Changes in leaf economic trait relationships across a precipitation gradient are related to differential gene expression in a C₄ perennial grass.

ABSTRACT: The leaf economics spectrum (LES) describes a suite of functional traits that consistently covary at large spatial and taxonomic scales. Despite its importance at these larger scales, few studies have examined the major drivers of intraspecific variation in the LES - phenotypic plasticity and standing genetic variation. Using experimental precipitation manipulations, we examined whether covariation among leaf economics traits and selection on leaf economics traits and trait combinations change as diverse genotypes of the widespread perennial grass Panicum virgatum are exposed to differences in precipitation. We also used RNA-Seq to examine whether groups of co-expressed genes that align with leaf economics traits function in processes hypothesized to underlie the LES. Water availability im

SUBMITTER: Heckman RW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12018783 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature