Plastic responses to light intensity and planting density in three Lamium species

Abstract

In this survey plastic responses to light intensity and planting density were examined in three Lamium species (L. purpureum, L. album and L. maculatum). Low light intensity enhanced plant height, length and width of leaves, but reduced number of shoots and leaves, as well as root and shoot weights. Higher density resulted in smaller plants and leaves, but had significant effect on module number (shoots and leaves) only on older plants. The effect of light intensity on measured traits was greater than the effect of density, and consistent with predictions about plastic responses on light intensity variation. Generally, the three Lamium species differed in the magnitude but not in patterns of plasticity. However, associations of analyzed traits with fitness significantly differed among species as well as among light treatments. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.