Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese Subtropics
Phosphorus (P) is essential for cellular processes, and P fractions within leaf tissues reflect distinct biochemical functions. However, the relationship among foliar P allocation, leaf functional traits, and soil properties in subtropical China remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated four...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| author | Lei Wang Jinhong Guan Zongpei Li Zhijie Chen Zaipeng Yu Zhichao Xia |
| author_facet | Lei Wang Jinhong Guan Zongpei Li Zhijie Chen Zaipeng Yu Zhichao Xia |
| author_sort | Lei Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phosphorus (P) is essential for cellular processes, and P fractions within leaf tissues reflect distinct biochemical functions. However, the relationship among foliar P allocation, leaf functional traits, and soil properties in subtropical China remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated four tree species to examine the relationships among foliar P fractions (orthophosphate P, metabolic P, nucleic acid P, lipid P, and residual P), key leaf functional traits (LMA, A<sub>mass</sub>, and leaf [N], and P concentrations), and soil properties. A negative correlation between the relative allocation of metabolic P (rPM) and nucleic acid P (rPN) suggested a trade-off between metabolic activity and growth. LMA was positively correlated with rPM and residual P (rPR) but negatively associated with rPN and lipid P (rPL). Similarly, leaf [N] correlated positively with rPN and negatively with rPR. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that foliar P allocation was primarily driven by leaf functional traits independent of soil properties. These findings underscore the critical role of leaf functional traits in shaping P allocation patterns and highlight the adaptive strategies of tree species to cope with P-deficient environments in subtropical ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3af7595acca34f9380ff534fe71d1869 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-3af7595acca34f9380ff534fe71d18692025-01-10T13:19:27ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472024-12-01141410.3390/plants14010004Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese SubtropicsLei Wang0Jinhong Guan1Zongpei Li2Zhijie Chen3Zaipeng Yu4Zhichao Xia5Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Forest Resources and Silviculture, School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Xining 810016, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Forest Resources and Silviculture, School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaKey Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, ChinaKey Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Geography, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou 350117, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Forest Resources and Silviculture, School of Forestry & Landscape Architecture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, ChinaPhosphorus (P) is essential for cellular processes, and P fractions within leaf tissues reflect distinct biochemical functions. However, the relationship among foliar P allocation, leaf functional traits, and soil properties in subtropical China remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated four tree species to examine the relationships among foliar P fractions (orthophosphate P, metabolic P, nucleic acid P, lipid P, and residual P), key leaf functional traits (LMA, A<sub>mass</sub>, and leaf [N], and P concentrations), and soil properties. A negative correlation between the relative allocation of metabolic P (rPM) and nucleic acid P (rPN) suggested a trade-off between metabolic activity and growth. LMA was positively correlated with rPM and residual P (rPR) but negatively associated with rPN and lipid P (rPL). Similarly, leaf [N] correlated positively with rPN and negatively with rPR. Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that foliar P allocation was primarily driven by leaf functional traits independent of soil properties. These findings underscore the critical role of leaf functional traits in shaping P allocation patterns and highlight the adaptive strategies of tree species to cope with P-deficient environments in subtropical ecosystems.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/4foliar P fractionsphotosynthetic P-use efficiencyleaf functional traitstrade-offsoil propertiesinterspecific variation |
| spellingShingle | Lei Wang Jinhong Guan Zongpei Li Zhijie Chen Zaipeng Yu Zhichao Xia Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese Subtropics Plants foliar P fractions photosynthetic P-use efficiency leaf functional traits trade-off soil properties interspecific variation |
| title | Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese Subtropics |
| title_full | Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese Subtropics |
| title_fullStr | Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese Subtropics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese Subtropics |
| title_short | Leaf Phosphorus Fractions Are Coordinated with Leaf Functional Traits in Four Juvenile Tree Species from the Chinese Subtropics |
| title_sort | leaf phosphorus fractions are coordinated with leaf functional traits in four juvenile tree species from the chinese subtropics |
| topic | foliar P fractions photosynthetic P-use efficiency leaf functional traits trade-off soil properties interspecific variation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/1/4 |
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