[Soluble sugar content of clonal plant Neosinocalamus affinis at module and ramet levels].

ABSTRACT

In this paper, soluble sugar content of Neosinocalamus affinis was measured by anthrone colorimetry at two levels of module and ramet in order to reveal its ecological and physiological adaptability. The results showed that soluble sugar content decreased in the order of leaf > branch > culm. As for soluble sugar content, different modules responded to ramet age and position in different ways. The branch and culm of 1-year-old ramets contented more soluble sugar than those of other four ages, but soluble sugar content in leaf was independent to ramet age. For leaf and culm, lower parts of ramet contented more soluble sugar than middle and upper parts. Under high irradiance, the soluble sugar content of Neosinocalamus affinis leaf was more than that under low irradiance. Seasonal change had significant effect on soluble sugar content. The soluble sugar content of leaf presented a monthly change, with a bottom and upper value in January and in April, respectively, but there was no obvious difference between 2-year-old and 3-year-old ramets. The soluble sugar content of parent ramet leaves was positively correlative to that of daughter ramet in upper and middle parts of ramets. There was no significant difference between ramet ages at ramet level. Hierarchical response of physiological character to environmental changes existed at the module and ramet levels of Neosinocalamus affinis.