The vegetative buds of Salix myrsinifolia are responsive to elevated UV-B and temperature

The predicted rise in temperature and variable changes in ultraviolet-B radiation will have marked effects on plant growth and metabolism. Different vegetative parts of trees have been studied to detect the impacts of enhanced temperature and UV-B, but the effects on buds have rarely been considered. In the present study, Salix myrsinifolia clones were subjected to enhanced UV-B and temperature over two growing seasons starting from 2009, and measured springtime bud development and concentrations of phenolic compounds. In 2010 and 2011 the buds under increased temperature were up to 30% longer than those in control plots. On the other hand, UV-B combined with elevated temperature significantly decreased bud length by 4-5% in 2010. This effect was stronger in males than in females. The vegetative buds contained high constitutive amounts of chlorogenic acid derivatives, which may explain the weak increase in hyperin and chlorogenic acid that are usual UV-B sheltering compounds. The elevated temperature treatment significantly increased salicin content (about 18% in males and 22% in females), while triandrin concentration decreased by only 50% in females. Our results indicate that vegetative bud size is highly affected by seasonal temperature, while UV-B induced a weaker and transient effect.