Complex trait relationships between leaves and absorptive roots: Coordination in tissue N concentration but divergence in morphology.

ABSTRACT: Leaves and absorptive roots (i.e., first-order root) are above- and belowground plant organs related to resource acquisition; however, it is controversy over whether these two sets of functional traits vary in a coordinated manner. Here, we examined the relationships between analogous above- and belowground traits, including chemical (tissue C and N concentrations) and morphological traits (thickness and diameter, specific leaf area and root length, and tissue density) of 154 species sampling from eight subtropical and temperate forests. Our results showed that N concentrations of leaves and absorptive roots were positively correlated independent of phylogeny and plant growth forms, whereas morphological traits between above- and belowground organs varied independently. These results indic

SUBMITTER: Wang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5395436 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature