Leaf functional trait evolution and its putative climatic drivers in African Coffea species.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Leaf traits are known to be strong predictors of plant performance and can be expected to (co)vary along environmental gradients. We investigated the variation, integration, environmental relationships and evolutionary history of leaf functional traits in the genus Coffea, typically a rainforest understorey shrub, across Africa. A better understanding of the adaptive processes involved in leaf trait evolution can inform the use and conservation of coffee genetic resources in a changing climate.

Methods

We used phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the evolution of six leaf traits measured from herbarium specimens of 58 African Coffea species. We added environmental data and data on maximum plant height for each species to test trait-environment

SUBMITTER: Hendrickx A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11523614 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature