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Gleason SM, Barnard DM, Green TR, Mackay S, Wang DR, Ainsworth EA, Altenhofen J, Brodribb TJ, Cochard H, Comas LH, Cooper M, Creek D, DeJonge KC, Delzon S, Fritschi FB, Hammer G, Hunter C, Lombardozzi D, Messina CD, Ocheltree T, Stevens BM, Stewart JJ, Vadez V, Wenz J, Wright IJ, Yemoto K, Zhang H. Physiological trait networks enhance understanding of crop growth and water use in contrasting environments. Plant Cell Environ 2022; 45:2554-2572. [PMID: 35735161 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant function arises from a complex network of structural and physiological traits. Explicit representation of these traits, as well as their connections with other biophysical processes, is required to advance our understanding of plant-soil-climate interactions. We used the Terrestrial Regional Ecosystem Exchange Simulator (TREES) to evaluate physiological trait networks in maize. Net primary productivity (NPP) and grain yield were simulated across five contrasting climate scenarios. Simulations achieving high NPP and grain yield in high precipitation environments featured trait networks conferring high water use strategies: deep roots, high stomatal conductance at low water potential ("risky" stomatal regulation), high xylem hydraulic conductivity and high maximal leaf area index. In contrast, high NPP and grain yield was achieved in dry environments with low late-season precipitation via water conserving trait networks: deep roots, high embolism resistance and low stomatal conductance at low leaf water potential ("conservative" stomatal regulation). We suggest that our approach, which allows for the simultaneous evaluation of physiological traits, soil characteristics and their interactions (i.e., networks), has potential to improve our understanding of crop performance in different environments. In contrast, evaluating single traits in isolation of other coordinated traits does not appear to be an effective strategy for predicting plant performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Gleason
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Dave M Barnard
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Timothy R Green
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Scott Mackay
- Department of Geography & Department of Environment and Sustainability, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Diane R Wang
- Department of Agronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Ainsworth
- United States Department of Agriculture, Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Jon Altenhofen
- Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Berthoud, Colorado, USA
| | - Timothy J Brodribb
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, The University of Tasmania Node, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Hervé Cochard
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, PIAF, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Louise H Comas
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Mark Cooper
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, The University of Queensland Node, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Danielle Creek
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE, PIAF, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Kendall C DeJonge
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Sylvain Delzon
- Université Bordeaux, INRAE, BIOGECO, Pessac, cedex, France
| | - Felix B Fritschi
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Graeme Hammer
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, The University of Queensland Node, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cameron Hunter
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Danica Lombardozzi
- National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), Climate & Global Dynamics Lab, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Carlos D Messina
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Troy Ocheltree
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Bo Maxwell Stevens
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Jared J Stewart
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Joshua Wenz
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Ian J Wright
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Western Sydney University Node, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kevin Yemoto
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Huihui Zhang
- United States Department of Agriculture, Water Management and Systems Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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