Genetic diversity matters for restoration of a threatened saltmarsh plant in harsh environments

While genetic diversity is theorised to increase the restoration success of degraded plant populations, previous studies examining its impacts on restoration outcomes have yielded mixed results.
We hypothesise that the importance of genetic diversity for the performance of plants targeted for restoration increases with environmental stress and varies with specific plant traits related to different plant successive life stages. To test this, we conducted a fully factorial common garden experiment, crossing salinity and genetic diversity under low- and high-nitrogen conditions on the growth and reproduction of Scirpus mariqueter, a threatened endemic saltmarsh plant in the Yangtze Estuary.
The impacts of genetic diversity varied across stress gradients and metrics. Under high stress (high salinity, low nutrients), greater diversity enhanced reproductive traits such as clonal growth and seed production, but not under low stress. Plant growth traits showed no diversity effects regardless of..., , , # Genetic diversity matters for restoration of a threatened salt marsh plant in harsh environments

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5hqbzkhfh](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.5hqbzkhfh)

**Context and Hypothesis**

The study investigates the role of genetic diversity in the restoration of the salt marsh plant Scirpus mariqueter under varying environmental stress conditions.The hypothesis posits that genetic diversity's importance for plant performance increases with environmental stress and varies with plant traits across different life stages.

**Experimental Design**
A fully factorial common garden experiment was conducted. Variables: Salinity (low: ~4‰, high: ~18‰), Nitrogen (low: 0.70-1.10‰, high: +0.72 g), Genetic Diversity (1, 4, or 8 genotypes). Plants were grown in four cement ponds with different salinity and nutrient levels.

**Procedures**
Collection: 74 genetically diverse ramets from Chongming Dongtan wetland. Propagation: Asexual propagation to generate sufficient materials. ...