Significant gaps remain in understanding the response of plant reproduction to environmental change. This is partly because measuring reproduction in long‐lived plants requires direct observation over many years and such datasets have rarely been made publicly available. Here we introduce MASTREE+, a data set that collates reproductive time‐series data from across the globe and makes these data freely available to the community. MASTREE+ includes 73,828 georeferenced observations of annual reproduction (e.g. seed and fruit counts) in perennial plant populations worldwide. These observations consist of 5971 population‐level time‐series from 974 species in 66 countries. The mean and median time‐series length is 12.4 and 10 years respectively, and the data set includes 1122 series that extend over at least two decades (≥20 years of observations). For a subset of well‐studied species, MASTREE+ includes extensive replication of time‐series across geographical and climatic gradients. Here we describe the open‐access data set, available as a.csv file, and we introduce an associated web‐based app for data exploration. MASTREE+ will provide the basis for improved understanding of the response of long‐lived plant reproduction to environmental change. Additionally, MASTREE+ will enable investigation of the ecology and evolution of reproductive strategies in perennial plants, and the role of plant reproduction as a driver of ecosystem dynamics.

Forests play an important role in water and carbon cycles in semiarid regions such as the Mediterranean ecosystems. Previous research in the Chilean Mediterranean forests revealed a break point in 1980 in regional tree-ring chronologies linked to climate change. However, it is still unclear which populations and age classes are more affected by recent increases in drought conditions. In this study, we investigated the influence of recent variations in precipitation, temperature, and CO₂ concentrations on tree growth of various populations and age classes of Nothofagus macrocarpa trees in Central Chile. We sampled 10 populations from five sites of N. macrocarpa through its whole geographic distribution in both Coastal and Andes ranges. We used standard dendrochronological methods to (i) group populations using principal component analysis, (ii) separate age classes (young, mature, and old trees), (iii) evaluate linear growth trends based on the basal area increment (BAI), and (iv) analyze the link between BAI and atmospheric changes using linear mixed-effects models. Results showed that young trees are more sensitive to climate variability. Regarding population grouping, we observed that all population clusters were sensitive to winter-spring precipitation, but only the Andes and Coastal populations were negatively correlated with temperature. The results of CO₂ fertilization analyses were controversial and unclear. Since young trees from all population clusters reacted positively in the phase with an increase of atmospheric CO₂ between 1980 and 2014, this behavior was not translated into growth for the last 15 years (2000–2014). However, it should be noted that the young trees of the highest elevation populations did not have a negative growth trend, so it seems that CO₂ counteracted the negative effect of recent regional climate change (increase in temperature and precipitation decrease) in these population trees. Further studies are needed to assess the effects of climate variability over other ecological and physiological processes.

Lithraea caustica (litre) es una especie arbórea endémica de Chile que se desarrolla en un clima de tipo mediterráneo, caracterizado por presentar una estación estival con baja disponibilidad hídrica del suelo, elevada radiación solar y altas temperaturas. Bajo estas condiciones, litre debe desarrollar respuestas ecofisiológicas que le permitan sobrellevar períodos de restricción hídrica. Con el objetivo de conocer dichas respuestas, se estableció un ensayo de restricción hídrica controlada bajo condiciones naturales de verano. Las plantas se sometieron a tres tratamientos: riego permanente, restricción hídrica moderada y restricción hídrica severa. Durante el estudio se evaluaron variables hídricas (potencial hídrico foliar a pre-alba y contenido hídrico relativo foliar a pre-alba), fotosíntesis, intercambio gaseoso y fluorescencia de las clorofilas. Adicionalmente, se evaluó el crecimiento y acumulación de biomasa. Bajo condiciones de restricción hídrica, litre presentó el mecanismo de ajuste osmótico, permitiendo mantener un alto turgor celular y un contenido hídrico foliar sobre 80 %. Esta estrategia permitió a litre tolerar los bajos contenidos hídricos de sustrato observados durante la fase de mayor restricción hídrica. También fue capaz de reparar los daños provocados durante el periodo de fotoinhibición observado a mediodía, con valores de F_v/F_m siempre igual o superior a 0,8. Se entrega información valiosa sobre los atributos de litre, posible de aplicar en futuros escenarios de reforestación y cambio climático en zonas mediterráneas.

Background: Araucaria araucana is a mast species that presents a high variability in annual cone production. Researchers have recorded synchronization events in cone production in different populations, which allows the seed production to be concentrated, reducing the percentage of seeds consumed by different animal species. Methods: We sampled three populations located in the Andes Mountains, Araucanía Region, Chile. In 2004 we began the collection of data on cone production, for which we installed permanent plots (1200 m² each) at each location. We identified and labeled each female tree in each plot to monitor its cone production. In 2012 we selected a total of 30 trees near the plots to evaluate the number of seeds per cone. In each February from 2012 to 2014 we selected two mature cones and covered them with a porous mesh for subsequent collection and storage in March. At the beginning of June, we counted and weighed the seeds, determining the average weight, the number of seeds per cone, the germination capacity (GC), and the germination speed (GS). Results: Cone production was synchronous across the three locations. We observed significant differences among the locations and years evaluated. The cones had fewer seeds in 2013 (high production) compared to those in 2012 (low production), but their weights were similar. In 2014 the cones produced smaller seeds in fewer quantities. The difference between the years 2013 and 2014 resulted from the high-energy expenditure in 2013. Regarding GC and GS, there were significant differences among the three locations (GC: F = 45.41, p < 0.01; GS: F = 96.08, p < 0.01), where the highest values were observed in 2013. Conclusions: Both GC and GS are related to seed weight but not to the number of cones produced in a given year. These annual fluctuations in seed production are determining factors in the population dynamics of forest species. Our results allow a better understanding of the reproductive phenology of A. araucana and could help define sustainable use and conservation actions for this species.

Quillay (Quillaja saponaria Molina) and peumo (Cryptocarya alba [Molina] Looser) are two tree species endemic to Chile that grow in Mediterranean climate zones, characterized by a summer season with high temperatures, high solar radiation, and low soil water availability. A study was conducted with 2-year-old Q. saponaria and C. alba plants and two substrate water conditions: well-watered and controlled water restriction. At the end of the study, anatomical leaf modifications were analyzed. The tissues were anatomically described in transverse sections of juvenile and adult leaves, measuring leaf thickness, cuticle thickness, and cell density of the mesophyll parenchymal tissues. In the young leaves of Q. saponaria plants undergoing water restriction treatment, an increase in cuticle and leaf thickness and a decrease in the density of the palisade and spongy parenchyma were observed. In contrast, a significant reduction in leaf thickness was observed in adult leaves of both species with water restriction treatment. The anatomical changes in the leaves of Q. saponaria and C. alba suggest an adaptation to adverse environmental conditions, such as water restriction.

El principal objetivo de esta investigación es determinar el efecto de altas concentraciones de gases y material particulado de vehículos diésel sobre el rendimiento cuántico máximo del fotosistema II (Fv/Fm_PD) a pre-alba de la especie arbórea Quillaja saponaria Mol. (Quillay), la especie arbórea nativa más utilizada en zonas urbanas de Santiago, Chile. Se examinaron dosis de riego en individuos jóvenes de Q. saponaria en una cámara de crecimiento. Los resultados muestran que las plantas con riego restringido (-30 bares en promedio) resisten mejor el material particulado grueso y presentan valores de Fv/Fm_PD significativamente mayores que las plantas regadas (-8 bares en promedio). Las emisiones de monóxido de carbono, material particulado fino y ozono redujeron significativamente el Fv/Fm_PD en las plantas con irrigación, incluidas las plantas con riego restringido. Se concluye que las plantas Q. saponaria regadas presentan una tendencia a ser más afectada en el Fv/Fm_PD por dichos contaminantes que las plantas con riego restringido.