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<p>Elevation fluctuations can induce fast changes in the climate over short distances resulting in stress on colonizing plant species. Couch grass (<i>Cynodon dactylon</i> (L.) Pers.) has adaptability to diverse habitats. Present study was carried out to investigate adaptability and plasticity in microstructural and physiological features of <i>C. dactylon</i> to heterogeneous environments along elevation gradient. Variation in structural and functional traits may assist <i>C. dactylon</i> in ecological success along elevation gradient.&#xa0;Six elevations, each separated by 200&#xa0;m, were selected to evaluate response of this species along 1000&#xa0;m elevation gradient. Elevation gradient imposed an enormous impact, not only on the environmental and soil physicochemical traits but also on the morphological and physiological traits of <i>C. dactylon</i> populations.&#xa0;The 300&#xa0;m elevation had hot temperature and hyper-arid conditions while 1300&#xa0;m was exposed to extreme cold and aridity. At the lowest elevation, plants survival relied on high activity of antioxidant enzymes, and proliferous root system absorbing water from deeper soil layers. At moderate elevation this species showed dense vegetative growth and high proportion of storage parenchyma, larger epidermal cells, and more efficient xylary elements for water conservation. Stunted growth at the highest elevation was a defensive strategy to cope with extreme cold and strong winds. Trichome length and density played a critical role on controlling transpiration rate at 1300&#xa0;m. Along the elevation gradient, variations in physiological traits, particularly osmolyte concentrations and Na⁺ distribution, were closely associated with morpho-anatomical modifications that either promoted stress avoidance through structural development or enhanced stress tolerance via osmotic adjustment. These results indicate that plant adaptation in heterogeneous habitats is not driven by a single characteristic, but rather by the integrated adjustment of structural and functional traits, enabling a balance between growth and survival along elevation gradient.&#xa0;It was concluded that there was a clear shift in adaptive mechanisms along 1000&#xa0;m elevation gradient, enabling <i>C. dactylon</i> population to survive in diverse habitats and environments.</p>

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Climate-driven Modifications in Structural and Functional Traits of Couch Grass [Cynodon Dactylon (L.) Pers.] along Elevation Gradient

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月29日

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  • Sana Fatima,
  • Farooq Ahmad,
  • Zahida Parveen,
  • Sana Basharat,
  • Mansoor Hameed,
  • Ansa Asghar,
  • Muhammad Sajid Aqeel Ahmad,
  • Majid Anwar,
  • Syed Mohsan Raza Shah,
  • Raza Shah,
  • Muhammad Ashraf,
  • Muhammad Kaleem,
  • Ashraaf Zahra

摘要

Elevation fluctuations can induce fast changes in the climate over short distances resulting in stress on colonizing plant species. Couch grass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) has adaptability to diverse habitats. Present study was carried out to investigate adaptability and plasticity in microstructural and physiological features of C. dactylon to heterogeneous environments along elevation gradient. Variation in structural and functional traits may assist C. dactylon in ecological success along elevation gradient. Six elevations, each separated by 200 m, were selected to evaluate response of this species along 1000 m elevation gradient. Elevation gradient imposed an enormous impact, not only on the environmental and soil physicochemical traits but also on the morphological and physiological traits of C. dactylon populations. The 300 m elevation had hot temperature and hyper-arid conditions while 1300 m was exposed to extreme cold and aridity. At the lowest elevation, plants survival relied on high activity of antioxidant enzymes, and proliferous root system absorbing water from deeper soil layers. At moderate elevation this species showed dense vegetative growth and high proportion of storage parenchyma, larger epidermal cells, and more efficient xylary elements for water conservation. Stunted growth at the highest elevation was a defensive strategy to cope with extreme cold and strong winds. Trichome length and density played a critical role on controlling transpiration rate at 1300 m. Along the elevation gradient, variations in physiological traits, particularly osmolyte concentrations and Na⁺ distribution, were closely associated with morpho-anatomical modifications that either promoted stress avoidance through structural development or enhanced stress tolerance via osmotic adjustment. These results indicate that plant adaptation in heterogeneous habitats is not driven by a single characteristic, but rather by the integrated adjustment of structural and functional traits, enabling a balance between growth and survival along elevation gradient. It was concluded that there was a clear shift in adaptive mechanisms along 1000 m elevation gradient, enabling C. dactylon population to survive in diverse habitats and environments.