Early planting is one technique to avoid or reduce heat and drought problems that negatively affecting grain crop production. If producers adopt early planting, cold temperatures may negatively affect corn yield. It is important to select hybrids that are suited for planting earlier in the southern United States. Experiments were conducted by imposing low temperatures during seed germination. Twenty commercially available corn hybrids were evaluated for seed germination and root elongation. The first objective was: 1) To determine if some hybrids germinate better at cooler temperatures than others; and 2) Determine variation in root elongation at cold temperatures among commercially available hybrids. Corn hybrids varied significantly for seed germination and root traits under cold temperatures. Some hybrids have significantly surpassed others in seed germination traits, and they germinated earlier as well having longer radicle length. Also, there were significant differences across temperatures for all traits measured. A second objective was: 1) To quantify the effects of cold temperature on seed germination rate; 2) To evaluate the effects of different cold temperatures on seed germination behavior of corn hybrids under laboratory conditions to determine how fast they germinated; and 3) To classify hybrids for response to cold temperature using cumulative seed germination. The results showed that standard germination performance occurred at 10ºC for all hybrids, but these hybrids performed well under other cold treatments (7.2°C and 8.6° C). There were no big differences between early hybrids 93 to 105 RM (Relative Maturity) and full season 115 to 120 RM in germination % and rate in both experiments, so that means that it pretty much depends on the hybrid. Therefore, the temperature had a major influence on seed germination parameters. These findings are useful for hybrid selection with respect to cool soil temperature conditions during early planting.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Por que as diferentes espÃcies de angiospermas nÃo sÃo igualmente bem-sucedidas em todos os ambientes do planeta? Uma das explicaÃÃes recorrentes à baseada no conceito de trade-off (demanda conflitante). Entende-se por demanda conflitante a relaÃÃo negativa entre traÃos funcionais que nÃo podem ser otimizados simultaneamente pela planta. As variaÃÃes nos traÃos funcionais entre plantas sÃo interpretadas como adaptaÃÃes das espÃcies a condiÃÃes ambientais em resposta à aquisiÃÃo de recursos necessÃrios para seu desenvolvimento. A disponibilidade hÃdrica pode ser considerada o principal fator ambiental que afeta quase todos os processos fisiolÃgicos e fenolÃgicos das plantas de forma direta e/ou indireta, portanto, modula diversas demandas conflitantes. Nosso objetivo principal à o de compreender quais as estratÃgias hidrÃulicas e o comportamento fisiolÃgico em espÃcies decÃduas e sempre verdes em resposta à seca. No primeiro capÃtulo, analisamos a variaÃÃo funcional entre espÃcies decÃduas e sempre verdes para compreender as divergÃncias nas estratÃgias de tolerÃncia e evitaÃÃo à seca. Mensuramos 17 traÃos funcionais foliares em 17 espÃcies decÃduas e cinco sempre verdes. AlÃm disso, mensuramos a condutÃncia estomÃtica (gs), taxa de fotossÃntese por Ãrea e massa (AÃrea/Amassa) e a eficiÃncia instantÃnea e intrÃnseca no uso da Ãgua (EUAi e EUA) durante a estaÃÃo chuvosa. Verificamos que as espÃcies decÃduas exibiram maior Amassa, menor longevidade foliar (LF) e massa foliar especÃfica (MFE) quando comparadas Ãs sempre verdes. EspÃcies decÃduas e sempre verdes apresentaram demanda conflitante entre tolerÃncia à seca e capacidade fotossintÃtica, quanto maior a LF menor a Amassa. Embora as espÃcies decÃduas tenham apresentado maior Amassa e gs do que Ãs sempre verdes, nÃo observamos diferenÃas significativas na EUAi e EUA. As diferenÃas nas estratÃgias de evitaÃÃo e tolerÃncia à seca entre espÃcies decÃduas e sempre verdes sÃo claramente observadas indistintamente à disponibilidade hÃdrica. No segundo capÃtulo, avaliamos se hà divergÃncia ou convergÃncia nas estratÃgias hidrÃulicas em espÃcies decÃduas e sempre verdes e como respondem aos efeitos da seca. Observamos mensalmente a fenologia foliar relacionando-a com o dÃficit de pressÃo de vapor do ar (DPV) e o conteÃdo de Ãgua no solo (CAS). Realizamos mensalmente mediÃÃes do potencial hÃdrico antes do amanhecer e relacionamos com a densidade da madeira (ρwood). Observamos as variaÃÃes no comportamento estomÃtico e no potencial hÃdrico diÃrio, e por fim, mensuramos e comparamos 17 traÃos funcionais foliares entre os grupos fenolÃgicos. A separaÃÃo das espÃcies em grupos baseados apenas na LF fornece boa compreensÃo sobre estratÃgias hidrÃulicas em respostas à seca. EspÃcies decÃduas exibem diferentes estratÃgias (isohÃdrica/anisohÃdrica), independente da ρwood. EspÃcies sempre verdes nÃo exibem diferenÃa de estratÃgia, sendo apenas anisohÃdricas. Consideramos que traÃos hidrÃulicos como o gradiente no potencial hÃdrico entre raÃzes e folhas (ΔΨplanta), o potencial hÃdrico responsÃvel por 50% do fechamento estomÃtico (ΨSC) e a diferenÃa no potencial hÃdrico sazonal (ΔΨsazonal) sÃo chaves para identificaÃÃo de estratÃgias hidrÃulicas em espÃcies de ecossistemas sazonalmente secos / Why the different species of angiosperms not are equally successful in all environments of planet? One recurrent explanation is based in concept of trade-off. It is understood trade-off per the negative relation between functional traits that cannot be optimized simultaneously by the plant. The variations in functional traits between plants are understood how adaptations of the species to environmental conditions in response at resource acquisition necessary for development. The hydric availability can be considerate the main environmental factor that affect almost all physiological and phenological processes of plants of direct and/or indirect form, therefore, modulating various trade-off. Our main goal is understand which hydraulic strategies and the physiology behavior in deciduous and evergreen species in response to drought. In first chapter, we analyzed the functional variation between deciduous and evergreen species for understand the divergence in the strategies of avoidance and tolerance to drought. We measured 17 leaf functional traits in 17 deciduous and five evergreen species. Furthermore, we measured the stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthetic rate based area and mass (Aarea/Amass) and the instantaneous and intrinsic water use efficient (WUEi and WUE) during the rainy season. We checked that the deciduous species exhibited bigger Amass, less leaf lifespan (LL) and leaf specific mass (LSM) when compared with evergreen species. Deciduous and evergreen species showed trade-off between drought tolerance and photosynthetic capacity, the bigger LF is the less the Amass. Although the deciduous species have showed larger Amass and gs than the evergreen species, we do not observed significant difference in WUEi and WUE. The difference in the strategies of drought avoidance and tolerance between deciduous and evergreen species are clearly observed indistinctly to hydric availability. In second chapter, we evaluated if are divergence or convergence in the hydraulic strategies in deciduous and evergreen species and how they respond to effects of the drought. We observed monthly the leaf phenology by relating with the vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and the soil water content (SWC). We performed monthly measurements of water potential predawn and related with the wood density (ρwood). We observed the variation in stomatal behavior and in daily water potential and lastly measurements and compared 17 leaf functional traits between the phenological groups. The separation of species in groups based only LF provides good understanding about hydraulic strategies in response to drought. Deciduous species exhibited different strategies (isohydric/anisohydric) independently of ρwood. Evergreen species do not exhibit difference of strategy, it is only anisohydric. We regard that hydraulic traits how the water potential gradient from roots to shoots (ΔΨplant), the water potential responsible for 50% of stomatal closure (ΨSC) and the difference in seasonal water potential (ΔΨseasonal) are key for identification of hydraulic strategies in species of the seasonally dry ecosystems

En Europe, les prairies permanentes représentent l’une des principales formes d’utilisation des terres. La durabilité des services rendus par ces écosystèmes est étroitement liée à la structure et au fonctionnement des communautés végétales qui les composent. La stabilité des processus écosystémiques, sous l’impact des fluctuations environnementales, va alors dépendre des mécanismes de résistance et de récupération propres à ces communautés. Les risques d’apparition d’extrêmes climatiques liés à l’évolution du climat, rendent nécessaire une adaptation des agro-écosystèmes à cette fluctuation climatique accrue. Cela implique de mieux comprendre les mécanismes par lesquels la variabilité du climat influe sur le fonctionnement et la structure des communautés végétales, et comment les pratiques agricoles impactent ces réponses. Cette thèse à pour objectif d’évaluer la vulnérabilité des prairies permanentes à un extrême climatique combinant une canicule et une sécheresse, dans un contexte de changement climatique. Afin d’identifier et de caractériser les mécanismes intrinsèques de la résistance à la sécheresse des communautés végétales, une démarche expérimentale mobilisant les concepts de l’écologie fonctionnelle a été développée. Les effets de la variabilité climatique sur la structure (diversité, composition) et le fonctionnement des communautés végétales ont d’abord été analysés in situ pendant 3 ans, après simulation d’une canicule-sécheresse dans les conditions climatiques actuelles et sous climat modifié (réchauffement et réduction des précipitations). Pour évaluer l’influence de la gestion sur la réponse des communautés végétales aux perturbations climatiques, deux fréquences de fauches ont été appliquées. Ce travail présente l’originalité d’avoir étudié conjointement le fonctionnement aérien et souterrain de la végétation. Sont considérées la production de biomasse, la démographie et la durée de vie des racines, afin de déterminer le rôle du système racinaire dans la résistance et la récupération des communautés végétales après une canicule sécheresse. Nous montrons un effet direct de l’extrême climatique sur la sénescence aérienne et la croissance racinaire dans les deux régimes de fauches. En réponse à un déficit hydrique modéré, la stratégie d’évitement au stress par le maintien de la croissance racinaire a été favorisée par des fauches non fréquentes. A l’automne suivant, les précipitations ont permis un reverdissement rapide de la couverture végétale et la production de nouvelles racines. Une baisse significative de la production de biomasse aérienne annuelle sous climat modifié, et suite à l’application de l’extrême climatique, a été observée pendant les 3 années d’expérimentation. En revanche, la production racinaire n’a pas été significativement affectée. Néanmoins une acclimatation de la croissance racinaire a été mise en évidence un an après l’extrême, en particulier dans les communautés de fauches non fréquemment. Ces changements de fonctionnement aériens et souterrains peuvent s’expliquer en partie par des modifications de la composition botanique. De plus, en réponse aux perturbations climatiques, la mortalité racinaire a été interrompue. Ces résultats inattendus ont donc entrainé une augmentation de la durée de vie des racines et suggèrent un effet négatif sur le turnover racinaire et les cycles biogéochimiques. Une expérimentation complémentaire à l’étude in situ a été menée en conditions semicontrôlées pour déterminer les mécanismes intrinsèques de la résistance à la sécheresse de la prairie permanente. Des traits morphologiques et physiologiques, aériens et souterrains, ont été mesurés sur des monocultures de sept populations prairiales en conditions optimales, puis en conditions de sécheresse afin de caractériser leurs stratégies de survie. Les résultats ont mis en évidence le rôle du système racinaire dans la survie des plantes. (...) / In Europe, grassland is one of the dominant forms of land use. The sustainability of their environmental and ecological services is linked to plant community structure and functioning. Under climatic constraints, the stability of community functioning will depend on plant resistance and recovery mechanisms. Actually, increase in climate variability linked to climate change, is expected to lead to more frequent and more intense climate extremes.Therefore, it is necessary to adapt ecosystem management to climate variability increase. This imply to improve our knowledge on mechanisms by which climate drivers modify the structure and the functioning of plant community, and to determine how the agricultural practices affect these responses. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise vulnerability of perennial grassland to combined heat wave and severe drought and to determine mechanisms of plant community resistance to drought. For this, an experimental approach was developed based on the functional ecology concepts. The effect of climate variability on the structure (diversity and composition) and the functioning of plant community were first analyzed in situ during three years. Microclimate of the vegetation was manipulated to simulate warming, precipitation reduction, heat wave combined to severe drought. To analyse the role of grassland management in plant community responses to climate disturbances, two contrasted cutting frequencies were applied. This work has the originality to analyse both above- and below-ground processes of plant community. Thus, above- and below-ground biomass production, root demography and longevity were considered to determine the role of root system in resistance and recovery of plant community after a severe drought. In both cutting frequencies, our results showed direct effects of climate extreme on leaf senescence and root growth. However, in response to moderate water deficit, drought avoidance through maintenance of root growth was favoured by infrequent cutting frequency. After rehydration in the following autumn, canopy greenness and root growth rapidly recovered. Annual above-ground production was significantly decreased by climate change and climate extreme during the three years of the experiment. However no effect was observed on root production but acclimation of root growth was observed one year after the climate extreme, particularly under infrequent cuts. Plant community structure was significantly modified be climate disturbance and could explain change in community functioning. In addition, root mortality was surprisingly decreased in response to climate disturbance that consequently increases root longevity. These results suggest negative effects of climate disturbances on root turnover with lasting effects on nutrient cycles.To determine intrinsic mechanisms of plant community for drought resistance and recovery, an additional experiment was carried out in semi-controlled conditions. Therefore, morphological and physiological leaf and root traits were measured under full irrigation, moderate and severe drought on monocultures of seven perennial grassland populations to study plant functional strategies of drought survival. Roots were implicated in drought avoidance by maintaining water uptake and drought tolerance by accumulating sucrose and/or fructans. Morphological and physiological root traits were thus correlated to plant survivalafter drought. (...)