Nutrient resorption or accumulation of desert plants with contrasting sodium regulation strategies.

ABSTRACT: Desert plants are thought to rely more heavily on nutrient resorption due to the infertile soil. However, little is known regarding the phylogenetic effects on this traits, specifically for halophytes. Here we determined contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in 36 desert plants in a hyper-arid environment. The patterns of resorption or accumulation of the six elements were compared among plant groups with diverse leaf Na regulation strategies: i.e., euhalophytes (Eu), secretohalophytes (Se), pseudohalophytes (Ps) and glycophytes (Gl). Overall, N, P, K presented strict resorption across all groups, but no more efficient than global estimations. Ca and Mg tended to be resorbed less or accumulated during leaf senescence. Signific

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5719051 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature