Tree diversity and functional leaf traits drive herbivore‐associated microbiomes in subtropical China

Research Highlights: Short-term nitrogen (N) addition did not significantly alter the effects of seasonal drought on the leaf functional traits in Machilus pauhoi Kanehira seedlings in N-rich subtropical China. Background and Objectives: Seasonal drought and N deposition are major drivers of global environmental change that affect plant growth and ecosystem function in subtropical China. However, no consensus has been reached on the interactive effects of these two drivers. Materials and Methods: We conducted a full-factorial experiment to analyze the single and combined effects of seasonal drought and short-term N addition on chemical, morphological and physiological traits of M. pauhoi seedlings. Results: Seasonal drought (40% of soil field capacity) had significant negative effects on the leaf N concentrations (LNC), phosphorus (P) concentrations (LPC), leaf thickness (LT), net photosynthetic rate (A), transpiration rate (E), stomatal conductance (Gs), and predawn leaf water potential (ψPD), and significant positive effects on the carbon:N (C:N) ratio and specific leaf area (SLA). Short-term N addition (50 kg N·hm−2·year−1 and 100 kg N·hm−2·year−1) tended to decrease the C:N ratio and enhance leaf nutrient, growth, and photosynthetic performance because of increased LNC, LPC, LT, leaf area (LA), SLA, A, E, and ψPD; however, it only had significant effects on LT and Gs. No significant interactive effects on leaf traits were detected. Seasonal drought, short-term N addition, and their interactions had significant effects on soil properties. The soil total C (STC), nitrate N (NO3−-N) and soil total N (STN) concentrations were the main factors that affected the leaf traits. Conclusions: Seasonal drought had a stronger effect on M. pauhoi seedling leaf traits than short-term N deposition, indicating that the interaction between seasonal drought and short-term N deposition may have an additive effecton M. pauhoi seedling growth in N-rich subtropical China.

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Landscape and tree community effects on the infestation of an endemic fungal pathogen in riparian forests were mediated by leaf traits

10.21203/rs.3.rs-917450/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Binli Wang ◽

Chengming Tian ◽

Yingmei Liang

Keyword(s):

Leaf Spot ◽

Ecological Factors ◽

Host Density ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Disease Prevalence ◽

Tree Diversity ◽

Riparian Forests ◽

Tree Community ◽

Pathogen Load

Abstract Background Plant pathogens are regarded as crucial agents shaping the dynamics of natural forest communities. Marssonina leaf spot of poplar is induced by an endemic pathogenic fungus Drepanopeziza populi, causing increased damage to riparian poplar stands in recent years. However, such endemic fungal diseases have received little attention at the landscape scale, despite the key role of landscape heterogeneity in the development and spread of emerging forest diseases. Moreover, most studies have insufficiently captured multiple ecological factors driving the infestation of an endemic pathogen acting at the landscape, community, and individual scales. Methods We measured pathogen load, disease prevalence, and disease severity of Marssonina leaf spot in poplars in riparian forests. We explored the direct and indirect effects of multiple ecological factors on pathogen infestation using a path analysis. Specifically, we first assessed the effects of landscape and community factors on leaf traits including leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC), and then examined the role of these factors in shaping disease dynamics. Results Path analysis showed that landscape features had no direct impact on leaf traits and pathogen infestation, but directly affected tree community composition. Landscapes with higher forest cover resulted in higher host density and tree diversity. Host density was the most important factor of pathogen load, with higher host density resulting in more symptomatic leaves. Tree diversity had direct effects on disease prevalence, with poplars growing in mixed forest stands far less affected by pathogens than in pure stands. Moreover, disease prevalence was positively related to pathogen load. Tree diversity strongly reduced SLA, but increased LDMC. Higher SLA was found to increase pathogen load and disease severity, but higher LDMC was found to reduce both of them. Conclusions Our results show that the effects of landscape and tree community on Marssonina leaf spot disease are mediated by leaf traits. Disentangling the effects of biotic and abiotic factors affecting pathogen infestation contributes to reduce the overall impact of this disease, which can provide policy makers with sustainable management of endemic plant diseases in natural forests.

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Tree diversity affects chlorophyllafluorescence and other leaf traits of tree species in a boreal forest

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/tpw132 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Martina Pollastrini ◽

Ana Garcia Nogales ◽

Raquel Benavides ◽

Damien Bonal ◽

Leena Finer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Boreal Forest ◽

Tree Species ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Tree Diversity

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Species divergence in seedling leaf traits and tree growth response to nitrogen and phosphorus additions in an evergreen broadleaved forest of subtropical China

Journal of Forestry Research ◽

10.1007/s11676-021-01437-2 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Xuemin Ye ◽

Wensheng Bu ◽

Xiaofei Hu ◽

Bin Liu ◽

Kuan Liang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Growth ◽

Growth Response ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Subtropical China ◽

Species Divergence ◽

Nitrogen And Phosphorus ◽

Evergreen Broadleaved Forest ◽

Seedling Leaf

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Evaluation of Agronomic Traits of Sponge Gourd (Luffa cylindrica) Inbred Lines Under Plastic House in Thua Thien Hue

HUE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ◽

10.26459/hueuni-jard.v126i3e.4213 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 126 (3E) ◽

Author(s):

Trương Thị Hồng Hải ◽

Nguyễn Thị Diệu Thể ◽

Phan Thu Thảo

Keyword(s):

Skin Color ◽

Agronomic Traits ◽

Block Design ◽

Leaf Traits ◽

Pure Line ◽

Inbred Lines ◽

Fruit Shape ◽

Yield Potential ◽

High Yield ◽

Sponge Gourd

In order to establish the pure line of sponge gourd containing aroma feature, we selected the desirable inbred lines by using a self-pollinating method. The present study was investigated to estimate the morphological traits and fruit quality of 6 sponge gourd inbred lines which generated at 4th generation of an aroma Luffa accession B29 under plastic house conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, from May to November in 2016. Five plants per replication were examined. The results indicated that all inbred lines could grow well under plastic house conditions. The inbred lines had the same stem and leaf traits; whereas fruit shape, skin color and fruit veins color were observed differently among inbred lines. The aromatic trait was retained in all inbred lines either before or after cooking. The high yield was found in lines BC1 and BC2 by 10.1 tons/ha and 10.7 tons/ha, respectively. These inbred lines should be examined in open field condition to confirm the presence of aromatic trait and yield potential before completion of the procedures for recognition of new Luffa varieties.

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