Functional trade‐offs are driven by coordinated changes among cell types in the wood of angiosperm trees from different climates

Zhang, Guangqi; Mao, Zhun; Maillard, Pascale; Brancheriau, Loïc; Gérard, Bastien; Engel, Julien; Fortunel, Claire; Heuret, Patrick; Maeght, Jean‐Luc; Vilalta, J; Stokes, Alexia

doi:10.1111/nph.19132

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 111 publications

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“…The mean annual precipitation (MAP) is 1217, 588 and 3035 mm and the mean annual temperature (MAT) is 11.8, 15.4 and 26.9°C for temperate, Mediterranean and tropical sites, respectively. The temperature and precipitation data were calculated using mean monthly data from the past 31 years (see Zhang et al, 2023).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not all sweetness and light: Non‐structural carbohydrate storage capacity in tree stems is decoupled from leaf but not from root economics

Zhang,

Mao,

Maillard

et al. 2023

Functional Ecology

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Non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC) are considered as indicators of the balance between tree carbon sources and sinks and reflect functional strategies throughout different biomes. However, little is known about the contribution of NSC to tree economics, and in particular, whether leaf, stem and coarse root traits co‐ordinate together into a whole‐tree economics spectrum. Twenty‐four functional traits (including NSC content) were measured in leaves, stem and coarse root xylem of up to 90 angiosperm tree species in temperate, Mediterranean and tropical climates. By performing principal component analysis and standardized major axis regression, we explored the relationships between NSC and other functional traits, as well as the effects of climate and phylogeny on these relationships. Our results revealed a covariation between leaf and coarse root NSC content and leaf economic traits, whereas stem NSC content was largely decoupled from the leaf economics spectrum that was mostly driven by leaf nitrogen content and leaf mass per area. Coarse root xylem traits were closely correlated with leaf traits, while most stem xylem traits were independent from the leaf economics spectrum but covaried with coarse root traits. Trade‐offs among traits in tropical species opposed those from other climates. Evolutionary history affected relationships among certain traits but did not change overall patterns. We conclude that due to leaf habit, an extended growing season and heightened defences, tropical species form distinct conservative resource acquisition strategies. Across all climates, as the stem must provide an efficient transport route between roots and leaves, while maintaining the display of branch and leaf organs, stem xylem design and NSC storage capacity lead to a stem economics spectrum that is largely independent from the leaf spectrum, but is coupled with that of coarse roots due to anatomical continuity. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Not all sweetness and light: Non‐structural carbohydrate storage capacity in tree stems is decoupled from leaf but not from root economics

Zhang,

Mao,

Maillard

et al. 2023

Functional Ecology

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Linkages among stem xylem transport, biomechanics, and storage in lianas and trees across three contrasting environments

Zhang,

Yang,

Zhang

et al. 2024

American J of Botany

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PremiseStem xylem transports water and nutrients, mechanically supports aboveground tissues, and stores water and nonstructural carbohydrates. These three functions are associated with three types of cells—vessel, fiber, and parenchyma, respectively.MethodsWe measured stem theoretical hydraulic conductivity (Kt), modulus of elasticity (MOE), tissue water content, starch, soluble sugars, cellulose, and xylem anatomical traits in 15 liana and 16 tree species across three contrasting sites in Southwest China.ResultsLianas had higher hydraulic efficiency and tissue water content, but lower MOE and cellulose than trees. Storage traits (starch and soluble sugars) did not significantly differ between lianas and trees, and trait variation was explained mainly by site, highlighting how environment shapes plant storage strategies. Kt was significantly positively correlated with vessel diameter and vessel area fraction in lianas and all species combined. The MOE was significantly positively correlated with fiber area fraction, wood density, and cellulose in lianas and across all species. The tissue water content was significantly associated with parenchyma area fraction in lianas. Support function was strongly linked with transport and storage functions in lianas. In trees, transport and support functions were not correlated, while storage function was tightly linked with transport and support functions.ConclusionsThese findings enhance our understanding of the relationship between stem xylem structure and function in lianas and trees, providing valuable insights into how plants adapt to environmental changes and the distinct ecological strategies employed by lianas and by trees to balance the demands of hydraulic transport, mechanical support, and storage.

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Leaf trait networks shift toward high modularity during the succession of a subtropical forest, in southwest China

Li,

et al. 2024

Ecological Indicators

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Functional trade‐offs are driven by coordinated changes among cell types in the wood of angiosperm trees from different climates

Cited by 5 publications

References 111 publications

Not all sweetness and light: Non‐structural carbohydrate storage capacity in tree stems is decoupled from leaf but not from root economics

Not all sweetness and light: Non‐structural carbohydrate storage capacity in tree stems is decoupled from leaf but not from root economics

Linkages among stem xylem transport, biomechanics, and storage in lianas and trees across three contrasting environments

Leaf trait networks shift toward high modularity during the succession of a subtropical forest, in southwest China

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