be evaluated in evolutionary and co-evolutionary studies of mitochondrial genes, because they may change protein composition despite the sequence identity of the respective genes. The investigation of natural populations of wild species such as S. vulgaris are necessary to reveal important aspects of CMS missed in domesticated crops, the traditional focus of the CMS studies.

Restoration of Vegetation in Relation to Soil Properties of Spoil Heap Heavily Contaminated with Heavy Metals

The main objectives of our study were to evaluate soil contamination on a zinc-lead spoil heap in the Upper Silesian Industrial Region in southern Poland using pollution indices, and to investigate the relation between soil properties and the natural succession of vegetation. Organic carbon and nitrogen, pH, soil texture, base cations, and heavy metal content were analyzed in soil samples at depths of 0–15 cm below the organic horizon over a regular grid of 14 sampling plots. The contents of Zn, Pb, and Cd exceeded by several times the acceptable thresholds. Measurements of soil enzyme activity were used to evaluate the progress of vegetation development in relation to soil chemical properties. The results indicate that heavy metals had a significant impact on soil enzyme activity and the development of vegetation cover. High contents of Pb and Cd reduced enzyme activity, while this activity increased with increasing amounts of soil organic matter. Further, the accumulative capacities of heavy metals in needles of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and aboveground biomass of bladder campion (Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke) were examined. A high accumulation of Zn, Pb, and Cd in the aboveground tissues of S. vulgaris indicated an unusual tolerance of this species to heavy metals and the possibility of using this species in phytoremediation of post-industrial sites.

Carotenoids, tocopherols, organic acids, charbohydrate and mineral content in different medicinal plant extracts.

Nettle (Urtica dioica L.), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.), bladder campion (Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke, waterpepper (Polygonum hydropiper L.), common centaury (Centaurium erythraea Pers.) and rose hip fruit (Rosa canina L. cv. Plovdiv 1) were used for preparation of different water extracts (infusion, decoction and microwave extract) and ethanol (tincture) extracts. Carotenoids (lutein, lycopene and β-carotene), tocopherols (α-, γ- and δ-), organic acids (ascorbic, malic, fumaric and citric), five macro- and three microelements, sugars and uronic acids content in the obtained extracts were analyzed. Among the investigated plants, stinging nettle, bladder campion and rose hip fruit were evaluated as most potential with respect to bioactive compounds and microelements. The results showed that the selected six medicinal plants and their extracts can be presented as sources of dietary fibers and micronutrients, which may encourage further application as food supplements and beverages as well as to motivate plant use as a dietary alternative in different foods. The present study is a first detailed analysis with respect to sugar content of decoction, infusion and tincture of S. vulgaris.

Plant Species and Heavy Metals Affect Biodiversity of Microbial Communities Associated With Metal-Tolerant Plants in Metalliferous Soils.

We here assess the biodiversity of the rhizosphere microbial communities of metal-tolerant plant species Arabidopsis arenosa, Arabidopsis halleri, Deschampsia caespitosa, and Silene vulgaris when growing on various heavy metal polluted sites. Our broad-spectrum analyses included counts for total and metal-tolerant culturable bacteria, assessments of microbial community structure by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiling and community-level analysis based on BIOLOG-CLPP to indicate functional diversity. The genetic-biochemical diversity was also measured by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and metabolomic analysis (HPLC-MS). Different rhizospheres showed distinctive profiles of microbial traits, which also differed significantly from bulk soil, indicating an influence from sampling site as well as plant species. However, total bacterial counts and PCR-DGGE profiles were most affected by the plants, whereas sampling site-connected variability was predominant for the PLFA profiles and an interaction of both factors for BIOLOG-CLPP. Correlations were also observed between pH, total and bioavailable Cd or Zn and measured microbial traits. Thus, both plant species and heavy-metals were shown to be major determinants of microbial community structure and function.

Anticholinesterase, Antioxidant, Antiaflatoxigenic Activities of Ten Edible Wild Plants from Ordu Area, Turkey.

Turkey has highly rich floras of medicinal and aromatic plants because of having various climate conditions in different regions. One of these regions is Middle Black Sea Region, especially Ordu Province. Extracts of 10 edible plants (Arum maculatum L., Hypericum orientale L., Ornithogalum sigmoideum Freyn et Sint., Silene vulgaris Garcke var. macrocarpa, Plantago lanceolata L., Achillea millefolium L. subsp. pannonica, Rumex crispus L., Rumex acetosella L., Capsella bursa-pastoris L., Coronopus squamatus Asch.), grown in Ordu, Turkey, were prepared with different solvents (hexane, ethanol and water, separately) and their anticholinestrase and antiaflatoxigenic activities were evaluated. Additionally, the cupric reducing antioxidant capacities (CUPRAC) and ABTS cation radical scavenging abilities of the extracts were assayed. The ethanol extract of R. acetosella exhibited the highest antioxidant activity (A0.5 value of 25.31 µg/mL, for CUPRAC activity; IC50 value of 23.73 µg/mL, for ABTS activity). The hexane extract of C. bursa-pastoris showed the strongest inhibition against AChE enzyme with IC50 value of 7.24 µg/mL, and the hexane extract of A. millefolium subsp. pannonica had the highest BChE activity with IC50 value of 6.40 µg/mL. The ethanol extract of P. lanceolata exhibited the strongest inhibition against aflatoxin with 88% inhibition.

Transgenerational plasticity in Silene vulgaris in response to three types of stress.

The environment experienced by plants can influence the phenotype of their offspring. Such transgenerational plasticity can be adaptive when it results in higher fitness of the offspring under conditions correlated with those experienced by the mother plant. However, it has rarely been tested if such anticipatory parental effects may be induced with different environments. We grew clonal replicates of Silene vulgaris under control conditions and three types of stress (nutrient deficiency, copper addition and drought), which are known from natural populations of the species. We then subjected offspring from differently treated mother plants to each of the different stress treatments to analyse the influence of maternal and offspring environment on performance and several functional traits. Current stress treatments strongly influenced biomass and functional traits of the plants, mostly in line with responses predicted by the theory of functional equilibrium. Plant performance was also influenced by maternal stress treatments, and some effects independent of initial size differences remained until harvest. In particular, stressed mothers produced offspring of higher fitness than control plants. However, there was no evidence for treatment-specific adaptive transgenerational plasticity, as offspring from a mother plant that had grown in a specific environment did not grow better in that environment than other plants. Our results indicate that the maternal environment may affect offspring traits and performance, but also that this transgenerational plasticity is not necessarily adaptive.

Pollen morphology of subfamily Caryophylloideae (Caryophyllaceae) and its taxonomic significance.

The Pollen morphology of subfamily Caryophylloideae (Caryophyllaceae) from different phytogeographical region of Pakistan has been evaluated. In this research, 16 species belong to 6 genera of subfamily Caryophylloideae have been studied using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for both qualitative and quantitative characters. Different palyno-morphological features were observed including; pollen ornamentation, pore ornamentation, echini arrangement, echinidensity, number of pori, size of polar and equatorial diameter, P/E ratio, exine thickness, and size of pore were studied. The palyno-morphological characters of subfamily Caryophylloideae have taxonomically significant in identification and delimitation of species. Two pollen types, i.e., subspheroidal (15 species) and prolate (one species Vaccaria hispanica) were observed. Microechinate-punctate and microechinate-perforate pollen ornamentation were examined. Two pollen types of pori, i.e., prominent (5 species) and sunken (11 species) ornamentation have been reported. Three types of echini arrangement have been reported irregular, regular and rather regular, while three type of echinidensity (i.e., medium, dense and sparse) were observed. Pori numbers were found different in different species range from 5 in Silene apetala to 19-35 in Silene vulgaris. Based on different palyno-morphological characters, taxonomic key was develop for quick and accurate identification. The quantitative data were processed using SPSS software for average, minimum, maximum, and standard error.

Henk Schat.

Henk Schat.

Swelling and Degradation of Calcium-Pectic Gel Particles Made of Pectins of Silene vulgaris and Lemna minor Сallus Cultures at Different Concentrations of Pectinase in an Artificial Colon Environment

Swelling and Degradation of Calcium-Pectic Gel Particles Made of Pectins of Silene vulgaris and Lemna minor Сallus Cultures at Different Concentrations of Pectinase in an Artificial Colon Environment

Arable weed species associated with soil tillage systems under Mediterranean conditions

AbstractTillage soil erosion is seen as a great problem in the Mediterranean region and is worsened by the climatic conditions. Previous studies have shown a decrease in biodiversity in arable lands across Europe. Weeds are a major component of biodiversity within agro‐ecosystems, but few studies have aimed to associate weed species with soil tillage intensity. We performed an analysis to test the potential short‐term effects of different tillage systems on weed species under our study conditions. The emerged weed data were measured, comparing a conventional tillage system with conservational tillage systems (minimum tillage and no tillage) in 2 cropping systems (monoculture wheat and a rotation scheme of barley–legume–wheat–fallow). Compared with the tilled soil, higher weed density and weed species richness were observed in the conservation tillage plots. The weed density and weed species richness in the monoculture system were higher compared with those in the crop rotation system. We used classification and regression trees to analyze the relationship between the soil tillage systems and the weed community, taking into account the climatic conditions. The results indicate that different soil tillage systems produced tree models: Silene vulgaris (L.) was associated with the MT system and high and irregularly distributed rainfall; Hypecoum imberbe Sm. and Hypecoum procumbens (L.) were linked to MT plots with low and well‐distributed precipitation rates; and Cardaria draba (L.) was present all years independently of climatic conditions but was never found in the NT system, so its presence could be regarded as an indicator of tillage intensity.

Effect of Silene vulgaris and Heavy Metal Pollution on Soil Microbial Diversity in Long-Term Contaminated Soil

In this study, we analysed the impact of heavy metals and plant rhizodeposition on the structure of indigenous microbial communities in rhizosphere and bulk soil that had been exposed to heavy metals for more than 150 years. Samples of the rhizosphere of Silene vulgaris and non-rhizosphere soils 250 and 450 m from the source of emission that had different metal concentrations were collected for analyses. The results showed that soils were collected 250 m from the smelter had a higher number of Cd-resistant CFU compared with the samples that were collected from 450 m, but no significant differences were observed in the number of total and oligotrophic CFU or the equivalent cell numbers between rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils that were taken 250 and 450 m from the emitter. Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) cluster analysis of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles, as well as a cluster analysis that was generated on the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, showed that the bacterial community structure of rhizosphere soils depended more on the plant than on the distance and metal concentrations. The sequencing of the 16S rDNA fragments that were excised from the DGGE gel revealed representatives of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, Actinobacteria and Betaproteobacteria in the analysed soil with a predominance of the first three groups. The obtained results demonstrated that the presence of S. vulgaris did not affect the number of CFUs, except for those of Cd-resistant bacteria. However, the presence of S. vulgaris altered the soil bacterial community structure, regardless of the sampling site, which supported the thesis that plants have a higher impact on soil microbial community than metal contamination.

Inbreeding limits responses to environmental stress in Silene vulgaris

Phenotypic plasticity enables plants to respond to different environmental conditions by changing morphological and physiological traits and patterns of biomass allocation. However, it is not well understood how these responses are influenced by inbreeding. We grew clones of self- and cross-pollinated offspring of Silene vulgaris (Caryophyllaceae) and measured a number of functional traits involved in stress responses under eight different treatments, including a control, drought, copper addition, simulated herbivory, and two levels of nutrient deficiency and shade. Inbreeding influenced phenotypic plasticity in some functional traits. In particular, the environmental sensitivity of four traits – stem length, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content and specific leaf area – was lower in offspring from self- than from cross-pollination. Biomass allocation patterns changed in response to the environment in agreement with optimal partitioning theory, but were not influenced by inbreeding. Two traits potentially involved in general stress response – leaf senescence and anthocyanin production – were increased under copper stress and nutrient deficiency but reduced in the herbivory and shade treatments. Inbreeding did not increase these general stress responses, but reduced anthocyanin production in all stress treatments. Our findings suggest that by reducing phenotypic plasticity, inbreeding may limit the ability of plants to cope with changing environmental conditions.