Environmental Influences on Photosynthesis and Growth in Frag Aria Vesca

SUMMARY Growth of Fragaria vesca under several conditions of temperature and light was closely related to rates of net photosynthesis calculated for the growing conditions. This suggests that the rate of photosynthetic carbon accumulation is limiting for the overall success of the individual and that metabolic acclimation of net photosynthesis to the environment may be an important adaptation for improving general carbon balance. Growth rate showed differing sensitivity to the five environmental factors investigated; variation in light produced the greatest changes while nutrient levels had little effect. There was good buffering of physiological processes at moderate temperatures with growth reduction pronounced only at temperature extremes. Under all treatments there was a reduction in the proportion of biomass allocated to reproduction as total biomass accumulation became limited. Temperature treatments shifted reproductive allocation from flowering at low temperatures, to vegetative propagation at higher temperatures. Plants were capable of growing vegetatively under the most limiting conditions without reproducing. It is possible, therefore, that natural limits to distribution may coincide with limits to physiological performance and dispersal rather than to the ability of a population to reproduce itself in place.