Arid Zone Research ›› 2022, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (1): 210-219.doi: 10.13866/j.azr.2022.01.20

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Effects of different levels of nitrogen addition on leaf-stem sizes of Malus sieversii seedlings

HUA Zhaohui1,2(),TAO Ye1,YAN Jingming1,3,ZHOU Xiaobing1,ZHANG Jing1,ZHANG Yuanming1()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, China
    2. College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, Xinjiang, China
    3. Anhui Province Key Laboratory of the Biodiversity Study and Ecology Conservation in Southwest Anhui, College of Life Sciences, Anqing Normal University, Anqing 246133, Anhui, China
  • Received:2021-05-09 Revised:2021-07-07 Online:2022-01-15 Published:2022-01-24
  • Contact: Yuanming ZHANG E-mail:hzh302758578@163.com;ymzhang@ms.xjb.ac.cn

Abstract:

Malus sieversii is one of the ancestors of all cultivated apple trees in the world; therefore, it is regarded as a strategic genetic resource in China. However, its population has become seriously degraded. To conserve M. sieversii, it is necessary to understand the response of the plant to nitrogen addition. To determine the response of M. sieversii to nitrogen addition and provide a theoretical basis for population recovery, the twig traits of M. sieversii seedlings treated with different levels of nitrogen were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and allometric analysis. The N20 treatment promoted significant stem growth and significantly reduced the LAR and LAMR of M. sieversii; in contrast, the N40 treatment significantly reduced the LI of M. sieversii. The variation of branches and leaves of M. sieversii under nitrogen addition was not reflected in the biomass, but it was reflected in the morphological index. The low-and medium-nitrogen treatment groups tended to grow smaller and lighter leaves. The variation according to high-nitrogen treatment differed from that of the low-and medium-nitrogen groups. Appropriate addition of nitrogen fertilizer can improve the relationship between leaves and stem growth. In the process of planting seedlings, excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer should be avoided and fertilizer should be added appropriately. In the process of original habitat transplantation, the soil difference between habitats should be considered and fertilizer should be used in a targeted manner.

Key words: Malus sieversii, nitrogen addition, leaf-stem relationship, allometric scaling relationship, functional traits