Ecophysiological responses of Robinia pseudoacacia to several ecological factors

Abstract

Simiao Wang, Yufei Xie, Meng Zhang, Yirui Shao, Liyan Hou, Hede Gong, Bing Zhang, Ning Wang and Xiao Liu*

Robinia pseudoacacia is a widely distributed tree species with strong adaptability to diverse ecological conditions. This review synthesizes recent research on its ecophysiological responses to key ecological stressors, including changes in water availability, nitrogen deposition, and atmospheric dust pollution. Seedlings show greater sensitivity to rainfall frequency than to rainfall intensity; reduced precipitation frequency significantly impairs photosynthetic traits, biomass accumulation, and growth. The interactive effects of precipitation patterns and nitrogen deposition are complex: High precipitation frequency promotes biomass, while nitrogen addition can stimulate growth but may inhibit nitrogen fixation under water stress. Under moderate dust deposition, R. pseudoacacia displays remarkable physiological plasticity: Dust particles act as a protective shield against excess solar radiation and enhance photosystem II photochemical efficiency. Across varying nitrogen supply levels, the species maintains relatively consistent growth and photosynthetic rates through rapid regulation of nitrogen fixation, an advantage in nitrogen-limited environments. These findings highlight the multifaceted adaptive strategies of R. pseudoacacia, providing insights for predicting its performance under future climate change and for developing forest management and restoration practices.