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Marcellus M, Goud EM, Swartz N, Brown E, Soper FM. Evolutionary history and root trait coordination predict nutrient strategy in tropical legume trees. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1711-1723. [PMID: 39005157 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Plants express diverse nutrient use and acquisition traits, but it is unclear how trait combinations at the species level are constrained by phylogeny, trait coordination, or trade-offs in resource investment. One trait - nitrogen (N) fixation - is assumed to correlate with other traits and used to define plant functional groups, despite potential confounding effects of phylogeny. We quantified growth, carbon metabolism, fixation rate, root phosphatase activity (RPA), mycorrhizal colonization, and leaf and root morphology/chemistry across 22 species of fixing and nonfixing tropical Fabaceae trees under common conditions. Belowground trait variation was high even among closely related species, and most traits displayed a phylogenetic signal, including N-fixation rate and nodule biomass. Across species, we observed strong positive correlations between physiological traits such as RPA and root respiration. RPA increased ~ fourfold per unit increase in fixation, supporting the debated hypothesis that N-fixers 'trade' N for phosphatases to enhance phosphorus acquisition. Specific root length and root N differed between functional groups, though for other traits, apparent differences became nonsignificant after accounting for phylogenetic nonindependence. We conclude that evolutionary history, trait coordination, and fixation ability contribute to nutrient trait expression at the species level, and recommend explicitly considering phylogeny in analyses of functional groupings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Marcellus
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Ellie M Goud
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, NS, B3H 3C3, Canada
| | - Natalie Swartz
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Emily Brown
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
| | - Fiona M Soper
- Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
- Bieler School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 1B1, Canada
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Xiao Y, Yang D, Zhang SB, Mo YX, Dong YY, Wang KF, He LY, Dong B, Dossa GGO, Zhang JL. Nitrogen-fixing and non-nitrogen-fixing legume plants differ in leaf nutrient concentrations and relationships between photosynthetic and hydraulic traits. TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 44:tpae048. [PMID: 38691446 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpae048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Legumes account for a significant proportion of plants in the terrestrial ecosystems. Nitrogen (N)-fixing capability of certain legumes is a pivotal trait that contributes to their ecological dominance. Yet, the functional traits and trait relationships between N-fixer and non-N-fixer legumes are poorly understood. Here, we investigated 27 functional traits associated with morphology, nutrients, hydraulic conductance and photosynthesis in 42 woody legumes (19 N-fixers and 23 non-N-fixers) in a common garden. Our results showed that N-fixers had higher specific leaf area, photosynthetic phosphorus (P)-use efficiency, leaf N, and iron concentrations on both area and mass basis, N/P ratio, and carbon (C) to P ratio, but lower wood density, area-based maximum photosynthetic rate (Aa), photosynthetic N-use efficiency, leaf mass- and area-based P and molybdenum and area-based boron concentrations, and C/N ratio, compared with non-N-fixers. The mass-based maximum photosynthetic rate (Am), stomatal conductance (gs), intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUEi), mass- and area-based leaf potassium and mass-based boron concentrations, leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf), and whole-shoot hydraulic conductance (Kshoot) showed no difference between N-fixers and non-N-fixers. Significant positive associations between all hydraulic and photosynthetic trait pairs were found in N-fixers, but only one pair (Kshoot-Aa) in non-N-fixers, suggesting that hydraulic conductance plays a more important role in mediating photosynthetic capacity in N-fixers compared with non-N-fixers. Higher mass-based leaf N was linked to lower time-integrated gs and higher WUEi among non-N-fixer legumes or all legumes pooled after phylogeny was considered. Moreover, mass-based P concentration was positively related to Am and gs in N-fixers, but not in non-N-fixers, indicating that the photosynthetic capacity and stomatal conductance in N-fixers were more dependent on leaf P status than in non-N-fixers. These findings expand our understanding of the trait-based ecology within and across N-fixer and non-N-fixer legumes in tropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xiao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Millennium Seed Bank, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK
| | - Da Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Shu-Bin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Yu-Xuan Mo
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Yi-Yi Dong
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
| | - Ke-Fei Wang
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Puer University, Puer, Yunnan 665000, China
| | - Ling-Yun He
- College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Bing Dong
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Dyers Brae, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | - Gbadamassi G O Dossa
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
| | - Jiao-Lin Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, China
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Naciri R, Chtouki M, Oukarroum A. Mechanisms of cadmium mitigation in tomato plants under orthophosphate and polyphosphate fertilization regimes. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 274:116219. [PMID: 38492483 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic elements in soil, affecting morphological, physiological, and biochemical processes in plants. Mineral plant nutrition was tested as an effective approach to mitigate Cd stress in several crop species. In this regard, the present study aimed to elucidate how different phosphorus (P) fertilization regimes can improve some bio-physiological processes in tomato plants exposed to Cd stress. In a hydroponic experiment, the impact of two phosphorus fertilizer forms (Polyphosphate (poly-P): condensed P-form with 100% polymerization rate and orthophosphate (ortho-P): from orthophosphoric acid) on the photosynthetic activity, plant growth, and nutrient uptake was assessed under three levels of Cd stress (0, 12, and 25 µM of CdCl2). The obtained results confirmed the negative effects of Cd stress on the chlorophyll content and the efficiency of the photosynthesis machinery. The application of poly-P fertilizer significantly improved the chlorophyll stability index (82%) under medium Cd stress (Cd12), as compared to the ortho-P form (55%). The analysis of the chlorophyll α fluorescence transient curve revealed that the amplitude of Cd effect on the different steps of electron transfer between PSII and PSI was significantly reduced under the poly-P fertilization regime compared to ortho-P, especially under Cd12. The evaluation of the RE0/RC parameter showed that the electron flux reducing end electron acceptors at the PSI acceptor side per reaction center was significantly improved in the poly-P treatment by 42% under Cd12 compared to the ortho-P treatment. Moreover, the use of poly-P fertilizer enhanced iron uptake and its stoichiometric homeostasis in the shoot tissue which maintained an adequate absorption of iron under Cd stress conditions. Findings from this study revealed for the first time that inorganic polyphosphate fertilizers can reduce Cd toxicity in tomato plants by enhancing photosynthesis activity, nutrient uptake, plant growth, and biomass accumulation despite the high level of cadmium accumulation in shoot tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachida Naciri
- Plant Stress Physiology Laboratory, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco.
| | - Mohamed Chtouki
- Plant Stress Physiology Laboratory, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco
| | - Abdallah Oukarroum
- Plant Stress Physiology Laboratory, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Benguerir, Morocco
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Yao Y, Han B, Dong X, Zhong Y, Niu S, Chen X, Li Z. Disentangling the variability of symbiotic nitrogen fixation rate and the controlling factors. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2024; 30:e17206. [PMID: 38445332 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.17206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation (SNF), replenishing bioavailable N for terrestrial ecosystems, exerts decisive roles in N cycling and gross primary production. Nevertheless, it remains unclear what determines the variability of SNF rate, which retards the accurate prediction for global N fixation in earth system models. This study synthesized 1230 isotopic observations to elucidate the governing factors underlying the variability of SNF rate. The SNF rates varied significantly from 3.69 to 12.54 g N m-2 year-1 across host plant taxa. The traits of host plant (e.g. biomass characteristics and taxa) far outweighed soil properties and climatic factors in explaining the variations of SNF rate, accounting for 79.0% of total relative importance. Furthermore, annual SNF yield contributed to more than half of N uptake for host plants, which was consistent across different ecosystem types. This study highlights that the biotic factors, especially host plant traits (e.g. biomass characteristics and taxa), play overriding roles in determining SNF rate compared with soil properties. The suite of parameters for SNF lends support to improve N fixation module in earth system models that can provide more confidence in predicting bioavailable N changes in terrestrial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhong Yao
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bingbing Han
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xunzhuo Dong
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunyao Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuli Niu
- Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modelling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinping Chen
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhaolei Li
- Key Laboratory of Low-carbon Green Agriculture in Southwestern China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Interdisciplinary Research Center for Agriculture Green Development in Yangtze River Basin, College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Feng J, Song Y, Zhu B. Ecosystem-dependent responses of soil carbon storage to phosphorus enrichment. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:2363-2374. [PMID: 36960561 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Phosphorus deposition can stimulate both plant carbon inputs and microbial carbon outputs. However, how P enrichment affects soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis of 642 SOC observations from 213 field P addition experiments world-wide and explored the regulations of plant inputs, microbial outputs, plant characteristics, and environmental and experimental factors on SOC responses. We found that, globally, P addition stimulated SOC by 4.0% (95% CI: 2.0-6.0%), but the stimulation only occurred in forest and cropland rather than in grassland. Across sites, the response of SOC correlated with that of plant aboveground rather than belowground biomass, suggesting that the change in plant inputs from aboveground was more important than that from belowground in regulating SOC changes due to P addition. Among multiple factors, plant N fixation status and mean annual temperature were the best predictors for SOC responses to P addition, with SOC stimulation being higher in ecosystems dominated by symbiotic nitrogen fixers and ecosystems in high-temperature regions like tropical forests. Our findings highlight the differential and ecosystem-dependent responses of SOC to P enrichment and can contribute to accurate predictions of soil carbon dynamics in a P-enriched world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiguang Feng
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yanjun Song
- University of Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Pessac, 33615, France
| | - Biao Zhu
- Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, and Key Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes of the Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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