Phenotype plasticity of modules and growth analysis of reproductive ramets in Scirpus planiculmis population in the Songnen Plain of China

By analysis of large samples obtained in the fields, quantitative characters and regulations of reproductive allocation of reproductive ramets in Scirpus planiculmis population in the Songnen Plain were studied. The results showed that quantitative characters of reproductive ramets in S.planiculmis population had large phenotype plasticity. The coefficient of variation (CV) of seed biomass was the largest (81.63%), while the CVs of reproductive allocation Ⅱ and ramet height were the second higher with 73.14% and the smallest with 13.11%, respectively. The phenotype plasticity of reproductive ramets in S.planiculmis population had a significant regularity. With the increase in ramet height and in biomass, leaf biomass showed a power function increase; a linear increase in inflorescence biomass; and a power function or exponential decrease in reproductive allocation. There were two different regulations of phenotype plasticity of reproductive ramets in S.planiculmis population (isogony and allometry) at the same time. The regularity of growth and reproductive allocation showed that the reproductive ramets of different growth conditions had different allocation strategies for limited resources.